Hi-Visibility Clothing is Essential During the Winter Months - December 2009
During the winter, when it is necessary to wear extra layers for protection against the cold, it is more important than ever to ensure workers are highly visible to those around them. With additional clothing worn to shield from the wind and rain, it can make it harder for them to see oncoming traffic and other hazards. Also with difficult driving conditions such as ice and fog, it pays to take extra precautions so that your workforce is safe when working in proximity to traffic.
It is an employers duty to ensure that all members of staff are wearing the correct ppe equipment. In winter, it is essential that high visibility clothing is provided in larger sizes so that it fits correctly over extra layers. A high visibility quilted jacket is a good choice of clothing, as it provides warmth, protection against the elements in addition to the reflective, high visibility properties. Combine this with high visibility trousers and employees will stand out in even the worst weather conditions or blinding winter sunlight.
Other factors to take into account during the winter months are the reduced daylight hours. It gets dark much earlier and many days can be grey and gloomy, so more high visibility clothing will be required than on sunny summer days.
High Visibility Clothing - click here to view our products
Safety Signs – Better Safe Than Sorry - August 2009
Not designed to be works of art, safety signs and warning signs are there for purely functional reasons. Brightly coloured and simplistic, their sole purpose is to alert the public and workplace employees to areas of danger and convey vital safety information.
Strict criteria have been laid down to standardise the production, manufacture and appearance of safety signs. Artistic licence is forbidden in this area and this same approach has been applied in the UK to road safety. So from a 30mph speed limitation sign to a sign detailing the presence of hazardous materials, there is legislation in place to govern its appearance.
This standardisation follows the EC Safety Signs Directive as issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and is born of a need to ensure that these signs are, clear and logical and easily understood, regardless of country or spoken language.
Standardisation has led to mass production and many safety signs are readily available as off the shelf purchases or via the Internet. Caveat Emptor must be applied here however, since the buyer must ensure that the signs comply with the relevant UK and EC legislation and the British Standard, BS 5499.
It is not enough however simply to erect safety signs; they must be maintained, kept clean and be clearly visible at all times. In an office or workplace environment, it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that all signage, whether instructional or advisory, is clearly displayed and maintained. This applies to all manner of safety and warning signs, including fire exit signs, no-smoking signs and push to open signs.
On public highways, that responsibility falls to the local council and includes the clearance of obscuring foliage and the speedy replacement of any public safety or regulatory sign that has been vandalised or removed.
Ignorance is Not Bliss
All government legislation relating to safety signage is readily accessible via the HSE's website at www.hse.gov.uk and must be adhered to by law.
Facilities Buyer sells a comprehensive range of safety signs including workplace safety signs, road safety signage and DDA compliant signs. Click here to go to our online shop.
We also offer a high quality bespoke sign making service to cater for individual needs. Please contact us to discuss your business requirements. |
