High Visibility PPE Game Plan

The presence of moving machinery and human beings at the same work site can be a deadly combination, especially when work takes place at night or under conditions of low visibility. Most struck-by, back over and vehicle collision incidents occur because the operator didn’t see the victim. So, ensuring that workers have and use appropriate reflective and brightly coloured vests, bibs, coveralls and other high-visibility (HV) apparel that makes them easier to see is crucial to preventing such incidents; it’s also an essential requirement of OHS regulations.

This Report Covers:

  • STEP 1. Perform Hazard Assessment: The starting point for compliance with HV apparel requirements is to assign a competent person to perform a hazard assessment to address these questions based on the nature and type of work to be performed at the site.

  • STEP 2: Try to Engineer Away Hazards: Canada OHS laws follow the so-called hierarchy of controls approach to managing hazards, at the top of which is eliminating the hazard completely by eliminating the operation posing the hazard.

  • STEP 3: Furnish the Required HV Apparel: While you might think of it as personal clothing, HV apparel is generally considered a form of PPE that the employer is required to furnish to workers at its own expense.

  • STEP 4: Ensure HV Apparel Meets General CSA Design Standards: Employers must ensure that required HV apparel is properly designed and constructed.

  • STEP 5: Ensure HV Apparel is of the Right Class: Each class covers the torso (waist to neck) and limbs according to the minimum body coverage areas specified for each class.

  • STEP 6: Ensure HV Apparel Properly Fits the Worker: As with any other form of PPE and protective clothing, the right fit is essential to the effectiveness of HV apparel.

  • STEP 7. Ensure Proper Maintenance & Cleaning of HV Apparel: HV apparel won’t work properly if it gets too dirty, corroded or damaged.

  • STEP 8: Train Workers in Proper HV Apparel Use: Every worker required to wear HV apparel should receive training and instruction from a supervisor or other qualified person before first use.