Tag: safety vests

They develop vests that detect social distance

Elements sound, vibrate and turn on warning lights when one vest is close to another.

Schwarzmüller, an Austrian manufacturer of cargo vehicles, has become the first company in Europe to wear novel protective safety vests that warn of an unwanted approach between two people wearing it to maintain the minimum separation imposed by the coronavirus in work environments.

The protective vest sounds and vibrates, while the lights on the shoulder straps and waist turn on when you are going to exceed the safety distance with another person.

In this way, the system guarantees the social distance between workers, required to control the pandemic, also in assembly lines and other industrial facilities.

The company’s spokesman, Michael Prock, said in telephone statements to Efe that by acquiring this personalized system, “the responsibility of guaranteeing the health of the workers” is assumed.

“We also avoid possible and costly interruptions to our production lines in the event of a positive, which would force us to place numerous workers in quarantine,” he adds.

The traditional company, with 140 years of history, has acquired dozens of these vests, developed by the German company Linde Material Handling, and whose price is 499 euros per unit. The vests weigh about 300 grams and their battery holds up to a full work shift of about eight hours.

Peter Markschläger, the spokesman for Linde Austria, explains that this technology comes from a system applied in transport vehicles in logistics centers or in large construction sites, which serves to avoid collisions, by warning both the driver and the pedestrian that they are approaching. each other.

According to Markschläger, the vests can be used “in any area where many people work, as people usually have trouble estimating the necessary distance well.”

Does Vehicle Color Play a Role in Apparatus Safety?

Beginning in the early 1970s, research was introduced suggesting there was a relationship between fire apparatus color and vehicle accidents. The concept presented was those lighter, brighter more visible colors would gain attention more quickly, improve reaction time, and as a result, reduce the number of visibility-related accidents.

Arguments against the color theory focused on the effectiveness of using flashing lights and sirens as warning devices, and the driving public would not quickly recognize fire vehicles if they weren’t the traditional red color.

By definition, the most visible vehicle colors are in the group of lime-green, lime-yellow, and yellow, while the most traditional apparatus colors are in the group of reds.

Where did we start?

Over the years, these issues were argued, studied, and re-argued leading to a study published in 1984 to compare the accident rates of fire apparatus consisting of two distinct colors —lime-yellow and red.

That multi-city study involved nine departments with an aggregate of more than 750,000 runs. All fire apparatus in the study consisted of engines and aerials. Five cities used red and four cities used the lime-yellow apparatus. The results showed the five “red” cities had accident rates higher than the four “lime-yellow” cities. The overall average was 31.9 accidents/100,000 runs of red apparatus vs. 15.3 accidents/100,000 runs of lime-yellow apparatus.  Stated another way, the red apparatus had an accident rate almost double the lime-yellow rate.

While the data pointed toward lower accident rates with the use of the yellow group of colors, enough questions were raised to indicate more research would be helpful.

Therefore, a second study, published in 1995 with more precise controls was initiated and dealt with four years of data and analyzed one large department (Dallas, TX), which had both a red or red/white fleet and a lime-yellow fleet. The single department approach was done to reduce variables, which included training, weather, language usage, apparatus maintenance, community culture, law enforcement, insurance requirements, and fire department response policies. Only pumpers/engines were considered to control the variable of vehicle size. The actual police reports for each event were studied to have an accurate knowledge of what occurred.

This study involved a comprehensive method of analysis and was published as original research in research in 1995 in the “Journal of Safety Research” by the National Safety Council. It was peer-reviewed by a panel of anonymous experts to assure accuracy, reliable methodology, and results. There were fewer runs than the prior evaluation but limiting the variables as much as possible allowed a more precise computation of accident rates. The research revealed lime-yellow pumpers were statistically safer than red or red-white fire pumpers.

The conclusion of the study stated: “…the likelihood of having a visibility-related multiple-vehicle accident or a visibility-related single-vehicle accident for a red or red-white fire pumper is greater than for a lime-yellow or lime-yellow/white fire pumper. Perhaps it is more than three times as great.” The results confirm color visibility reduces accidents and when accidents do occur, they are less severe.

