Month: January 2020

Why a reflective vest cannot be stored in the trunk of a car

Last year, traffic rules were replenished with clause 2.3.4, which states that the driver is obliged “to wear a jacket in the event of a forced stop of a vehicle or accident outside of settlements at night or in conditions of limited visibility while on the roadway or curb, a vest or a wrap vest with strips of retro-reflective material that meet the requirements of GOST 12.4.281—2014.”

Drivers who leave the car without a vest after the accident are fined as much as 1000 rubles by Article 12.27 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. To the same helmsmen who got out of the car to meet a need, smoke a cigarette or for any other reasons, the traffic police are more loyal. Violation of article 12.29 of the Code of Administrative Offenses entails an educational conversation or material sanction, which facilitates a purse of 500 rubles.

It is curious, but not one normative legal act indicates that the driver must always carry a reflective vest with him. In other words, during the standard verification of documents, the traffic cop does not have the right to require the driver to present a cloak. However, this does not prohibit him from tricking: a traffic police officer may ask the helmsman to get out of the car, expressing a desire to inspect the car.

Yes, inspection. We all know that inspection is a voluntary procedure involving only a visual inspection of the vehicle. Most of our “colleagues” get confused in legal terms, as in those very three pines. For those who do not know: the inspector can ask the driver to leave the car only during the inspection, which requires an iron base, two witnesses and, of course, the protocol.

But back to the topic. Suppose, to the joy of a traffic cop, he came across a dunno on the highway late at night, “floating” in terms. The driver, obeying the requirement to get out of the car, carefully gets out of it. And it’s good if the driver at the last moment remembers the reflective cloak. It is doubly good if this same cloak is waiting in the wings, and not in the trunk.

Why – I think, guess for yourself. And if not, then here is the explanation: while walking from the driver’s door to the lid of the cargo compartment, the steering violates the very paragraph 2.3.4 of the SDA, which obliges him to wear the notorious vest. It turns out to be an extremely unpleasant situation – a fine of 500 rubles is written literally out of the blue.

To avoid this, carry a reflective cloak in the cabin. Anyway – do not forget about it. And the point here is not so much in sanctions as in elementary security…

Pedestrians and drivers will be fined for the same violations

Three people’s deputies from the “Servant of the People” faction registered bills that are going to all road users in the dark to wear reflective elements.

One of the bills concerns pedestrians who move by the roadside or roadway. Their authors of the bill want to oblige in the conditions of insufficient visibility and to distinguish themselves at night. If possible, do these using reflective elements (ribbons, stickers, reflective vests). For violation of this requirement, the bill provides a fine of 51 hryvnias.

The second bill establishes obligations for officials of road services to provide builders who work on the road with reflective elements. It also establishes responsibilities for drivers, cyclists, and animal drivers at the time of day or in conditions of poor visibility to be on the road in reflective vests or to fasten reflective tapes or stickers on clothes. For violation of these requirements, a fine of 510 hryvnias is provided.

The 7 commandments for running at night

We choose a known course. In the dark, there is no question of leaving room for the unknown. So we choose a circuit that we are used to and that is safe. Especially since at night, it will look completely different from your daytime runs. We avoid venturing on new paths which we do not know the frequentation and where we could get lost. There will be plenty of time to explore during the day during the long weekend outing.

We make sure to be visible. It is important to wear clothing with reflective strips to be visible to motorists, bikers, and cyclists who may cross our path. Clear colors, even fluorescent, and reflective bands everywhere (leggings, jacket, gloves, hat …) will be your best allies in the dark. A yellow safety vest can also help gain visibility.

We equip ourselves with a headlamp. To know where you set foot and be even more visible at night, a small lamp with an elastic band to put around your head to watch where you are going is more than useful. We will choose if possible with a light power of 200 lumens minimum to be able to pass everywhere, even in the night without fear of tripping on a root or hurting my ankle because of a hole.

We multiply the layers to be warm but not too much. Difficult in winter to choose the right equipment to be warm enough without sweating more than reason. First reflex: protect the extremities. We put on gloves (not too thick but if possible windproof) and a thin cap but in micro-fleece. Then the rule is to multiply thin layers. First, a long-sleeved T-shirt that wicks away breathing, then a waterproof but breathable windbreaker to protect yourself from the elements. The leggings will be a little thicker than the one used in spring. It is best to be a little cold at first but to be comfortable once the body has warmed up by running. If it is really cold (below 0 degrees), we will opt for leggings lined with micro-fleece and a third thin layer between the T-shirt and the windbreaker. On the other hand, we forget the down jacket which is not breathable enough.

