Tag: reflective material

The basics of high-visibility safety apparel

Workers in a wide variety of jobs and industries wear high-visibility safety apparel to alert others of their presence, particularly in dark or dim places. Users include utility linemen, construction workers, police officers, and school bus drivers, to name a few.

 

Different types

The materials in high-visibility garments, including vests, bibs, coveralls, and gloves, may look alike, but they have key differences. For example, “fluorescent material takes a portion of invisible ultraviolet light from sunlight and, through special pigments, sends it back to the viewer as more visible light,” the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety explains. This type of material only functions in natural sunlight.

 

Another type of high-visibility safety apparatus is retro-reflective material, which returns light in the direction of its source. “This property will let a driver see the light being reflected from the retro-reflective tape on a person’s garment (as long as the person is standing in the light’s beam),” CCOHS notes. Although this type of material can be used in daylight, it is most effective in low-light conditions.

 

What to look for

In addition to complying with relevant OSHA standards for high-visibility apparel, employers should keep in mind certain factors when determining which apparel to supply to their workers. According to CCOHS:

 

Stripes of color that contrast with the background material provides good visibility and stripes on the arms and legs can help provide cues as to how the worker is moving.

All high-visibility garments should be fitted to individual workers. However, forget to take into account the bulk of clothing that needs to be worn under the device.

Keep worker comfort in mind. “Parts of the device that come in direct contact with the worker should not be rough, have sharp edges, or projections that could cause excessive irritation or injury,” CCOHS states, adding that the device should also be lightweight.

No clothing or equipment should cover the high-visibility materials.

Ensure workers keep their high-visibility apparel clean and in good condition.

Replace any garment that is worn, torn or excessively soiled, as it provides acceptable levels of visibility.

Fatal accident in Barnaul: who is to blame – the driver or a pedestrian?

On the night of January 8 in Barnaul, at the intersection of North-West and Smirnov, a car hit a pedestrian to death. Eyewitnesses of the accident in the comments of the public “Incident Barnaul” say that the car rushed at high speed and did not even have time to slow down. The pedestrian died at the scene.

After the incident in public, a dispute broke out – who is to blame: the driver or a pedestrian?

“Sorry for the driver. At night, pedestrians without reflective vests are very difficult to see and not leave the car in one second. This is forgotten.”

“Generally not sorry for the driver! It is necessary to slow down in front of a pedestrian!”

“How much could he fly? Our roads have not been cleaned since October, my navigator has an average speed of 20 km per hour!”

“Normal roads! Not perfect, but the car slows down normally if you don’t fly 80! Before pedestrians need to slow down for your own good!”

Barnaul noted that the road section, where the fatal accident occurred, is notoriety – accidents often happen here.

“They constantly fly there, despite the cameras!”

In the North-West from Yurin to the 80th Guards, few drivers leave to go on pedestrians. Sometimes 10-15 cars will pass before someone stops. Wines are always only on the driver. He manages a means of increased danger. You do not know how to slow down before a pedestrian crossing, sell your car and go public!

A year ago there was the same tragic situation, there was a dialogue with a woman. I told her that it was a road, not a sidewalk, to which she replied to me – I was tired, I was leaving work and I do not care. Hence the conclusion – the salvation of the drowning, the handiwork of the drowning. Do not judge strictly, but we have winter and it is easier for a person to miss the car than to stop the car. In no case, I do not deny the guilt of the driver, but first of all, you need to take care of yourself!

One of the commentators, in order to avoid such cases, suggested the use of reflective materials:

“Reflective tapes of clothing in the dark can save your life. They cost a penny, but life has no price,” writes Mikhail Medynin.

Study reveals low use of helmet, lights and reflective in cyclists

Although 84% of cyclists wear a helmet and it is a high number, only 20% use reflective vest and lights.

 

The Law of Road Coexistence came to fix as mandatory the use of helmets. In addition to this fundamental element for security are added the reflective vest and lights.

 

However, despite the fact that its use is mandatory, there are still those who do not learn. A study conducted by the NGO No Chat in conjunction with the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the University of Chile revealed the preferences of cyclists.

 

84% of cyclists wear helmets when moving through the streets. At the same time that 21% of them use reflective vests and 22% have some type of light installed on their bicycles.

 

The study considered the measurement of 2040 cyclists, where 1002 of them were observed in the morning and 1038 in the afternoon, corresponding to 29.5% of women and 70.4% of men.

