Who Wears High Vis?

This is a topic for discussion and can supplement other work from this section. The aim is to make children understand that high visibility (fluorescent, reflective) clothing is commonplace in our society and used for different reasons. Styles vary and not all high vis looks the same as the builder’s.

You’ve probably seen builders wearing fluorescent yellow jackets with silver grey bands around. But many other people wear different kinds of high visibility clothing in their jobs or for sport and leisure. Can you think of any examples?

People who work on roads or railways wear high vis so the traffic can see them.

People who work in other dangerous situations wear high vis so they can be seen by other people, for example a lifeboat crew member or fireman.

People who work at big outdoor events wear high vis so everyone can see that they are there to help, eg football marshals.

People who are outside a lot wear or carry high vis, for example supermarket trolley collectors and postal workers. Paperboys and papergirls usually carry a big yellow high vis bag.

Cyclists are meant to wear high vis. You sometimes can see horses and their riders wearing yellow or even pink high vis.

Tasks:

Next time you are in town or watch the news on television see how many people you can spot wearing high vis. Ask you family if they wear high vis for their jobs.

Look through old catalogues, newspapers and magazines and cut out pictures of people wearing high vis.

Plan a design for your own high vis waistcoat, bag or other item. When would you use it? (Resource pack is available from us with different colours of fluorescent fabric pieces and reflective tape for small high vis craft projects).

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