UIC is pleased to inform you that the “UIC Guidance on high visibility clothing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for track workers” has been published (English, German and French).

This guidance has been prepared by the UIC Safety Platform Working Group “Occupational Health and Safety” chaired by Colin Clifton in order to propose best practice for Infrastructure Managers (IM) and Railway Undertakings (RU) in respect of the issue and use of high visibility clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) for personnel working on or near rail infrastructure.

High-visibility clothing and other PPE is provided to these employees so that they can work safely and be seen in good time by the drivers of approaching trains. This guidance recommends that in order to assist drivers to recognise these personnel a standard colour code be used at least for the background material of high-visibility clothing.

The objective of this guidance is to set out a range of options for the personal safety of the employees of Infrastructure Managers and Railway Undertakings and their contractors and suppliers required to work on or near rail infrastructure.
However, this guidance could just as appropriately be applied to personnel from the emergency services, law enforcement agencies, National Safety Authorities and rail regulators, National Investigation Bodies and employees or contractors of Transport Undertakings such as freight forwarders / shippers whose activities require them to be on or near rail infrastructure.