Where are we now?

The research presented above supports the concept that colors that are represented at the peak of the visual spectrum, contribute to a lower accident rate for fire apparatus.

Since then, the NFPA has issued several standards revisions for fire apparatus which include updated warning light and audible devices, recommendations based on new and improved technologies, and enhanced utilization of retro-reflective materials.

It is appropriate to ask the question “Does the use of a high-visibility color still have an impact on fire apparatus accident reduction?”

To that end, an analysis was performed starting in 2018 and took into account runs and accidents on a sample of fire departments representing the high visibility colors—lime-green, lime-yellow, and yellow—and departments representing the darker, traditional colors—red, red-white, and red-black—fire vehicles. As in the 1984 study, an emphasis was placed on accumulating a high number of apparatus runs. The focus was for the years 2013 through 2016. Among the differences included in this study was the use of apparatus manufactured to the updated NFPA apparatus standards.

The 12 fire departments that fully completed the survey questionnaires were used in the study, 6 with red engines and 6 with lime-green, lime-yellow, or yellow engines. For the four years over 2,600,000 runs were accumulated. The fire departments are listed in the associated bar graph.

The results compare the accident rates per 100,000 runs. It was found on average than those departments using red on their engines had an accident rate almost double the departments using the lime-green, lime-yellow, or yellow engines. The red accident rate is 47.9 accidents per 100,000 runs and the yellow group accident rate is 24.7 accidents per 100,000 runs.

What does the future hold?

The concept of using high-visibility fire apparatus color to reduce accidents was introduced in the mid-1970s. As fire apparatus were updated and modernized over the years, including improved engineering and technology, one goal was improving safety to the firefighters and the public.  The studies of how fire apparatus color impacts accident reduction now spans more than 50 years.

The visibility colors are no strangers to the motoring public and the fire service. Also, to use on emergency vehicles, it is now seen on entire classes of D.O.T highway signage as well as on high-visibility highway safety vests. Firefighters use lime-green and lime-yellow frequently including on structural firefighting garments.

It is reported intersection accidents are among the most severe and represent the largest class of serious apparatus accidents. Enhanced visibility contributes to reducing both the number of intersection accidents and the seriousness of those events.

The fire service is constantly given opportunities for enhanced safety with the expansion of visual research, emergency lights, audible devices, and retro-reflective/fluorescent materials. These improved and even novel approaches do not mean color is less important. The devices and materials that enhance detection are additive and work in concert with color. This is a primary principle of building the safest possible apparatus to reduce or eliminate accidents and injuries.

The bottom line is color plays an important role in the safety and the use of lime-green, lime-yellow, or yellow as a visibility color substantially enhances safe operations. Because of the consistency of the ways the eyes see, the safety effects of color through visibility remain unchanged over time and will continue.

Groups Aim to Widen Access to Safe Equipment for Women

Recent efforts to provide properly fitting personal protective equipment to women on construction job sites are highlighting the connection between safety and long term careers in skilled trades and management.

“If someone doesn’t feel safe or doesn’t have the tools or equipment they need to do their job, it’s going to be very difficult to keep them engaged and feel like they’re going to succeed on the job site,” says Allison Scott, director, Autodesk Construction Solutions. “We think there’s an opportunity here to talk about safety and specific safety equipment for women.”

Autodesk partnered with Associated General Contractors to create a grant program that will provide AGC members with funding to purchase safety harnesses suitable for women. The program, which debuted Nov. 12, will accept applications until Jan. 10 to fund about 300 harnesses. While there are no set limits on the number of harnesses applicants can receive, nor on specific brands, grantees are required to schedule training in their use, as well as on proper fitting PPE and fall protection. Grantees are also asked to describe plans to recruit and retain underrepresented populations in an industry where women currently make up less than 10% of the workforce, says AGC spokesman Brian Turmail.

For Carly Hayden, a safety manager at construction management firm Columbia, North Reading, Mass., finding workers wearing improperly fitted gear is not uncommon during on-site inspections of subcontractors. “A lot of times they don’t know it should befitting a certain way, which is a little unnerving because they are supposed to be taught how to wear a properly fitting harness,” she says.

