Hi Vis Jackets
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps, in the interests of saftey, all FJ aircrew walking out to their jet, should inflate their life vest. This will cover the Hi Vis issue, and also allow vital tracking of their movements by the SAR forces, any trips or minor falls will have added neck protection and the chest is better protected too. In the event of a tidal wave, or sudden increase in sea level, they will also be fully protected.
On entering the cockpit, they must strap in and then eject, to save any time in the event that a stray fuel bowser will roll into their aircraft.
Sorted... a perfectly safe flightline........
Advo
On entering the cockpit, they must strap in and then eject, to save any time in the event that a stray fuel bowser will roll into their aircraft.
Sorted... a perfectly safe flightline........
Advo
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: N Scotland
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The purpose of the hi-viz vest is derived from busy civvie dispersals where vehicles converge on aircraft from all directions. Although there are dedicated "roads" marked around the dispersals, vehicles do need to leave those lanes to get to the jets. Hence the wise safety rule at civvie airports for hi-viz vests.
Having been to Brize and Lyneham, many times, where MT criss-crosses the dispersals, it would be a good idea to make it mandatory at those airfields for personnel to wear hi-viz vests when not in the immediate vicinity of an aircraft (ie safe from properly driven MT). A rule requiring us to wear a hi-viz vest at all times and in all places on all RAF airfields is flawed.
However, in reply to the guy who says that he will do his own thing: wrong. You do as you're told, even if the rule is flawed.
Having been to Brize and Lyneham, many times, where MT criss-crosses the dispersals, it would be a good idea to make it mandatory at those airfields for personnel to wear hi-viz vests when not in the immediate vicinity of an aircraft (ie safe from properly driven MT). A rule requiring us to wear a hi-viz vest at all times and in all places on all RAF airfields is flawed.
However, in reply to the guy who says that he will do his own thing: wrong. You do as you're told, even if the rule is flawed.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Over the moors
Age: 38
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lunacy
I thought this subject would provoke some good responses.
I agree with the thought behind the wearing of Hi Vis vests for groundcrew....ear defenders on, concentrating on marshalling/working on an aircraft and thus not really paying attention to other movements.
Walking to and from aircraft. I can't really say that I have much to think about other than getting to and from the aircraft safely, thus maintaining full SA. I was interrupted whilst doing this by groundcrew shouting across the pan to tell me to put on a jacket, therefore distracting me whilst stood in the middle of the operating area....
Stay Safe Kids
I agree with the thought behind the wearing of Hi Vis vests for groundcrew....ear defenders on, concentrating on marshalling/working on an aircraft and thus not really paying attention to other movements.
Walking to and from aircraft. I can't really say that I have much to think about other than getting to and from the aircraft safely, thus maintaining full SA. I was interrupted whilst doing this by groundcrew shouting across the pan to tell me to put on a jacket, therefore distracting me whilst stood in the middle of the operating area....
Stay Safe Kids
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: firmly on dry land
Age: 81
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We had the same nonsense with hard hats.
The plumbers wore hard hats but they were not issued to aircrew.
We couldn't wear a bone dome cause then we could not get our heads in awkward corners of the bomb bay.
We were not supposed to wear head dress on the flight line etc etc.
I always wore my forage cap; the amount of crud and stains on it were better there than on my head. I lost count the number of times it was knocked off. Being soft it protected my head but did not damage the aircraft. As my job did not entail running around with the engines running there was no fod hazard.
In fact wearing the original forage caps near aircraft did create a FOD hazard. The clip securing the eagle and crown could work loose and the badge drop off. There was a recall and the military tailors had to ensure the clips were bend back - there was no ban, initially, on wearing them near aircraft.
Although we took responsibility for our own safety it was the early ban on wearing helmets on the flight line that led to my hearing disability! H&S goes round and round like the b
y great wheel.
The plumbers wore hard hats but they were not issued to aircrew.
We couldn't wear a bone dome cause then we could not get our heads in awkward corners of the bomb bay.
We were not supposed to wear head dress on the flight line etc etc.
I always wore my forage cap; the amount of crud and stains on it were better there than on my head. I lost count the number of times it was knocked off. Being soft it protected my head but did not damage the aircraft. As my job did not entail running around with the engines running there was no fod hazard.
In fact wearing the original forage caps near aircraft did create a FOD hazard. The clip securing the eagle and crown could work loose and the badge drop off. There was a recall and the military tailors had to ensure the clips were bend back - there was no ban, initially, on wearing them near aircraft.
Although we took responsibility for our own safety it was the early ban on wearing helmets on the flight line that led to my hearing disability! H&S goes round and round like the b
y great wheel.
" The only chap to have been hit by a crew bus while walking on the dispearsal was infact wearing hi-vis ..."
This reminds me of the time I rolled a Ford Transit van. The only injury I sustained was caused by the First Aid box coming adrift from its fixing and hitting me on the head and causing a trip to the local hospital to have the cut stitched !!!!!!!!!! The MTO was not amused. He had to instigate a mod to keep the First Aid boxes in their place.
