Safe visibility: Reflective protective clothing
One of the most important factors in protecting your workers in the workplace is good visibility. Whether it is a construction site, a railway station or a warehouse, it is essential that employees are well visible and thus protected.
Reflective elements. What are they and when is it necessary to use reflective clothing?
Reflective work clothes can be recognized at first sight by their distinctive reflective elements and often also by their bright yellow or orange colour.
Reflective clothes are made of fluorescent colour fabric equipped with retroreflective elements. These elements are designed to make their wearer visible in all lighting conditions to ensure that he/she can be noticed well in advance by vehicle or other machine drivers.
Work clothes with reflective elements are designed to be used if their wearers are at risk of damage to their health due to reduced visibility at work. It is necessary to provide workers with suitable reflective workwear ensuring high visibility of their wearers.
Did you know...
that yellow is the most frequently used colour because it is the brightest and most contrasting?
Orange colour is suitable for working outdoors, at heights or by the sea since it is highly contrasting with grey and blue colours.
And since bright pink colour cannot be found in nature very often, it is ideal for work in the woods or green spaces.
Reflective workwear should be mainly comfortable and made of quality materials. The quality of clothing is important considering that it has to retain its properties even after many washes. In no circumstances should workers continue to use workwear with damaged reflective elements.
What are the different types of high visibility materials?
In the field of health and safety at work, we use two types of high visibility materials:
- Fluorescent: Fluorescent (neon) yellow or orange colours are used the most due to their excellent visibility during the day (even in the rain). Visibility can get low during dusk, dawn or in the dark.
- Retroreflective: For maximum visibility, retroreflective colour needs light that reflects back to the light source. Reflective elements are best and most clearly seen by the observer who is closest to the original light source (e.g. the lights of a motor vehicle). Visibility is excellent during dusk, dawn and in the dark.
Every second counts!
TIP: Did you know that workers who use reflective clothing are generally identified three seconds earlier than employees who do not wear reflective clothing?
Good visibility can save your life!
The level of protection defines good visibility
High visibility workwear is classified according to the level of protection = visibility or flagrancy provided to their wearer.
Each class defines the environment in which it is appropriate to use its clothing and also determines the minimum required area of visible material (in m2):
Class 1 Lowest level of protection | Class 2 Higher level of protection | Class 3 Highest level of protection | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluorescent material | min. 0,14 m2 | min. 0,50 m2 | min. 0,80 m2 |
| Retroreflective material | min. 0,10 m2 | min. 0,13 m2 | min. 0,20 m2 |
| Use | If the speed of a vehicle is less than or equal to 30 km/h and the wearer is a passive road user. | If the speed of a vehicle is between 30 and 60 km/h and the wearer is a passive road user. | If the speed of a vehicle is higher than 60 km/h and the wearer is a passive road user. |
Did you know that reflective elements can improve a person’s visibility up to over 200 meters? For best visibility, however, these elements must be exposed at all times. Even after you bend down, sit down or lie down.
Be visible - anywhere, anytime
Reflective work clothing is required in work environments where good visibility of workers must be ensured during the day and at night and in any weather. Choose reflective protective clothing according to the requirements of the working environment, working conditions and the level of protection required.
The use of PPE with a high degree of visibility helps to reduce the risk of accidents and protects the health of workers. At the same time, increased security of workers will reflect in their productivity and morale.
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