Rail Certified Workwear. Fully Managed. Always Compliant.
From hi-vis garments to flame-retardant workwear, phs Besafe delivers end-to-end managed workwear solutions built around the specific demands of the UK rail industry, including full compliance with RIS-3279-TOM.
Why rail has unique workwear demands
Working on and around the UK rail network carries a distinct set of hazards. From fast-moving trains to electrified infrastructure which is why Network Rail mandates its own workwear standard beyond general PPE legislation.
What is RIS-3279-TOM?
RIS-3279-TOM (Railway Industry Standard: Clothing for Railway Trackside Workers) is the UK rail sector's specification for high-visibility clothing worn by trackside personnel. It sets requirements that go beyond the baseline EN ISO 20471 standard for hi-vis garments, including:
- Colour specification — orange for those working on or near the line
- Retroreflective tape placement and minimum coverage area
- Performance after laundering — garments must maintain visibility ratings through repeated industrial washing cycles
- Compatibility requirements with other PPE
Failure to comply can result in workers being stood down from the line, project delays and most critically a significant increase in the risk of a struck-by incident.
Our rail workwear range
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Besafe supplies a full range of garments appropriate for rail environments, including:
- Orange Personal Way Garments (OPWs) — jackets, waistcoats and trousers to RIS-3279-TOM
- Class 2 and Class 3 hi-vis vests, jackets and coveralls (EN ISO 20471)
- Hi-vis waterproof over-trousers and storm jackets
- FR-rated coveralls and two-piece suits (EN ISO 11612 / EN 61482)
- Combination FR/hi-vis garments for dual-hazard environments
- Arc flash-rated outerwear for third-rail and overhead line workers
- Durable work trousers and cargo pants
- Polo shirts and base layers with logo branding
- Kneepad-compatible trousers for maintenance teams
Accessories & PPE support
- Branded kit bags and locker accessories
- Corporate and office wear for rail admin and customer-facing roles
All garments sourced from approved manufacturers and verified to current EN and RIS standards. Garment specifications available on request.
The phs Besafe full circle service
Managing workwear across a large rail workforce spread across depots, sites and on-track teams creates a significant administrative burden.
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Besafe removes it entirely.
Supply & fit
We spec, size and brand garments for your workforce from day one, with proactive replacements built into the contract — no chasing worn-out PPE.
Industrial laundry
Our nationwide laundry network processes garments using specialist wash programmes validated to maintain RIS-3279-TOM and EN ISO 20471 performance standards. Home washing degrades retroreflective tape and can void your PPE certification our service eliminates that risk.
Barcode tracking
Every garment carries a unique barcode. We track the full lifecycle of each item and its wash history, repairs, and replacements, giving you a complete audit trail for compliance purposes.
Managed locker service
Clean, compliant garments are delivered directly into named lockers at your depots and sites. Soiled clothing is collected from designated bins. No staffed cloakrooms, no lost uniforms, no admin.
Secure uniform destruction
At end-of-life, branded or contaminated rail workwear is disposed of securely, preventing reuse or unauthorised access to compliant-looking garments.
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The phs Besafe full circle service
RIS-3279-TOM expertise
We understand the standard, not just the CE mark. Our team can advise on garment selection, layering compatibility and what compliance means in practice for different rail roles.
Industrial laundry that protects your PPE
Our wash processes are designed specifically for protective garments. Unlike general industrial or commercial laundries or home washing, we preserve the performance characteristics that keep trackside workers safe and your compliance intact.
Nationwide coverage, single point of contact
With over 3,000 sites serviced weekly and 1.2 million garments laundered annually, we have the scale to service multi-site rail clients across the UK — with one contract, one account manager and one invoice.
Part of the phs Group
The backing of one of the UK's largest workplace services groups means financial stability, investment in infrastructure and a long-term partnership you can rely on.
Minimal disruption to operations
Our managed service is designed around your workforce's shift patterns. Locker deliveries, collections and repairs happen in the background — your teams get clean, compliant kit without lifting a finger.
Compliance assurance
Compliance in rail workwear isn't a one-time purchase decision, it's an ongoing obligation.
Retroreflective tape degrades. Fluorescent fabric fades. Garments get damaged, repaired and eventually reach end-of-life. At every stage, the question is whether the garment still meets RIS-3279-TOM — and in a managed service, that responsibility sits with us, not you.
Our industrial laundry processes are validated to maintain EN ISO 20471 and RIS-3279-TOM performance ratings through repeated wash cycles. Garments are inspected at each wash stage, with worn or damaged items flagged for repair or replacement before they re-enter the workforce.
Relevant standards and regulations we support compliance with:
- RIS-3279-TOM (Network Rail hi-vis clothing standard)
- EN ISO 20471 (High-visibility clothing)
- EN ISO 11612 (Flame-retardant protective clothing)
- EN 61482 (Arc flash protection)
- PUWER 1998 (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations)
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FAQs
Does phs Besafe supply garments certified to RIS-3279-TOM specifically, rather than just EN ISO 20471?
Yes. RIS-3279-TOM sets additional requirements beyond the EN ISO 20471 standard, including the specific orange colour reference for trackside work. We source garments from manufacturers whose products are tested and certified to RIS-3279-TOM, and can provide documentation on request.
Can your laundry service maintain the PPE ratings on our existing garments?
In most cases, yes. We'll assess the garment types and current condition before onboarding. Our wash programmes are designed to preserve retroreflective tape performance and fluorescent fabric ratings in accordance with manufacturer guidelines.
We have depots across multiple regions, can you service all of them
Yes. We operate nationally and regularly manage multi-site rail clients. A single contract covers all locations, with consistent service levels regardless of geography.
What happens when a garment reaches end-of-life?
Our barcode tracking system flags garments that have reached their service limit or are beyond repair. These are replaced automatically and disposed of through our secure uniform destruction service — preventing decommissioned rail workwear from being reused.
How do you handle urgent replacements if a garment is damaged on site?
We hold stock buffers as part of our managed service agreements. Damaged garments can be reported through your account manager and replacements are dispatched based on agreed SLAs.
Ready to take the rail workwear compliance burden off your team?
Talk to a phs Besafe rail specialist today. We'll assess your current workwear setup, identify any compliance gaps and build a managed service around your workforce and sites.