Compounding that is the size and type of fall-protection equipment that companies purchase. Hayden says certain styles, such as a cross-body harness that hooks in the front, are better suited to women’s frames. But those aren’t always available. Hayden describes job sites “where it looks as though somebody has just gone to Home Depot to grab a harness just because it was easy to access and relatively inexpensive. I think a lot of it comes down to cost,” she adds. “A lot of the models that are more geared to women … they’re pricier.”

When Jarrett Milligan, a vice president of environmental health safety at Skanska, learned that a female employee had been in the field outfitted in oversized gear—a potential hazard—he decided it was a problem the company could solve directly.

Milligan was dissatisfied with the PPE options for women that he saw. Many were missing common features such as extra pockets, and space to clip on a microphone or put a notebook. Skanska turned to its PPE vendor Colony Hardware. Using feedback from a meeting where Skanska employees tried on an array of safety vests, Colony and manufacturer Radians created a prototype. Female employees at Skanska field-tested them and further adjustments followed. The vest was made available in May and can also be purchased by other firms. “We have almost all our female workforce in them,” says Milligan. Skanska spokesman Chris Villari says it’s a small gesture with a big impact. “We acknowledge and respect this new influx of women into our industry,” he says.

Skanska is now testing a three-season jacket design in the field, with a raincoat test to follow. “We’re looking at anything we can get our hands-on,” says Milligan.

Volunteers Needed for Spring Litter Sweep

Volunteers across the state are needed to help clean up trash along roads from April 11-25 during the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s annual Spring Litter Sweep.

Each April and September, the department seeks volunteers from local businesses, schools, nonprofits organizations, churches, and community groups play an important role in keeping North Carolina’s roads clean.

Volunteers wanting to participate should contact their local litter management coordinator.

“Every day, more people make North Carolina their home or do business here,” said David Harris, NCDOT’s Roadside Environmental engineer in a release. “With that, comes increased litter and trash on our roads. We need others to help us keep our state beautiful and safe, and it starts with each of us doing our part.”

Volunteers wear gloves and safety vests and are given cleaning supplies such as reversible orange and blue trash bags.

“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.

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.

Reflective Materials Market by Key Players, Application and geography

Reflective materials, manufactured from different optical quality glass beads measuring three fourth the size of human hair, are packed together densely and coated with aluminum. The process transforms each glass bead into a convex mirror. Light hitting the glass bead is reflected towards the source, unlike in a normal flat mirror where the reflection is only on the opposite side of the image. Therefore, a mirror build with reflective glass beads displays the image on every side.

Planning to lay down a strategy for the next few years? Our report can help shape your plan better.

Typically, reflective materials are made by leveraging micro prismatic technology or glass bead technology. The glass beads technology mostly finds application in the textile industry since it is flexible and easy to store. The technology uses millions of high-performance glass beads that reflect light effectively in all directions because of their spherical shape. The micro prismatic technology, on the other hand, consists of retro-reflective microscopic prisms formed on a polymeric film. They help to produce a bright reflective appearance on accessories and garments.

Spurring demand for reflective materials is the growing demand from end-use industries such as construction for materials having high visibility. Such materials offer greater visibility and hence safety in low light conditions resulting from fog, snow, and darkness after nightfall. Fabric made of reflective materials also finds use in safety and traffic management.

Despite solid demand from different sectors, the market currently has to contend with a few headwinds resulting from the supply and demand gap and fluctuating prices of raw materials. However, the market is still anticipated to grow on the back of the rising usage of reflective materials in manufacturing solar panels, windows, architectural glasses, and various apparels, namely sportswear, shirts, shoes, vests, fashion, jackets, belts, armbands, signs, safety vests, backpacks, badges, belts, and raincoats.

Product-wise, the key segments of the global market for reflective materials are reflective coating, reflective sheet, reflective film, reflective tape, reflective fabrics, reflective inks, etc. At present, the segment of reflective coatings is seeing maximum demand in the market due to their widespread usage in the textile industry, where flame retardant reflective apparels are much in demand.

