Tackling one risk can create another hidden one.

When I purchased LMI’s first drone to assist with building damage and risk surveying I was concentrating on reducing the risk of injury or death to our staff. Climbing up on a ladder to view a damaged roof, telecommunications tower, crane boom or the like can be extremely dangerous.

It was only about a week later that I woke up in the middle of the night thinking what would happen if the drone fell from the sky onto a busy freeway or hit a passerby. I then immediately arranged aviation liability coverage for the drone.

The same has occurred with some safety clothing. In this case, a Perth Doctor, Dr Vlad has issued a warning to trades people and their employers following a person suffering first degree burns from retro fitted reflective tape to the high visibility safety shirt.

Dr Vlad explained that: “It [the reflective tape] usually consists of minute glass beads or prismatic elements encapsulated in a transparent film, which reflect light back towards its source.”

She warned that workplaces requiring safety garments that include reflective tape should ensure that they are not worn in very hot and sunny conditions — especially if the strip is in direct contact with the skin.

She also said “Manufacturers should consider designing shirts that decrease direct contact between retro-reflective tape and skin, potentially by increasing the number or thickness of cloth layers under it.”

I would not have picked this as a risk but with all the hot weather we are already having around most of the country – except Melbourne 🙂 I thought it worth sharing Dr Vlad’s warning with readers. I for one would not like to be installing a new metal roof in many parts of Australia this week.

I will watch with interest to see if any safety clothes are subject to a product recall over the coming weeks.