In a recent Aero Club Newsletter I noted the following article and I quote verbatim:

“All members please note it is a condition of entry by Australian Pacific Airports that all pilots and students going Airside are wearing high visibility Safety Vests. There are a limited number available at the Club and we encourage you to purchase your own”.

Is there anybody out there that can really justify this? Can anybody explain why, like a pox, the fluoro safety vest has infiltrated our society to the point where it is now mandatory; even where and when it is not needed? If it really is mandatory why isn’t this stated in the ERSA?

Now don’t get me wrong here, there are places where a safety vest may well be a good idea and this includes an airport at certain times of the day and in certain areas of certain airports at all times but the spread of the fluoro safety vest is now so complete that the only way to get quickly noticed on a building site, transport yard or airport is to not wear one. If you are so instantly visible without one than wouldn’t it be prudent to ask why one is actually needed? Can anyone tell me the last time someone was run over by an aeroplane at an airport? Or for that matter when someone was last hit by an airside vehicle. Sure it has happened, no doubt it will happen again, but can you seriously tell me it would be prevented by a safety vest? It is far less safe to cross a busy street than it is to walk around most parts of most airports. Will safety jackets be a requirement for pedestrians soon? I have already heard talk about mandating them for push bike riders and motorcyclists.

The problem with making everyone use something is that commonality reduces effectiveness. Once upon a time the fluoro jacket was the tool of the roadside worker, night shift employee and crossing guard. These folk need them. Folk in busy machinery orientated employment need them. Folk working airside at some airports need them, but when the fluoro jackets effectiveness is lost through commonality will a hat with a strobe light become the next big (compulsory) thing in safety?

It is unfortunate that litigation and the view of a minority has brought about the dumbing down of Australia. So completely have the safety police infiltrated our society that things like trains in parks are now surrounded by metal bars and the big swings, metal seesaws and high slippery dips I messed around on as a kid have all disappeared. A whole new lingo has been coined and daily we hear stuff like “litigation”, “risk assessment”, “public liability” and that hoary chestnut; “duty of care”. The word “personal” in front of “responsibility” has disappeared along with swings and slippery dips.

Are there any pilots out there that can look me in the eye and state categorically that a high visibility jacket is needed on an airport 100% of the time, or even 10% of the time? Is there anyone out there that can tell me that a decent swing is seriously unsafe or that a train in a park should be removed or caged? It is this that proves my point that the safety police, who are a tiny and unrealistic vocal minority, have foisted mandatory rules on a silent majority. Unfortunately the silent majority are sheep, ruled like serfs and lacking any common sense. Like idiots we comply with stupid rules thus allowing the safety police to win and then move on to impose yet more restriction.

The more enlightened of the new age set are saying that everything happens for a reason and there is no such thing as an accident or a victim. The purpose of this article is not to espouse this view, but rather to take it and state categorically that we should look after ourselves more and stop looking so critically at what others folk choose to do when the only risk they pose is to themselves. By all means, if wearing a safety jacket is your thing then do it, but we should be also be more compassionate towards those that hurt themselves rather than use the situation to dictate to others how it could have been prevented when Blind Freddie can see the only thing lacking at the scene of most accidents was a bit of common sense.

We should renew the term “personal responsibility”. Folk have been injuring themselves since life began and a hi vis safety vest ain’t going to stop it. I for one am not going to walk in front of a taxiing aeroplane and I can see and look out for airside vehicles myself. I wouldn’t have a pilot’s license if I couldn’t. I accept total responsibility for myself on an airport. Can you do the same? If I venture onto the airport tarmac at night in a noisy environment I may well choose to wear a safety jacket but shouldn’t the choice be mine as an individual when outside of employment?

In the case of the Aero Club, can anyone really justify why a safety vest is suddenly needed when there are less vehicle and aircraft movements now at this airport than there were 20 years ago, before the safety jacket was invented? In the history of this club has there ever been an airside accident caused by lack of personnel visibility? More to the point has anyone out there got the guts to stand up to the safety police? Couldn’t the Aero Club get up and say; “sorry, but this is a bit stupid”? Nope, didn’t think so!

Just remember that it is the silent majority that gift power to the safety police! No wonder seaplanes and the grass strip down the road looks so good to me.

Train in park in Australia. Curiously this train is located next to an unfenced, deep and fast flowing river. There is a kid's playground (minus decent swings or slippery dip) inbetween! (Location: River Park, Deloraine Tasmania)

Trains in park in Turkey where you are welcome to climb through, over and under as well as play with the controls of all the exibits! (Location: Istanbul Province, a short trip from Istanbul itself)