Are there any specific requirements regarding high visibility reflective gear?
Day/night must comply with Australian standards: AS/NZ 4602:1999 High visibility safety garments and AS/NZ 1906.4 Retroreflective materials and devices for road traffic control purposes - High visibility materials for safety garments.
The first standard specifies the visual requirements for high-visibility safety garments and covers garments suitable for daytime and night-time wear, or for wear under both conditions. 'Class D' garments are only effective for the daytime, but are ineffective for use at night/dusk/dawn. At these times 'Class N' garments are the most appropriate and effective.
The standard also has requirements for colours: for 'normal' conditions colours are either red-orange or yellow. Where there is need for a clear distinction in certain industries or situations, then it refers to a distinction between the red and orange. The second standard has requirements with regard to the fluorescent materials and the retroreflective strips. For example, if made in natural fibres, clothing does not necessarily have to be in fluorescent material.
The main thing to check when purchasing any high visibility clothing, is that it complies with the Australian Standards, AND that the clothing is appropriate according to WHEN it is being used.
In a 2009 edition of UK’s
Risks, there was an item on fake
high visibility gear being sold in Britain.
Risks reveals
that a report in Health and Safety Bulletin (HSB) found many retailers
have been selling fake or poor standard high-visibility clothing that,
in the worst case, offered just over 1 per cent of the reflection
required under the European Standard This is of great concern… make sure
your employer hasn’t inadvertently purchased fake and unsafe gear.
WorkSafe Victoria has produced guidance material which provides information on the selection and use of high visibility clothing for workers operating on or near roads:
High-visibility clothing near traffic
. (December 2011)