Flamingo
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- 26 Apr 2010
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I was passing through Reading this evening, and they have issued a natty PINK hi-vis to some of the customer service staff!
"when on about the railway" meaning not on the platform, either in the course of duty, or if you have a lineside pass. Not when you're on a train as a passenger, or when you're standing on a platform as a passenger, surely.
Maroon high-viz? That's a new one on me !!Noting comments concerning platform staff on the Big Railway, EMT wear blue 'hi-viz' and we at the Ecclesbourne Valley wear a rather natty maroon version.
I must have missed the point at which high vis clothing became an indication of authority rather than an aid to safety.
I must have missed the point at which high vis clothing became an indication of authority rather than an aid to safety.
I also work on a heritage line but my high vis is purely for my own saftey being a track worker (for those moments when I forget about my personal responsibility and rely on a driver seeing me to prevent my untimely death ). The platform guys wear blazers and hats which readily identifies them to the public.
I maintain that high vis is predominantly for increased visibility, and don't automatically assume a level of authority when I see it being worn. The obvious exception is where the wearer has a clearly liveried vest/jacket which specifically identifies them, as in the example photograph in the previous post.
The only real answer to the debate is common sense.
The usual link between authority and HV clothing is how spotless ones HV actually is and how shiny their shoes are
The usual link between authority and HV clothing is how spotless ones HV actually is and how shiny their shoes are
See the scene in Phoenix nights where the men in boiler suits come in to take a tv away as an example.
I am trying to find some research on high visibility jackets and their psychological effects. Unfortunately I keep finding articles on how much more visible they make you.
If they're not railway employees or volunteers, though, and they're just passengers, or taking photos on the platform, that's whent it veers into pretentiousness or even could be construed as impersonating a member of staff.
Hard to police as there seems to be a whole load of people these days that wear hi-viz jackets - from cyclists to builders to whatever else. There was an article recently on BBC News about the proliferation of Hi-viz jackets, good read if you can find it.