When high vis really means high vis
Published: 01 January, 2008
The technology used in today’s high vis vests is well established, but what happens when you need your high vis PPE to light that extra mile? What happens when even high vis vests just aren’t high vis enough?
This is the problem that Warren Bolger, Terminals and Logistics Manager for BP New Zealand, faced head on – and his bright solution could soon be making its way to high risk areas throughout BP’s worldwide network of facilities, and beyond.
“The issue for us is keeping drivers who are delivering to retail stations safe. Traditionally they have worn high vis orange and green jackets which work pretty well, but we found that there are a lot of lights in service stations these days, and consequently drivers are still at risk because many cars looking for somewhere to park are only seeing these bright coloured lights.”
In New Zealand alone, BP Operations make 33,000 deliveries to customer tanks at night or in low-light conditions, and four years ago a retail site staff member was injured when hit by a vehicle while measuring the level of an underground tank at night – despite wearing high vis clothing.
When Warren – who has worked for BP for 27 years as far afield as Papua, Australia and UK – saw at first hand the solution from Exelite Industries, he really did see the light.
The Exelite LumiHarness uses electro-luminescent (EL) lamps – flexible, flat, cold illumination sources – that are visible from 600 metres (2,000 feet) in zero light conditions. It is based on technology used to guide airplane passengers to emergency exits.
The EL is powered by a rechargeable Li-ion or Ni/MH high capacity battery, and the resulting electronic light – as opposed to incandescent light – is visible through fog, smoke and rain. Moreover, as the LumiHarness is meant for high risk areas, it is certified to ICEX and ATEX intrinsically safe standards. The power source can be recharged in minutes from a vehicle dashboard lighter or an ordinary electricity socket.
“When I saw the jacket,” explains Warren, “it was so bright that the possibilities jumped out immediately. I thought that it was ideal for the drivers, a real step change.”
A one-month trial followed involving around 50 drivers, and without exceptions all the drivers said it was a great piece of kit, remembers Warren. Two years on, Exelite’s products are being used by BP logistics in Australia, Air BP and BP Shipping, BP Exploration, and many other part of BP globally as well as New Zealand police and ambulance services. Other parties involved now include rival energy businesses and even the Le Mans 24-hour motor race in France, where 150 track marshals wore the harnesses in 2006.
“Upstream exploration partners have also expressed an interested, and we have shipped some to Norway. The harness versions are intrinsically safe so they are suitable for platform work. Basically they are ideal for any situation where people need to be seen on a continuous basis.”