 

AND THE OTHER OBLIGATORY ELEMENTS FOR CYCLISTS?

According to the information collected, 84.2% of cyclists use helmets (1718 cases), while 15.8% decide not to occupy it. Women slightly outperform men in this item, with 86.3% compared to 83.3, with the mornings also being the time when their use was most detected.

 

Faced with the use of other security elements, the figures are lower. 21% of the observed cyclists had some type of reflective material as indicated by the law, be it a vest or other type, reaching a greater number of cases during the morning shift, which reached 24.6% compared to 17, 6 in the evening.

 

The use of lights, duly installed on the bicycle, reached 22.7% of the cases. The highest number of observations in this item occurred in the morning, with 30% of the cases, which doubled the observations of the afternoon (15.7%).

 

“The low interest in using security elements, such as lights or reflective, is probably related to the confusions that existed on the reflective vests as a mandatory measure, which is false,” explains Claudia, director of No Chat.

 

HEARING AIDS AND CELLULAR

The measurement also included the use of hearing aids and bicycle holders on bicycles, elements that can cause distraction and generate road accidents. In the first case, it was detected that 32.9% of cyclists observed used hearing aids, almost identical figure if differentiation is made by men and women (33.19% and 32.2%, respectively). The largest number of these cases occurred in the morning, with 55% of these.

 

On the other hand, only 5.5% of cyclists used cell carriers, a practice in which men almost double women, 3.98% of them, compared to 6.2% of them, detecting a greater number of these cases in the afternoon shift (3.2% vs. 7.8%)

 

“It is worrying that three of every ten cyclists observed on average use hearing aids when cycling, because not only limit the sense of hearing isolating the cyclist from the environment, it also reduces the ability to detect potential threats or situations of risk,” explains Cristián Escobedo, one of the researchers who carried out the study.

 

“In Spain, the General Circulation Regulation, equivalent to our Law of Road Coexistence, recognizes cyclists as a mode of transportation and prohibits them from using headphones while driving, setting penalties of up to 200 euros, equivalent to talking on the phone while he drives. Neither of them exists in our country,” adds the expert.

 

Finally, the study also considered knowing the owner of the bicycle. Only 10% of cases corresponded to leased cycles via public or private applications or systems, compared to 90% of presumably own bicycles.

How to check the quality of the material of reflective elements?

Not all materials have the required quality. Many of the stripes after a short operation and washing dramatically lose their protective properties. Some badges or pendants initially have such a low coefficient of light return that they serve as an adornment, but in no way provide their owner with the necessary security.

 

  1. Evaluate the look of the patch. The surface of the material should be smooth, flexible and smooth to the touch; it should not have cracks, scratches, abrasions, creases, and bends.

 

  1. Check how the ribbon is sewn when it comes to clothing/backpack. Stitches should be located at a distance of 2-3 mm from the edge of the tape. This allows you to protect the patch from damage to the edges when washing or dry cleaning.

 

  1. The high-quality retro-reflective tape has only a fabric base. You can check the base by slightly tilting the edge of the attached stripes. The largest manufacturers of retro-reflective materials usually label the fabric base to confirm the quality standard of the tape. Also, quality certification can be labeled with the logo of the manufacturer, which are attached to clothing, shoes, briefcases. If there is a pattern on the retro-reflector, it should not be smeared and/or erased.

 

  1. At home, you can check the quality of the already purchased “reflector” like this. Direct the beam to the badge or patch – if you have a high-quality retro-reflector in your hands, it will glow brightly in the beam. It is important that the retro-reflector works at any angle, for this it is necessary to turn the icon or suspension in different directions, continuing to shine on them. Glow retro-reflective material should not deteriorate or fade.

 

How to use?

Retro-reflective fabrics on clothing should ensure that the object is visible from both sides so that a person can be visible to both streams of movement.

Retro-reflective badges or key rings should be attached to outerwear, backpacks, bags, bicycles, rollers or baby carriages, so that when moving or driving on the roadway, the headlights of cars hit them.

Manufacturers may be required to sew reflective elements into clothing

Moscow, March 16. State Duma Deputy Vyacheslav Lysakov intends to send a letter to the government with a request to oblige manufacturers to place reflective materials on children’s, school and sports clothing. Reports about it “Parliamentary newspaper”.