We continue to stay hydrated. In the cold, the feeling of thirst is less present, but that is not why we sweat less and that we must drink less. To avoid swallowing too cold water, you opt for a water bag with a pipette that you will carry on your back. Body heat should warm the liquid a little. And we try to keep the rule of half a liter of water drunk per hour of racing. If necessary, you put an alert to take a sip every 10 minutes on your watch or phone.

We warm-up before running. The cold can increase the risk of muscle breakdown. The warm-up stage is more crucial than ever. But beware: we forget about passive stretching before running (more harmful than useful) and we opt for dynamic warm-ups based on small jumps. We start to trot by gradually accelerating then we do a few ranges over a few tens of meters each time, to repeat two or three times (knee rise, buttocks heels, legs stretched, not chased, running backward). We finish with two or three progressive accelerations over 100 meters to increase the cardio. After that, your jogging can start safely.

Opt for shoes suitable for winter. If you run on sometimes muddy trails or paths with many puddles, it may be useful to wear shoes with a Gore-Tex membrane or equivalent. This prevents water from entering the shoe while retaining sufficient breathability.

“Police” vests – bigger problems than you might think

The motorcyclist should visually emphasize his presence on the road, preferably with reflective material elements – there is no doubt here. They usually appear when drivers choose quite controversial designs, which are associated with the uniforms of state services, such as very popular vests with the inscription “Poland”.

Although the inscription “Poland” itself is not controversial in any way, everyone driving behind, before they can read it, automatically slows down. Large numbers of Polish motorcyclists are happy to use it, although there were cases when the police officers had a serious problem with it during the inspection. Anyway – our resemblance to officers does not end with these innocent yellow safety vests. There sometimes appears the inscription Police, referring to the city near Szczecin. There are also blue reflective stripes attached to the sides of the vehicles. This is an evident stop.

In any case, dressing up in this way usually ends with an instruction. A completely different situation has recently taken place in Great Britain. 47-year-old Darren Emanuel, a respected financial advisor, rode his BMW R1200RT wearing a white helmet and a vest with the inscription Polite (polite) and a characteristic checkerboard pattern. What’s more, his motorcycle also came from a police demobilization – so we have a ready set that heralds trouble.

The motorcyclist was stopped by a passing police patrol and strongly advised of the impropriety of his actions, and then released. Darren, convinced of the legality of his outfit, decided to complain to the police station. At that moment a real avalanche started.

He was officially accused of attempted fraud and the case went to court. The insurance company found out about everything and canceled his motorcycle policy. The court admitted that Darren did not want to cheat anyone, but the case was conditionally discontinued and ordered the motorcyclist to pay court costs, in the amount of over PLN 3,000. The worst, however, is that because of the accusation, his contract at work was not extended, and when the owner of his rented apartment learned about everything, he also lost his roof.

So as you can see, it’s worth taking care of your safety, but more thoughtfully.

Be visible on the road, put the reflectors on!

It has been a year since the introduction of regulations that require everyone who walks in the undeveloped area after dark, wear reflectors. Policemen remind them that they have to check if we “shine” in the dark.

“It does not necessarily have to be a yellow safety vest. You can have a headband, tinsel or a key ring that has reflective elements,” explains asp. Marzena Szwed, from the KWP traffic department in Katowice. The reflector must be visible when we go sideways. For lack of it, the police may punish with a ticket. Up to PLN 500!

Pedestrians with reflective elements are seen on the road from a distance of more than 150 meters.

Good pedestrian visibility gives the driver a chance to notice him early and thus to avoid an accident. You don’t have to worry about trinkets only pedestrians walking on the sidewalk in built-up areas.

Don’t forget about it:

1. Always have your reflector with you. You don’t necessarily have to wear a yellow vest with reflective tape. You must have a fluorescent band. They are available on the market in yellow, white and blue. Bicycle drivers wear such leg and armbands, you can do that too.

2. Ladies can attach small reflective pendants to their bags. Such a strip in the spotlight can be seen from afar. This is a sign for the driver that pedestrians are traveling along the road. Gentlemen may have armbands, legs or vests, which we can buy for 5-10 zlotys.

3. The youngest kids can buy glare in the shape of teddy bears, elephants that flash. The idea is to attract the eyes of road users. The cost of buying such a gadget is 3 to 5 PLN. We place it in a visible place on a backpack, jacket or pouch that holds the toddler returning home.

4. When buying a jacket for fall, it is worth choosing one that already has reflective stripes sewn in. Many sports stores have these garments for sale. If you do not have such a jacket, you can buy a reflective tape in haberdashery and sew the child to a jacket or school bag.

5. Watch out for the ticket. If you are not visible at dusk moving in an undeveloped area you can get a ticket. From 20 to 500 PLN. How much we get depends on the policeman and the threat we have caused. The traffic participant is not only the driver on the road but also the pedestrian.

Be visible! Wear reflections!

