BSI, the business standards company, has published PAS 10412, Intelligent clothing – LED active high visibility clothing – Specification, sponsored by the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI).
When workers operate in areas where there is no light they must be visible to each other and their environment. In the absence of light, high visibility clothing may not be seen, or available light may not be sufficient to reflect or charge the luminescent parts of the clothing. In this instance the use of active lighting such as LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology is essential, however currently there is no existing specification to standardize the quality of LED technology that is used in conjunction with high visibility workwear.
PAS 10412 was developed using a consensus-based approach with international stakeholders from academia and the textiles, lighting, PPE (personal protective equipment), high visibility clothing and safety wear industries. The Taiwan Textile Research Institute was particularly concerned for the safety of Taiwan’s traffic police and it has been recognized that such a specification would be of global benefit to others in a similar role.
Anne Hayes, Head of Market Development for Governance & Risk at BSI said: “The workplace is not the only environment in which individuals should be kept safe. Anybody who is operating in dim or dark situations where they might face a hazard, should feel confident that the clothing they are wearing will make them visible. Having a specification that shows that the LED technology in high visibility clothing is working and meets standard requirements goes a long way towards building confidence.”
PAS 10412 is therefore relevant to construction, police, rescue teams, sports people such as skiers or cyclists, or any individuals who need to be outside at night and for whom high visibility clothing could be useful.