CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers

About CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers

Belisha beacons have marked pedestrian crossings on UK roads for nearly a century, but bagging them off safely has remained a persistent problem for highways contractors. Traditional methods require operatives to climb ladders to reach the beacon globe, creating working at height risk at some of the most pedestrian heavy locations on the road network.

CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers were designed by Peter Hoban to eliminate ladder use entirely when bagging off beacons, using the same extendable pole system as the rest of the CoverMe range. A single operative from the wider highways pool can install or remove a cover from ground level — no ladder training required, no SLAG needed, no working at height risk. This is particularly valuable in confined locations where ladder access would impede the footway or create additional hazards for pedestrians.

When ARTSM updated its best practice guidance to reflect the growing use of mid post Belisha beacon designs, where the beacon globe sits partway down the post rather than at the top, contractors faced a new problem. Traditional covers could no longer be fitted over the beacon due to the revised post configuration, leaving the industry without a compliant solution. Peter Hoban responded by designing a completely new CoverMe Belisha Beacon Cover specifically for mid post installations, maintaining the no ladders required approach while adapting to the new post design. The solution has since been supplied to Waterman Aspen, Route 1 Traffic Management and Clancy, helping contractors remain compliant with current ARTSM guidance while improving workforce safety.

CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers have also been used on major infrastructure projects including a Hatton Traffic Management scheme on the HS2 project, replacing single-use plastic bin bags that were not fully opaque when beacons were left on overnight. CoverMe covers are fully opaque, fully reusable, and manufactured from recyclable material that can be recycled at end of life.

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Download the installation sheet here.

Why CoverMe?

The traditional method of 'bagging off' Belisha beacons is time consuming and dangerous for operatives. In many cases, the traditional temporary solutions used often become displaced, or the single-use plastic bags used are not fully opaque. The biggest issues with this method are:

• Risk of operatives falling from height
• Personal injury and potential death
• Extra equipment required such as ladders
• More than one operative to complete the job
• Takes five times as long to install as CoverMe

How to remove covers

Follow our simple guide on how to remove our covers safely.

Removing Covers Guide

What our customers are saying about IRSS:

"We chose the CoverMe bags for their ease of use and making the process of bagging off signals much safer by elimination of ladder use. This allowed us to use operatives from the wider highways pool as there was no requirement for ladder training."
Chris Pearson — Blackburn Council

"Having worked on the railway for 15 years, we have only ever used bin bags or shrink-wrap to cover signage, but we have finally found a supplier who can meet our needs on the infrastructure. Made from recycled materials, easy to install, avoids working at height risks/costs, and reusable — what a great product!"
Carl Miller — Siemens Engineer, Siemens Mobility

"CoverMe's ability to decommission and bag-off permanent lights saves time and money and totally eradicates the working at height risk."
Patrick Slicker — Colas Group

Q: Does CoverMe work with mid-post Belisha beacon designs?
A: Yes. Peter Hoban designed a completely new CoverMe Belisha Beacon Cover specifically for mid-post installations following updated ARTSM best practice guidance. Where the beacon globe sits partway down the post rather than at the top, the new design maintains the no-ladders-required approach while adapting to the revised post configuration, keeping contractors compliant with current ARTSM guidance.

Q: Do I need ladder training to install CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers?
A: No. CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers are installed entirely from ground level using an extendable pole, meaning operatives from the wider highways pool can be used without specialist ladder training. This also makes installation faster and safer in confined locations where ladders would impede the footway or create additional pedestrian hazards.

Q: Are CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers compliant with ARTSM guidance?
A: Yes. CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers are designed in line with ARTSM (Association for Road Traffic Safety and Management) best practice guidance for bagging off Belisha beacons. The mid-post cover was specifically developed in response to updated ARTSM guidance, and IRSS UK works directly with ARTSM to help shape national best practice for bagging-off operations across the UK.

Q: Are CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers fully opaque?
A: Yes, and this is an important distinction from traditional methods. Single-use plastic bin bags are often not fully opaque, meaning the beacon light can still be visible through the cover when left on overnight. CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers are fully opaque, ensuring complete coverage of the beacon globe in all lighting conditions.

Q: Have CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers been used on major projects?
A: Yes. CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers have been supplied to Waterman Aspen, Route 1 Traffic Management and Clancy for compliant mid-post beacon installations, and have been used by Hatton Traffic Management on the HS2 project as a sustainable, reusable alternative to single-use bin bags.

Q: Can CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers be customised with our branding?
A: Yes. CoverMe Belisha Beacon Covers are available with bespoke branding, including your organisation's logo and any warning or hazard information you require, providing a professional, on-brand appearance at pedestrian crossing locations.

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