 

The parliamentarian recalled that pedestrians on unlit roads are required to wear reflective vests in Russia. Jackets with reflective stripes should also be in possession of motorists going outside the settlements. Light-returning items on clothing may save a pedestrian’s life, but liability for violating the rules on wearing them makes it difficult to monitor their performance.

 

According to the author of the initiative, government agencies will be much more efficient in controlling enterprises than citizens. In this case, the rules should apply to both domestic products and goods from abroad.

 

“The state is obliged to protect the life and health of citizens not only by increasing fines for violating traffic rules or introducing new punitive measures against offenders but also by regulating the activities of industrialists in the interests of people’s safety,” said Lysakov.

 

According to preliminary calculations, the introduction of new rules can lead to a price increase of clothing by 10 – 15%.

Newly placed planters will temporarily be removed again

They were there for about six days. Two planters in the Kapelstraat in Beek and Donk. Now they are gone again. The municipality assures temporary. The two bins will probably be replaced on Wednesday.

 

Last Wednesday the municipality of Laarbeek placed the two planters in the Kapelstraat. The bins, put down as a test, came at the insistence of local residents and the village council of Beek and Donk. They are intended to limit speed and, at the same time, to discourage covert traffic. Kapelstraat residents have been concerned about road safety for years. Their street is officially a 30-kilometer zone. But by no means, all drivers adhere to it. The road also attracts a lot of stealth traffic.

 

Now the containers have been removed by the municipality and are on the municipal yard. Reason: they must be weighted and are also provided with more reflective material. The bins are then put back as quickly as possible.

When should you have reflective elements with you?

The statistics published by the Police Headquarters, the European Transport Safety Council and PZU are shocking. Poland is still in the infamous leading country with the largest number of accidents involving children. For years, one of the most common reasons for deductions, often fatal, small pedestrians is the lack of visibility. One way to improve safety is by wearing reflective vests. When it is necessary to have them with you?

 

“Cat’s eyes”

Under the colloquial term “reflections” are all items that have been made of reflective material. The most commonly used reflections have the form of inserts in clothes (for example, a belt on a jacket or trousers) or easy-to-fasten key-rings or bands. As the policemen explain, reflective fabrics may be objects attached to clothing, headbands, vests, and leashes. It is important to place them: the reflectors are recommended to be placed at the level of knees, hands, around the center of the chest and back – then we will be sure that they are clearly visible to other road users.

 

The first reflections appeared on the roads in Great Britain before the Second World War. Their inventor was the owner of a road repair company – Percy Shaw. Apparently, to create a gadget that will save an infinite number of pedestrians over the next few years, Shaw was inspired by the cat. Coming from the night, Percy almost hit the path of a four-footed dog. The roofer was rescued by the fact that the driver saw his glowing eyes in the dark at the last moment. The event inspired the entrepreneur to create a reflective element that would improve safety on an unlit road. At the beginning of 1934, the Show developed “cat’s eyes”. They were 4 glass reflecting beads, mounted in a rubber housing, placed in a cast iron dome. “Cat’s eyes” were not worn by pedestrians, but placed on the road, but their creation gave impetus to the creation of later reflections for pedestrians.

 

Wearing legally regulated

 

Although in Poland the need to wear reflectors has been said since the 90s, it was only recently that having reflective elements became mandatory.

 

Pursuant to the amendment of 30 August 2013 of the Road Traffic Act, all pedestrians, irrespective of their age or height, driving along roads outside of built-up areas at dusk, must have reflective elements. Before the change from five years ago, this obligation concerned only children who were under the age of 15.

 

Do we always have reflections outside built-up areas? Theoretically not. According to the letter of the law, when walking on the sidewalk, the road intended only for pedestrians or in the area of residence, we are not threatened (no more than three thousand zlotys) by a lack of reflection. Nevertheless, experts recommend having reflective elements. Even during the day, pedestrian columns must be marked with reflections (in the column with a length exceeding 20 m going to the left in the front and at the back are obliged to use reflective elements, in addition, those walking on the left are obliged to carry additional flashlights with white light) or road builders.

Pedestrians and cyclists! Take care of your safety

In connection with the ongoing spring period and improvement of atmospheric conditions, policemen from the Department of Road Traffic.

 

The police are appealing to pedestrians and cyclists for caution and observance of a few basic rules.

