Some workers who may use high visibility clothing are:
- traffic controllers
- train shunters
- crane chasers
- track workers
- road workers
- ground crews
- emergency service personnel
- all those working in high traffic areas.
High visibility clothing is among the least effective methods of controlling the risks associated with working near traffic, mobile plant or equipment under operator control. You should only consider the use of this clothing if, after implementing other controls, some risk to the worker still remains (eg emergency and other services working adjacent to traffic) or when other control measures are impractical.
If high visibility clothing is to be used then:
- you must supply it to employees
- you must properly supervise its use
- it should comply with Australian Standard AS/NZS 4602:1999
- while the requirements of the above standard may be incorporated into outer clothing garments such as jackets, overalls or wet weather gear, any high visibility garment must cover all sides of the torso and consist of a minimum visible size of 0.4 square metres (ie vest size)
- the colour of the garments should be selected for best contrast with the work area background. For added safety, workers should wear light coloured clothing (also contrasting with the background environment where practicable) on areas of their body not covered by the high visibility garment
- garments must be worn correctly, fastened in accordance with the manufacturers instructions and regularly maintained and/or replaced to ensure that they are clean and retain their high visibility
- emergency service operators should wear additional retroreflective material, as appropriate, for night work. For signalling purposes at night, retroreflective cuffs or gauntlets should be used.
Call 13 10 50 for more information about high visibility clothing