In January 2025, a colleague at Heathrow narrowly avoided injury when their scarf became caught in a belt loader during aircraft unloading. Another colleague activated the emergency stop, preventing potentially serious harm. The incident highlights why clothing and accessories deserve attention alongside equipment and working procedures. For those responsible for safety, it is a practical reason to review what staff wear around moving machinery, including how garments fit and fasten.

Heathrow’s current requirements

Heathrow’s updated PPE instruction, issued in November 2025, requires raincoats used airside to have detachable hoods with a quick-release mechanism. It also prohibits neck scarves airside, requires loose items such as ties to be secured, and rules out loose or oversized clothing. Lanyards must have a quick-detach mechanism. These requirements make it worth reviewing the whole outfit, including accessories and the layers worn beneath a jacket.

At HeathBrook, our aviation range includes:

• Outerwear with quick-detach hoods, including hi-vis bomber jackets, MASCOT® softshells and Airlite® Denver and Atlanta longline softshell coats.
• Hi-vis waistcoats with release points at the shoulders and sides.
• Accessories with release features, including fleece snoods, safety-clip ties and made-to-order scarves, where local rules and task assessments permit their use.

A release feature does not override an airport’s clothing restrictions. Selection must account for the complete garment and where it will be worn.

For customer-facing teams, scarves and ties are part of a smart, recognisable uniform. Their fastenings deserve consideration too: a role based mainly in the terminal can still involve reaching, bending and working close to equipment where an accessory could snag.

Our made-to-order scarves with quick-release fastenings and safety-clip ties offer practical alternatives to conventional neckwear, helping teams maintain a coordinated appearance while taking account of their everyday tasks.

Start with the task and where it takes place. Does the employee move between the terminal and the ramp? Can the jacket fasten comfortably over winter layers? Are accessories secured when the wearer bends or reaches?

Quick-release features can help reduce the risk of injury if clothing becomes caught, but they do not eliminate entrapment risks or replace safe working practices. Product selection should always reflect the task, your risk assessment and local airport requirements.

Talk to HeathBrook about reviewing your aviation workwear and identifying suitable options for each role.