Be Seen Be Safe - and at low cost!

Cost need no longer be a barrier to people at risk being properly protected with appropriate high visibility ('hi-viz') clothing.

For example a waterproof lined anorak in high visibility Saturn yellow with 2 retro reflective body bands and braces, conforming to EN471 Class 3, which could have been seen at about £60.00 not too many years ago is now available for around £16.00 (see e.g website www.sevsafe.co.uk.

Ref M/IMP750).

These jackets are suitable for use on motorway and other high speed roadsides.

This price is the basic online ordering price (excluding VAT and carriage) before the application of discounts for quantity.

This is just one example of a large range of high visibility garments available from Severnside Safety Supplies - from simple vests (waistcoats) conforming to EN471 Class 2 (so not that simple!) to warm and waterproof boilersuits conforming to EN343 as well.

The waistcoats are ideal for the transport industry as well as roadside workers in some situations.

In parts of Europe it is already a requirement for all motorists to carry these garments.

At around £5.00 a time every home should have one! Many of these items go beyond the requirements of EN471 and also conform to the requirements of the UK Highways Authority and Railway Group Standards (GO/RT3279) the latter always being orange as opposed to the Saturn yellow generally favoured for road work in the UK.

Specific rail track items include the 3 part hi viz orange waistcoat, which conforms to EN510 for quick release as well as GO/RT3279 and EN471 for high visibility.

The 3 part means exactly what it says - the three parts of the garment are held together by studs so that in the event of a snagging incident the waistcoat is pulled apart rather than the wearer being pulled into danger.

Going back to jackets/anoraks, many users now opt for the styles with contrasting colours.

Whilst the majority of the garment will be high visibility orange or yellow (because it has to be to conform to the standard) there will be a darker contrast colour (usually navy blue) on the bottom of the coat including the sleeves.

These are the areas that tend to get scuffed and dirty and spoil the look of the garment.

Some other sophistications include bomber or pilot style jackets, bodywarmers (often reversible) and the use of high tec materials to add the feature of 'breathability' to waterproof garments.

The most famous (and probably expensive) of these breathing or, more properly, vapour permeable materials is Goretex but Severnside Safety also offer lower cost varieties such as Bretex, Airtech and, most reasonably priced, Microflex from Lyngsoe.

Whilst it is true, to some extent that you get what you pay for this range of materials does give the wearer a wide choice of prices and specifications.

It is also even possible now to get garments that are hi-viz, waterproof, breathable, warm and flame retardant! These are used mainly by the electricity supply companies.

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