This reminds me of the time I rolled a Ford Transit van. The only injury I sustained was caused by the First Aid box coming adrift from its fixing and hitting me on the head and causing a trip to the local hospital to have the cut stitched !!!!!!!!!! The MTO was not amused. He had to instigate a mod to keep the First Aid boxes in their place.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: On the outside looking in
Posts: 542
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I remember one sunny day on the HAS site when my FS collared me for not wearing my hi vis vest. I asked him how he knew it was me from all the way across the HAS site - he saw my Wedgewood blue shirt. Told him that kind of showed why my hi vis vest wasn't needed. 
sw
sw
Registered User **
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And there was me thinking it would be becuase you were wearing the cleanest. shiniest, hardly ever used, virginal hi vis vest ever seen on the line.
I walked in from doing a see off one bright sunny afternoon only to be questioned (bollocked) by the Sqn WO as to why I wasn't wearing a hi vis vest ? "Ah", said I, "Eng Wg Orders say you only to need to wear them in conditions of reduced visibility Sir !", to which the WO replied: "never f*cking mind what Eng Wg Orders say, I'm telling you to f*cking well wear them !" he then added that the Crew Chief shambling his way in was in for the same line of questioning. Top bloke !
S_H
I walked in from doing a see off one bright sunny afternoon only to be questioned (bollocked) by the Sqn WO as to why I wasn't wearing a hi vis vest ? "Ah", said I, "Eng Wg Orders say you only to need to wear them in conditions of reduced visibility Sir !", to which the WO replied: "never f*cking mind what Eng Wg Orders say, I'm telling you to f*cking well wear them !" he then added that the Crew Chief shambling his way in was in for the same line of questioning. Top bloke !
S_H
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: On the outside looking in
Posts: 542
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
S_H,
No, it was relatively well used, but generally in low vis or at night.
I would have thought you would have had an exemption, having a hi vis head
sw
No, it was relatively well used, but generally in low vis or at night.
I would have thought you would have had an exemption, having a hi vis head
sw
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: firmly on dry land
Age: 81
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You ain't seen nuttin yet.
The new RAF Umbrella is a black foldable automatic brolly emblazoned with the RAF Roundel and the words Royal Air Force.
in black
The new RAF Umbrella is a black foldable automatic brolly emblazoned with the RAF Roundel and the words Royal Air Force.
in black
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: roughly near Everleigh DZ
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ahh, the beloved hi Viz vest, now the National Costume of Great Britain after 10 years of President Bliar. I think it can look quite smart when worn with a Ratboy baseball cap(peak to the rear obviously), Tasha slapper tracky bottoms and Biffa Bacon boots!
Do they do a Fat Slags version of the hi viz jkt, cropped short to show off spare tyre, stretch marks and belly button piercing?
Load Moving..........
Do they do a Fat Slags version of the hi viz jkt, cropped short to show off spare tyre, stretch marks and belly button piercing?
Load Moving..........
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: South Wales
Age: 63
Posts: 729
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I remember being at TLP, Florennes a few years ago. It was a mass launch of all of the aircraft; the climax of the exercise. The Jengo and I were stood at the top of the line watching the crew-in with great excitement.
I said to the Jengo the following:
“Look at that. The Americans, immaculate in their dark combats with rank and name badges. Professional in their hand signs and salutes. The Germans, again immaculate, German flags on the arms of their jackets. The Italians and French dressed in blue uniforms, extremely smart and professional looking. The Portuguese with their special blue uniforms and gold rank & name badges - highly impressive.
And here on the end of the flight line we have the British – dirty minging and worn out overalls with the arses hanging out of them and grubby crumpled up Hi Vis vests – they look like a bunch of railway workers – not professional airman doing a high profile task in front of other nations ”.
I am not against H&S, on the contrary I think it is essential for a safe working environment. Hi–Vis vests are vital in certain areas. However, when it comes down to Risk Assessment I do think we have lost the plot.
I said to the Jengo the following:
“Look at that. The Americans, immaculate in their dark combats with rank and name badges. Professional in their hand signs and salutes. The Germans, again immaculate, German flags on the arms of their jackets. The Italians and French dressed in blue uniforms, extremely smart and professional looking. The Portuguese with their special blue uniforms and gold rank & name badges - highly impressive.
And here on the end of the flight line we have the British – dirty minging and worn out overalls with the arses hanging out of them and grubby crumpled up Hi Vis vests – they look like a bunch of railway workers – not professional airman doing a high profile task in front of other nations ”.
I am not against H&S, on the contrary I think it is essential for a safe working environment. Hi–Vis vests are vital in certain areas. However, when it comes down to Risk Assessment I do think we have lost the plot.
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Exiled in England
Age: 48
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sadly thats the no-win no fee culture in civvy street, and yes the antidote to that is to risk assess the arse out of every single b d task.......
Unfortunately HM Farces get stiffed worst of all with the "seen to be doing"
has anyone seen a risk assessment for going off to war??
d task.......Unfortunately HM Farces get stiffed worst of all with the "seen to be doing"
has anyone seen a risk assessment for going off to war??
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: South Wales
Age: 63
Posts: 729
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sadly totally agree with you cornish-stormrider. The problem is who actually carries out risk assessments. It is certainly not people who work at the front line, it is certainly not people who fly. It is normally people that have no idea of reality in these environments and use the “text book” to apply their rules.
Sadly those in a position to apply reality don’t because they do not want make waves and therefore our outfit becomes more ridiculous every day.
Sadly those in a position to apply reality don’t because they do not want make waves and therefore our outfit becomes more ridiculous every day.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,081
Received 2,942 Likes
on
1,253 Posts
Funnily enough, now everyone and his dog runs around wearing them you are more likely to get noticed NOT wearing one.