Be safe, be seen
We’re now at that time of year when you leave work and it’s already dark outside. The evenings are closing in, and when the clocks go back at the end of the month, it’ll feel even shorter. Before long, many of us will be going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark, too.
We all know the advice given to children about road safety – wear bright or reflective clothing so drivers can see you, stick to well-lit paths, don’t assume that others can see you just because you can see them. But as adults, we often forget that the same rules still apply. Too many people think that because they’re grown-ups, the danger somehow doesn’t apply to them. It does.
Visibility matters, and not just on the roads. A lot of our members work outdoors, in forests, on roadsides, in ports and airports, or on large worksites where lighting can be poor. In those settings, high-visibility gear isn’t just a uniform requirement – it’s what helps everyone come home safely at the end of the day.
Hi-vis jackets, trousers, and vests aren’t fashion statements, but they save lives. Drivers, plant operators, and machine handlers can only react to what they can see. If you blend into the background, even for a second, the risk of a serious accident rises sharply.
Some people see hi-vis rules as red tape or health and safety gone too far. The truth is the opposite. Every year, there are avoidable deaths and serious injuries caused by poor visibility – people stepping into traffic, being struck by moving vehicles, or simply not being seen until it’s too late.
Wearing reflective or bright clothing is one of the simplest precautions there is, yet it’s often ignored. It doesn’t just protect the person wearing it; it protects everyone working nearby. When everyone is clearly visible, everyone is safer.
Unions and employers both have a duty to make sure these most basic health and safety rules are followed. Proper lighting, good equipment, and clean, well-maintained high-visibility gear are not optional extras; they’re essential. Working together, unions and management can make sure that simple safety measures like these are enforced and respected every day.