The Importance of Being Seen

Every year, around 70 people are killed and 2000 seriously injured in accidents involving vehicles in and around workplaces. Often, accidents are the result of pedestrians being struck by forklift trucks or reversing lorries, whose drivers are unaware of the presence or movements of pedestrians in their vicinity. Preventative measures such as the use of EN471 compliant, high visibility clothing can dramatically improve the visibility of pedestrians, improving their safety and reducing the risk of accidents and subsequent litigation.

Under health and safety legislation, the employer is legally responsible for the health and safety of employees and visitors on site. When an occupation requires a person to wear a hi-vis garment, the employer is legally bound to supply, free-of-charge, a garment that complies with the European Standard EN471. In the event of a workplace accident, if the employer is found to be negligent, he or she may be at risk of prosecution, which in turn may lead to heavy fines, bad publicity and poor workplace morale.

Colin Chatten from HSE's Injuries Reduction Programme says, "To demonstrate best practice for the health and safety of employees and visitors on site, responsible employers should assess delivery, collection and other vehicle movement risks and reduce them as far as reasonably practicable. Ideally, pedestrians and vehicles should be kept separate at all times, but there are instances when pedestrians may be required in loading/unloading areas or for instance, on construction sites. In terms of safety procedures, employees and site visitors should always use personal protective equipment as a last resort or when it is the only means of protection. The use of EN471 compliant, high visibility clothing is an excellent means of improving the visibility of pedestrians and can dramatically reduce the risk of being struck by a moving vehicle."

Over 25 million working days are lost annually as a result of workplace accidents, injuries and ill-health. Workplace transport is the second biggest cause of fatal accidents and the third biggest cause of major injuries in the British workplace, but until the occurrence of a serious accident, employers and employees often do not recognise that vehicle activities need to be properly managed to ensure a safe workplace.

The adoption of high visibility clothing has never been more needed. High Visibility clothing is a simple, cost-effective way to improve the visibility of people 24 hours a day. The fluorescent background material of a high visibility garment provides daytime visibility while the reflective material around the chest, arms or legs of garments provides night-time reflectivity - a winning combination that can dramatically reduce the risk of pedestrians being struck by a moving vehicle in any working environment.