In the current school year, students of the Primary School St. Francis of Assisi in Łabowa took part in the 10th edition of the “Reflective School” Małopolska Competition. For the eighth time, the school in Łabowa participated in this competition.

All activities related to the competition were intended to make them aware of the need to know the rules of the road, to comply with them consistently and to increase road safety by the obligation to wear reflective vest elements.

Once again, a “Reflective Procession of Preschoolers” took place. Children wearing reflective vests and carrying banners visited institutions operating in the Łabowa commune. They met with the commune head and gave her a reflection. Colorful reflections also received by the head of the GZOJ, employees of Bank Spółdzielczy, employees of the pharmacy and the school management in Łabowa. The children also gave reflections to the pedestrians they met.

As part of the activities there was also a “Reflective disco for preschoolers”, during which, in addition to fun and dancing to music, a fashion show was held. The children presented their reflective outfit made in cooperation with their parents presenting it on the catwalk – a pedestrian crossing.

The “reflective appeal” was the next point promoting wearing reflectors. Students danced “Belgian” and later the whole school community danced “A ram alone”. The results of the art competition were also announced. On this day, children and teachers walked around the school wearing reflective vests, reminding the entire school community of this important duty for every pedestrian on the road. On this day there was also a teaching council where everyone was wearing reflective vests with reflective fabrics.

In each classroom, there are newspapers on the walls that promote the theme of being visible on the road and the need to wear reflectors for your safety.

Once again, students conducted a rosary service at the church, which, as part of extracurricular activities, prepared reflection on the mysteries of the rosary, drawing the attention of the faithful to the problem of road safety and praying for the human life of road users, for victims of road accidents, especially for children dying on the roads. Also, every adult got a reflector.

As part of the competition, a meeting was held with police officers combined with a lecture on the subject of “Safe participation of children and adults in road traffic”.

We ended the action with a meeting with seniors. There was a demonstration of pre-medical first aid that ended with the joint implementation of reflective vests with preschoolers.

Do you care about visibility on the road?

Everyone knows how important children’s safety is on the road. It is good, however, if this awareness translates into real action and real accident prevention. A nationwide initiative comes out Kramp – one of the largest suppliers of spare parts and accessories for the agricultural industry in Europe and at the same time the owner of the Grene chain of stores, based in Modła Królewska near Konin.

“The company decided to supply all kindergartens in our city and the surrounding area (25 facilities) with reflective vests. It is very important for parents to take care of their kids’ safety on the road, especially in autumn, when the weather conditions make the visibility of pedestrians much weaker when returning from school. The simple matter of wearing vests for children provides them with greater safety and thus reduces the risk of an accident.” says Monika Leksowska, Marketing Manager at Kramp Polska.

Education of children promises for the future from an early age. We must focus on shaping the right behavior when moving in traffic, regardless of whether we are pedestrians, cyclists or passengers. We follow the same principle – let’s take care of mutual security. Not without reason, however, most attention is focused on people moving on foot. Our country’s statistics show that 50% of pedestrians – road accident participants lose their lives. This is terrifying information that should motivate us to act on how to prevent it and reduce this number.

“It is impossible to visit all the kindergartens in the region or country, although we would love to. We went to one of the Konin branches, where we talked with children and asked if they knew how to stay safe. Fortunately, preschoolers have shown great awareness of the need to wear glare. We didn’t expect that. They surprised us very positively.” sums up Monika Leksowska.

Representatives of the Kramp company visited the Bajka Kindergarten No. 25 in Konin on November 4, giving children specially prepared yellow safety vests with reflective tape. In parallel with the vest-giving campaign, Kramp also campaigns for its clients. The company sends children’s reflective vests to 500 customers in regions where the risk of children being hit is highest according to the National Road Safety Council. The whole enterprise “Kramp cares for your safety” began in October, when in Grene stores in Poland, every customer received a reflective band with reflective material.

Small things can save lives. Education begins with the simplest safety rules. Children, as it turns out, know this best. Let’s not be worse in this respect. Let’s not be shy and put on our vests.

Reflectors can save our lives

The autumn weather means that it gets dark faster, which, combined with adverse weather conditions, makes pedestrians less visible to drivers. Everyone who moves along the road at dawn or dusk should have reflective elements on them. Visible on the road, properly lit should also be cyclists and mopeds.

It is not without reason that pedestrians are called unprotected road users. Their chances of colliding with a vehicle are small. Sometimes it’s enough to take care of your safety – walking on the sidewalks or the right side of the road, going to designated areas, or not getting on the road from behind parked vehicles. Especially now in the autumn, when darkness falls faster and faster, and road conditions are often difficult, reflectors play a very important role for our safety.

