High-visibility Clothing - Application For Rail Workers in The UK

Application For Rail Workers in The UK

Experimental use of high-visibility clothing began in 1964 on the Scottish Region. Fluorescent orange jackets, known as "fire-flies", were issued to track workers on the Pollokshields to Eglinton Street electrified section in Glasgow; they were later tried in other areas, such as Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness. Train drivers operating in these areas were asked their opinion as to the effectiveness of the jackets. Following trials, high-visibility clothing was issued to engineering and other staff working on the electrified lines of BR's London Midland Region in 1965. It was thought to be more important due to the higher speeds of the newly electrified WCML route from Euston to Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. The first version was worn as a jerkin and was "visible at ... half a mile in normal weather conditions." In the UK, it is a requirement of Network Rail that all personnel working on or around the track wear full body high-visibility clothing (or HV gear as it is known). The rate of deaths and injuries on the rail network has been reduced considerably since the early 1970s when high-visibility clothing and the acceptance of the need for it became common. HV Clothing then was very low tech, usually just a simple yellow or orange tabbard (similar to those worn in netball).

Since then, features of HV clothing such as the EN510 quick release standard and the EN471 High Visibility standard, have improved the effectiveness and contributed to improved safety for rail workers.

High-visibility elements have been incorporated into many styles of jacket and other items. These can include:

• Wet weather coats (both breathable and non breathable)
• Over trousers (both breathable and non breathable)
• Rucksacks
• Laptop bags
• Carry bags
• Shopping bags
• T-Shirts and Polo Shirts
• Waist coats (both with the EN510 standard and without, as well as flame retardant types)
• Body warmers
• Fleeces
• Sweatshirts
• Bomber jackets (both breathable and non breathable)
• Boilersuits (both fire retardant and non)
• Salopets

Many of the garments listed also come with Gore-Tex fabrics.

High-visibility clothing can also be embroidered or printed with names or logos.