High-Visibility Safety Products Save Time, Money, And Lives On Construction Projects.
Whether it’s mining, building or road maintenance, the constant activity on construction sites means that there is always the possibility that something, at some time, will go wrong. The Federated Mutual Assurance Company of South Africa reported 6,268 construction-related injuries in 2023, including 54 deaths. These were just the number of claims, many accidents go unreported.
They don’t have to be accidents waiting to happen.
Visibility On Site
Workers often find themselves in harm’s way simply because, either they can’t be seen by others, or they can’t see potentially dangerous hazards ahead of them. That’s especially true for workers on road construction projects where traffic can pose a real danger, especially at night or in unpredictable weather.
But ‘on-site’ should never mean out-of-sight. Safety equipment that enhances visibility is one of the smartest investments a company can make to reduce accidents. Fewer accidents mean the costs of downtime are reduced as well as other associated costs. And the investment in safety through visibility not only protects your workers, it projects a sense that they are valued and well looked after.
The Safety Products That Can Work For You To Improve Visibility
Have a look at some of the safety innovations that could enhance your safety measures through better visibility.
Traffic Delineators: Highly visible reflective delineators consist of blades, poles and posts that guide motorists safely around construction work in progress. Our design features an arrow effect to clearly point motorists in the right direction. Class 3 Reflective Prismatic sheeting provides the best visibility. Reboundable delineator posts are a flexible option that continues to provide safe visibility even after collision.
Traffic Cones: Light in weight and easily movable, cones are the simplest first port of call for highlighting areas where workers need to be protected or where workers themselves need to avoid. Usually orange, they come in various sizes and with varying levels of reflectivity.
Warning Solar Cone Lights: Fitting easily onto traffic cones, these solar-charged lights flash at night to provide invaluable night-time safety warnings. They are charged by direct sunlight and this charge will last the entire night.
Convex Mirrors: These mirrors provide visibility in areas where a clear view of potential danger may be restricted. Available in two different sizes to fit all applications.
Road Studs: Studs offer a cost-effective solution to improve visibility in the night or in gloomy light or adverse weather conditions. There are a variety of solutions including temporary studs, high-brightness LED studs, aluminium solar road studs, cast iron, Stimsonite and round solar studs.
Barrier Netting: Lightweight, easy to install, yet durable enough for South African weather conditions, barrier netting is a versatile way to make dangerous areas clearly visible.
Buggy Whip: These highly reflective flags increase their visibility in low-light conditions and are made to withstand harsh environments.
These products and other safety products that enhance visibility are available from Venture Plastics Distributors. On all our products we can also apply reflective stickers and tape made from Class 3 reflective Prismatic sheeting.
How High-Visibility Safety Products Can Protect Your Company
Any mining, construction or road maintenance operations must comply with safety regulations as stipulated in the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1993. Ensuring adequate visibility forms part of the employer’s responsibility with legal and financial consequences for non-compliance.
One area where companies inadvertently fail to comply with regulations is in the level of visibility that road and construction markings provide. The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), for example, has regulations on the level of reflectivity on road signage and markings. Reflectivity should be tested using a retro reflectometer.
Many companies fall into the trap of buying cheap alternative products that don’t achieve the required level of reflectivity and therefore visibility. Venture Plastic Distributors use High-Intensity Prismatic Class 3 reflective tape which is five times brighter than its class 1 counterpart and in compliance with South African National Standards (SANS) 1555.
Many accidents can be avoided simply by making it possible to see the warning signs ahead. Seeing the solutions offered by high-visibility safety products gives you a head start.
