The rail industry leads the way in attention to safety by specifying that the correct hi vis rail workwear must be worn, thereby introducing their own safety standards to adhere to. Any rail high visibility clothing that conforms to RIS-3279-TOM, formerly GO/RT 3279, is suitable for use in the rail industry and rail workers are required to wear a specific colour of hi-visibility workwear when working on or nearby the tracks.
Rail hi-vis clothing in the UK must meet the required standards, and it is mandatory for anyone working on the railway to wear high-quality, durable hi-vis workwear that meets these standards. Not all orange high visibility clothing meets these standards. Be careful that you do not wear any high visibility rail clothing that does not conform to these standards.
The worker’s entire body must be visible, which means that rail spec hi-vis coveralls are a perfect choice for the colder months, but there are also jackets, trousers, long-sleeved polo shirts and waistcoats that can all be combined to form the perfect rail workers uniform. Adopting a multi-layer system to your rail workwear should be considered.
Rail hi vis workwear should be replaced when damaged, or every 6-12 months as they are no longer compliant. The wash lifecycle of this type of clothing is usually about 25 washes. After which the reflective stripes will become less visible and the fluorescent fabric begins to fade. The risks of working on the railway lines vary from electrical hazards to visibility issues, as well as construction hazards. In many instances, the work needs to be completed within a tight timeframe, so the last thing you need is to be turned off-site for non-conformance.
At Work and Wear Direct we sell orange high-visibility workwear suitable for Network Rail, from brands such as Pulsar, Portwest and Leo Workwear. All of our rail hi vis clothing can be printed or embroidered with your business name or logo and is suitable for use on or near the lineside.
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