End-use industries pushing up demand for reflective materials are textile, construction, automotive, etc. Among them, the construction industry is a major growth driver. Demand for reflectors, display panels, and lightening lenses drives the market.

Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa are some of the key geographic segments in the global reflective materials market. The Asia Pacific, of them, is a leading region which is being driven mainly by India and China. Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are also fast emerging as prominent regions because of the surging demand for reflective materials from construction, automotive, and textile industries.

The global market for reflective material is characterized by stiff competition because of the presence of quite a few local companies in the market. To surge ahead of rivals in such a competitive environment, savvy players are seen focusing on leveraging the latest technologies to facilitate product development. In this manner, they are hoping to improve sales and therefore up their profit margins.

The best reflective element is according to police vests

or almost a year, pedestrians moving outside the village must wear a reflective element in the dusk and the evening. According to the police, bright safety vests are best visible. But the results from the test rooms, where Czech Television has been, show that many of them lose their light intensity after a few washes. People do their duty, but they are not easier to see.

The requirement is that the waistcoats can withstand 25 items of washing, said the laboratory of the Textile Testing Institute (TZÚ) Ivana Tichá. Although the tested vest declares that it can withstand 50 washes, signs of wear have been visible for the first time.

According to the head of the certification department of TZÚ Svatava Horáčková, the material of the vest is unsatisfactory because it is very sparse: “Even after the first wash, the reflective belt shows damage.” According to her, the vest would not pass the test. After ten items of washing, it would be almost unnecessary in the field.

“These fluorescent bands are prone to wear during washing and maintenance,” Horáčková explained. According to her, materials are also destroyed by abrasion or bending. In the institute, they also simulate the friction of the vest that occurs when the pedestrian moves. However, none of the tested samples were satisfactory.

Every third vest did not pass during the last inspection of the inspection

There are no limits to the material properties of children’s clothing, brilliant color is only an advantage in these cases. On the contrary, strict parameters are prescribed by law for work clothes, for example for reflective vests with reflective tapes.

According to reflection experts, one of the most important data is the CE mark. “There are vests that do not have the brand and look very similar. But they cannot be guaranteed that the reflective properties are in order,” warned Karel Škréta, an authorized employee of the Occupational Safety Research Institute.

However, even the vest from the stand that had this mark did not pass the test at TZÚ. The Czech Trade Inspection Authority carried out the last inspection action on these goods in 2012. It found faults with every third producer.

The new school year starts

Approximately 2,600 children are likely to be enrolled this year in the area of ​​responsibility of the police inspection Delmenhorst / Oldenburg-Land / Wesermarsch. For them, the school routine begins with their school enrollment on Saturday, 17 August. For all other school children, the new school year starts on Thursday. On this occasion, the police appeals to all road users and calls for special caution and consideration. Especially at the beginning of the school year must be reckoned with thoughtless actions of the “newbies”. In particular, parents are asked to practice the right behavior in traffic with their children. For example, they can already go out together in advance and discuss special danger spots. It is also important that the parents ensure that their children are easily identifiable. This can in the form of glowing safety vests, collars or satchel covers. Even bright outerwear, preferably with reflective stripes, is helpful.

Parents should also practice with children who are brought to school by bus. Again, there are sources of danger, where they have to keep an eye on passing traffic. The children must learn that they have to pay attention to cyclists and pedestrians when getting off the bus. Especially important: Never cross the road directly in front of or directly behind the bus.

Children who are brought to school by car must be properly secured. Up to the age of 12 and a height of fewer than 1.50 meters, a suitable child seat is mandatory. Missing or insufficient securing of children in the car can be punished with up to 70 euros. The entry and exit should only be done on the side facing away from traffic. Parents should also consider carefully whether it is necessary to drive their children to school by car. Less traffic helps to prevent the dangerous traffic chaos in front of the schools.