Pedestrians who travel along the road without glare, both after dusk and in the morning, are hardly visible to the driver. The driver can notice the pedestrian-only from a distance of about 40 meters, but during rainfall or fog, this distance is even smaller. If a person has reflective elements with them, the driver can see them from a distance of up to 150 meters. It is also important that pedestrians avoid dark clothes because they are virtually invisible to drivers. Even the smallest reflective material, such as a key lanyard or pendant, will make us more visible.

Police officers remind that from August 31, 2014 pedestrians who move along the road at dusk outside the built-up area are required to wear reflective elements in a way visible to other road users. Persons who do not comply with this provision must face legal consequences.

Not only pedestrians must remember to be visible on the road – the same applies to cyclists and mopeds. Each bike should be equipped with lighting – one white position light at the front, one red at the back and a red non-triangle reflective light. Additional protection, though traffic regulations do not impose an obligation on cyclists to use protective helmets or reflective vests, it is worth using them. By putting on a helmet, we protect our head against serious injuries, and the reflective vest makes us visible to other drivers from a greater distance.

Policemen also call on drivers to remember to limit speed and slow down in the areas of pedestrian crossings and schools and be careful in unlit places where there are no sidewalks. Let’s remember that together we are responsible for our security.

Make helmets and bright reflective attire a must for food delivery riders

I have observed that many food delivery riders do not wear helmets, whether they are on a bicycle or an e-bike.

There could be many factors that deter them from wearing such safety equipment – our hot climate, or perhaps because helmets are not provided by food delivery companies.

Whatever the reason, these riders face long hours on the road, day and night, rain or shine. Singaporeans get food delivered to their doorsteps, but it should not be at the risk of riders’ lives.

My suggestion would be that all food delivery companies mandate the wearing of helmets and bright safety vests, or have reflective strips incorporated into the company attire for greater visibility. Errant riders can be given demerit points.

These companies must take the lead in creating a safety culture among their riders, and take an interest in protecting their lives and livelihoods by providing this safety equipment for free.

We cannot eradicate accidents but we can certainly reduce them with mitigating actions.

What to consider when choosing safety clothing & equipment

Safety clothing and equipment is crucial in some workplaces to help keep people protected from certain hazards. It is the responsibility of the employers and workers to ensure that they use the correct safety clothing and equipment while working.

Apart from the protection that PPEs offer, they also help companies reduce the risks of getting into trouble with the law. Some workplaces are legally mandated to have PPE. Given the pressure that comes with owning personal protection equipment, the process of choosing the right one can be very challenging. Below are some factors to consider.

Assess and Understand the Environment

The most important step is assessing the hazards around the workplace to decide what the right PPE is. You need to be open-minded and understand the effects of each hazard. This process needs the collaboration of different people as this will make it easier to identify these hazards and decide on the right safety clothing with reflective tape and equipment to get for the company staff. It is important to include an independent contributor who doesn’t work in the company so that he or she can provide an unbiased solution.

Know the Right Gear

Before approaching a manufacturer such as Engelbert Strauss to get the PPE, you should be sure of what you need. The gear that a person operating a chemical plant needs differs from that of a construction worker. Hazard assessment will help you determine the kind of PPE you need according to the risks involved. After determining the threats that workers are faced with in their day-to-day activities, you will be in a position to get them the right gear. Some of these threats include impact injuries, sharp objects, extreme temperatures, biological threats, dust, and radiation. When picking the PPE, do so while keeping in mind the risks you identified during the assessment phase.

Once you have picked out the right gear and equipment, the next step should be to train your employees on how to use it. Training begins with the employer making sure that his workers understand what kind of safety clothing and equipment they need and when they require it. The process should include how to put on, remove and adjust the gear and equipment. It is the perfect time to confirm the sizes. The right size is normally determined by the type of the job, size of the wearer and whether there is a need for the employee to wear more protective clothes under the gear. Wearing the gear is not enough. Your workers should simulate their work activities to see how well it fits, which should be perfect. It should not fit too loose or snugly.

Training should also include the PPE limitation, useful life, maintenance, and care and disposal. For example, those working in chemical processing plants should be trained on the proper method to safely dispose of the PPE. This is because exposed clothing is also a hazard.

Go for Quality and Durability

The material and design type of safety clothing will determine its durability. If you buy a helmet that has been made from the cheapest plastic, it will not serve you for more than a couple of weeks. Go for gear that will serve the worker for a long time. Some of these PPEs come with information tags, detailing how long they can last. Do not forget that their durability will be affected by the environment where they get used. Go through the warranty that the manufacturer offers to determine the issues it covers.

As for quality, never compromise it for a lower price tag. Always go for the highest quality and choose products that have met the specified standards. For example, getting your workers footwear made from a cheap material will not prevent the risk of static discharge, which can cause injuries. Ensure the manufacturer has used the finest material and quality build for safety clothing and equipment.

If you follow the above steps, you will keep all your workers protected and make the workplace safe.