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Safety through visibility: Find the perfect hi-vis vest with Strauss
Since 2014, every car in Germany has been required to carry one – the hi-vis vest, which can be a lifesaver in an emergency. Drivers risk a fine if they don’t comply with this requirement. One vest per vehicle is mandatory for the driver in Germany. In the event of an accident or breakdown, passengers leaving the vehicle on the roadside are in danger. To prevent secondary accidents – for example, while putting a warning triangle in position – it is vital that everyone involved is clearly visible. It is therefore recommended that there is a reflective vest for every person in the vehicle, although this is not a legal requirement in Germany. This is set out in DGUV Regulation 70 (Accident Prevention Regulation).
Private individuals are responsible for carrying a suitable vest themselves, but company vehicles are treated differently: here the employer is obliged to provide at least one hi-vis vest per vehicle. In many other European countries, such as Austria, carrying a hi-vis vest is also compulsory. Switzerland does not have a legal requirement, but strongly recommends keeping one in the car.
The safety vest on the construction site – often indispensable
The garment with its striking bright colours has long since found a firm place not only in road traffic. As part of personal protective equipment (PPE), the safety vest has also been firmly established in the workplace for a long time. Whether on construction sites, when working on busy roads, on railway lines or in waste collection – safety vests are used wherever visibility plays a major role. There are many good reasons why high-visibility clothing is often indispensable in skilled trades:
- On construction sites, confusing situations quickly arise. Especially when large machinery is in use or when there is heavy traffic, it is important for the workers’ safety to be recognised quickly and from afar. The main goal is to distinguish the wearers as clearly as possible from their surroundings and thus avoid accidents.
- Particularly in road and railway construction, high-visibility clothing is essential for personal protection. On busy roads or construction sites on motorways at night, workers can significantly increase their own safety with high-visibility clothing.
- Civil engineering, structural engineering, road construction or railway construction: High-visibility clothing ensures greater visibility for the wearer not only at night and in fog but also during the day – thereby reducing the risk of being overlooked.
Whether wearing such safety vests is mandatory for employees depends on the company and the specific hazards. The general rule is: If the safety vest is part of personal protective equipment (PPE), then it must be worn during working hours. Which clothing counts as PPE is determined in advance by the employer through a risk assessment. But what conditions must actually be met for clothing to qualify as high-visibility clothing?
High-visibility vests and visibility – the class makes the difference
Not every neon-coloured vest automatically offers protection in the dark – at least not legally. Only garments that have successfully passed a strict testing procedure may be called safety vests. Once this is achieved, the DIN EN ISO 20471 standard (formerly DIN EN 471) certifies suitability as a safety vest. But not all safety vests are the same. The DIN standard defines three classes that describe the level of safety the protective clothing provides. Class 1 vests offer only limited protection. Classes 2 and 3, on the other hand, guarantee high visibility. Anyone working on a construction site should wear at least a class 2 vest. Those involved in road or rail construction are best equipped with class 3. In addition, the following recommendations apply:
- Traffic areas up to 30 km/h: Protection class 1
- Traffic areas up to 60 km/h: Protection class 2
- Traffic areas above 60 km/h: Protection class 3
Which class high-visibility clothing falls into depends on the type and combination of garments as well as the minimum area of high-visibility material used. The more material is used, the higher the protection class:
|
Material
|
Class 1
|
Class 2
|
Class 3
|
|
Background material
|
0,14 m2
|
0,5 m2
|
0,8 m2
|
|
Reflective stripes
|
0,14 m2
|
0,5 m2
|
0,8 m2
|
Two high-visibility garments – for example, trousers and a jacket or vest – can be combined to achieve class 3. A vest, T-shirt, shorts, trousers or dungarees alone cannot meet the requirements of class 3. Strauss offers a wide range of dual-certified high-visibility products to achieve the required class. In addition to individual safety vests, Strauss also offers full high-visibility collections such as e.s.motion 24/7, which includes certified high-vis jackets and hi-vis trousers for men and women.
Large selection of safety vests at Strauss
The Strauss online shop offers a wide range of safety vests that meet the EN ISO 20471 standard. A total of around 60 products – including vests, jackets, trousers, shirts and hoodies – are available under the high-visibility range. Whether on construction sites, when riding, in cars or for athletes training in the dark – high-visibility clothing is often needed.
From simple low-cost vests with hook-and-loop fasteners to children’s vests for the school run, functional hooded jackets, high-visibility pilot jackets and weatherproof, stylish softshell jackets – all products focus on safety and quality. Many of the safety vests can also be customised with a company logo printed in signal colours. This not only strengthens team spirit at work but also makes the company visible through its PPE.
Everyone knows how important safety vests are and that each person is responsible for their own safety. In practice, however, a fashionable appearance and good wearing comfort often decide whether a safety vest is worn or not. Strauss also takes this into account. For example, the high-visibility softshell jacket softlight e.s.motion 2020 successfully combines visibility with comfort, as it is also water-repellent, breathable and highly flexible.
The reversible high-visibility jacket e.s.motion ten also offers significant added value in terms of comfort and style: high-visibility, pleasantly warm and quilted softshell on one side, and on the other, a sporty melange look with a cool ribbed texture.
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