To give children the safest possible start into everyday school life, the police will focus more and more on school trips, especially in the first few weeks. Of course, monitoring the prescribed speed limits will be one of the priorities of the police. The city of Delmenhorst, as well as the rural districts of Oldenburg and Wesermarsch, will also carry out speed checks and measurements near the elementary schools.

Furthermore, compliance with child safety regulations in motor vehicles is checked. Also, the police have, among other things, violations of the holding and parking regulations in the school environment and the area of ​​school routes in view.

Reflectors in Winter: Bright lifesavers for children

Especially in the dark season, children are at risk in traffic. With the right clothes and equipment, you can avoid accidents on the way to school. Our tips to increase visibility in traffic.

“A careless moment, a child running out into the street between parked cars – especially in the fall and winter months accidents happen to the little ones more often. However, many dangerous situations and accidents would be relatively easy to avoid,” says TÜV Rheinland.

Lack of visibility, especially at dusk and in the dark to school trips accidents: Especially accident critical times: between 7 and 8 clocks in the morning and between 16 and 18 clocks. “Children are seen worse,” says Julia Lohmann from the German Road Safety Council (DVR). The risk of accidents increases when snow, rain and backlights worsen the sight of motorists. Parents could easily find a remedy, Fohmann warns.

Safety on the walk

“Parents should always have their children in mind,” says Julia Lohmann. Especially first-graders are particularly vulnerable, since on the one hand by their height even do not have the required overview, on the other hand also be noticed worse. “Children of this age are often still unpredictable and their response is poor.” The ADAC points out. Especially when the little ones first have to master their way to school in the dark. If the parents cannot accompany the children to school, this task can be taken on by other adults or older children.

Visibility in traffic

With light reflective clothing, children are visible in the dark up to 40 meters, in dark clothing, however, only up to 25 meters. If a car has to brake at a speed of 50 kilometers per hour, the braking distance alone is around 28 meters. Therefore, the earliest possible visibility in traffic is extremely important. Colorful clothes seem more striking than monochrome, advises Württemberg insurance. Not only children and pedestrians but also joggers and cyclists are often overlooked in the dark season. Particularly suitable is therefore eye-catching clothing, such as neon colors such as pink or yellow.

Reflectors increase visibility

Who does not know her from his school days? ABC shooters or kindergartners receive small colorful reflectors that they can tie to their school bags or clothing. Meanwhile, there are a variety of animal and cartoon characters and colors of these Blinkies. In the spotlight of oncoming cars, these reflectors are already widely visible.

Visible clothing

In the dark season come again the bright neon-colored safety vests are used. They are made of breathable and lightweight material and can be easily pulled over the normal jackets. Visibility is increased enormously with safety vests: even at a distance of 140 meters, these can be perceived by motorists. An important time to slow down and prevent an accident.

In addition to safety, vests can also be tightened bands and sashes. However, the surface of the reflective material should not fall below 15 square centimeters, warns the Tüv. Otherwise, the luminosity is not big enough. In specialist shops and on the Internet, LED bulbs with reflectors can be purchased, which can then be fastened with a clip to the backs of shoes and bring even more attention

Safe locomotion

Anyway, a roadworthy bike should have reflectors on the spokes, so-called cat’s eyes, as well as reflectors on the pedals, says Julia Lohmann from the German Traffic Safety Council. “And with a bell to be heard better.” In the meantime, there are also bicycles, the rear additional reflective strips and thus increase security. “Young children should also use the sidewalk with their bicycles in the dark season.” Headlamps, worn on the helmet or the head, also generated more attention from oncoming cyclists due to the cyclist’s movement.

Also, the LED lamp could often be switched to the flashing mode and so additionally noticed earlier, advises the Württembergische insurance. However, more and more children are using not only the bicycle but also scooters, which offer less space for reflectors. “But visibility can be increased by using LED lamps that are attached to the front panel,” advises Lohmann. Some scooter manufacturers already have built-in lamps, some also have side LEDs and reflectors on the wheels.

Conclusion: The more flashy, brighter and more colorful the clothes, the more reflectors and blinking on jackets, bicycles, and scooters – the earlier the little ones are perceived even in the dark season. And they are all safer on the road in winter.