European Railroad Discussion > Shrewsbury - Severn Jct.

180 levers!!

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/network-rail-graduates-step-into-history/

What is the obsession with those obnoxious orange vests in the U.K.?  They aren't used nearly as much in the rest of the EU. My biggest beef is that they are required to be worn on the lineside on photo charters. Even when we have 100% occupation of the line. So if one participant wanders off, you can be sure he or she will end up on the photo. Same if anyone is standing next to a clean loco. The reflection shows up in the photo. Sure photo shop works for stills. But what about video?  Pretty sure no one got run over while touring this famous signal box. 

From the cab of a locomotive, a person in an orange vest is much more visible than if the vest were absent.

Orange vests are ubiquitous in The Colonies.

In Japan they are hardly seen at all 

a short narrow  strip of 2 reflective tapes can be seen around workshops sometimes with reflectorised hard hats

andersonb109 Wrote:
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> What is the obsession with those obnoxious orange
> vests in the U.K.?  They aren't used nearly as
> much in the rest of the EU. My biggest beef is
> that they are required to be worn on the lineside
> on photo charters. Even when we have 100%
> occupation of the line. So if one participant
> wanders off, you can be sure he or she will end up
> on the photo. Same if anyone is standing next to a
> clean loco. The reflection shows up in the photo.
> Sure photo shop works for stills. But what about
> video?  Pretty sure no one got run over while
> touring this famous signal box. 

It's what British law requires. Have a problem with it, contact your MP.

The law does not say "you must wear a yellow vest"   What it does say is that employers (and other organisations) must provide a safe (working) environment.   The idea that the law says "yellow vests" has taken hold when the true requirement is to undertake a risk assessment and then put in place measures to mitigate risks that have been recognised.

Hartington Wrote:
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> The law does not say "you must wear a yellow
> vest"   What it does say is that employers (and
> other organisations) must provide a safe (working)
> environment.   The idea that the law says
> "yellow vests" has taken hold when the true
> requirement is to undertake a risk assessment and
> then put in place measures to mitigate risks that
> have been recognised.

The vests are the way the railway meets the requirement of the law to provide a safe working envioment. It just happens to be the least expensive way too.

It may well be that yellow vests have been determined to be the answer to many risk assessments.   My own view is that sometimes they are an easy way out and that, with a bit of thought, a safer method of working can be designed and that may even do away with the need for a yellow vest (but rarely).   I also believe a lot of risk assessments are badly undertaken and the yellow vest is a panacea.

What I find difficult to understand is how two people doing essentially the same job can find themselves in a situation where one has to wear yellow and the other doesn't.

Hartington Wrote:
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> It may well be that yellow vests have been
> determined to be the answer to many risk
> assessments.   My own view is that sometimes
> they are an easy way out and that, with a bit of
> thought, a safer method of working can be designed
> and that may even do away with the need for a
> yellow vest (but rarely).   I also believe a lot
> of risk assessments are badly undertaken and the
> yellow vest is a panacea.
>
> What I find difficult to understand is how two
> people doing essentially the same job can find
> themselves in a situation where one has to wear
> yellow and the other doesn't.

You're attempting to use logic, don't.

Ok, I can see wearing the vests outside, around the equipment, tracks, ect. Inside the switching building, no. Inside a locomotive, no.

CPRR Wrote:
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> Ok, I can see wearing the vests outside, around
> the equipment, tracks, ect. Inside the switching
> building, no. Inside a locomotive, no.

They don't have to wear them indoors or in locomotives. Drivers frequently drape their hi vis vest over the second seat or on the panel in front of the windscreen (see attached) Others wear them all the time, it's purely a matter of personal choice.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/25/18 10:11 by 86235.

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Here we are, with this incredible beautiful historic Interlocking ... and we're fussing about orange vests??? Using them is compliance with the Rules - just like not stepping on a rail when crossing the tracks. Good grief.

What seems obvious to me looking at the images that the staff manning the box do not wear their hi vis clothing inside. It's the graduates and their guide, who have walked across the track from Shrewsbury station and who presumably will walk back after their tour has finished, who have it on.