WHILE there are plenty of people sighing with relief that the BHP Billiton takeover of Rio Tinto fell in a heap, the Note was amused to hear one unexpected reason. A fellow with big contracting links to both companies reckoned the proposed merger would have created a headache for him because of the number of new uniforms he’d have to order. It seems there is a clear policy difference when it comes work clobber, with BHP in the orange corner and Rio in the blue or blue/yellow. The Note was reliably informed that the uncorporate colour differentiation is more than just black versus white, like the old Spy vs Spy days. Both companies have valid reasons for their take on what is better, for safety rather than outback fashion of course.