 

Pedestrians and cyclists are so-called unprotected road users

This means that they are not covered like car drivers with bodywork, they do not have seat belts or airbags. Remember that pedestrians and cyclists are participants of the movement – the difference is that in the case of speeding vehicles they are completely defenseless. An accident with them involves extremely serious consequences.

 

The improvement of safety on the roads is a matter of priority for local police officers, which is why officers remind you of a few basic rules.

 

Pedestrian duties:

 

cross the road in places intended for this purpose, and if there are any such places, especially outside the city, be especially careful, never run abruptly on the road. Stand on the edge of the pavement, at least 30 cm from its edge, look first to the left, then to the right and once again left, when the road is free, always go straight along the shortest path, always walk across the road in the green light, when the green light flashes, wait, because the red light will turn on soon, wear reflective vests with reflective tapes, especially at dusk, when the visibility is worse, and the dark colors of the clothes make the pedestrian noticed by the driver only at the last moment. A walking person equipped with a reflective material for the driver of the vehicle is visible from a much greater distance, which allows for an earlier reaction, always walk only the left side of the road outside the built-up area to see the oncoming vehicle.

 

Obligation to ride on the road for bicycles:

 

Art. 33 of the Road Traffic Act obliges a cyclist to use the bike path if it is designated for the direction in which it is traveling. According to this record, if a one-way bicycle path is designated along the road, the obligation to move is only in one direction. Cyclists riding in the opposite direction must move on the road. The driver of a bicycle using the road for bicycles and pedestrians is obliged to exercise extreme caution and give way to pedestrians.

 

Cyclist on the sidewalk:

 

As a rule – you cannot drive on the pavement. The regulations provide for several derogations. Article 26 of the Law on Road Traffic, allows a cyclist to go on the sidewalk when:

 

takes care of a person under the age of 10 driving a bicycle;

the weather is bad (snow, strong wind, downpour, glaze, thick fog);

three conditions are met simultaneously:

  1. the pavement is at least two meters wide,

 

  1. traffic on the road is allowed at a speed of over 50 km / h (built-up area),

 

  1. there is no separate road for bicycles and the lane intended for them.

 

Child on a bicycle:

 

Children up to 7 years old can be transported in two ways: either by cycling in a special seat or children under 10 years old they can move independently by bike, but only under the care of an adult. An adult who looks after a child can walk next to him on the sidewalk or ride a bicycle – also on the sidewalk.

 

Children over 10 years old can now ride their own bike on public roads, if they have their first rights, ie. Bicycle Card.

 

Equipping a bike

 

A properly equipped bike should have one white position light at the front; at the rear one red reflector, at least one effective brake and an audible signal. It is also good to use reflective elements – they can be permanently attached to the bike or placed on bikers’ clothing. The reflectors make us visible, which is, of course, more secure.

 

The road trip is appealing to all road users to exercise extreme caution and comply with applicable laws because when the imagination and common sense are running out of us, it is unpleasant and often tragic.

Road traffic recommendations from the Mureş County Police Inspectorate

In order to travel safely, police officers of Mureş County Police Inspectorate issued a recommendation to all those in traffic, no matter if they are drivers, pedestrians or cyclists.

 

Recommendations for drivers

 

“Drive at speeds that are suited to traffic conditions, especially when driving around the road and do not forget about traffic. Also, for added safety, on the go, increase the distance between vehicles.

 

Drive cautiously, without overriding the vehicle controls, make sure before each maneuver is done.

Observe legal speed! Traffic police officers recall that the excessive speed and the inadequate weather, road or traffic conditions are the main driving factor in road accidents in Romania.

Beginners drivers should as far as possible avoid driving at night or over long distances, given their limited experience and the risk of being involved in road events. “Pedestrian Recommendations” We recommend that pedestrians increase their attention and travel only after what are they sure they can do safely? It is advisable to avoid as far as possible the use of the carriageway, especially after dark and in low visibility. ”

Bicycle Recommendations “Before changing the direction of travel, especially to the left or overrun, make sure that there is no vehicle approaching – front and rear!

 

Move as close as possible to the right edge of the road, and when moving in a group, one column only! Do not ride a bicycle under the influence of alcoholic beverages!

 

Do not carry another person on a bicycle!

It is advisable to wear an approved helmet! To run on the public road, the bicycle must be properly equipped (effective braking device, audible warning device, white or yellow light in front, red backlight and at least one reflective element of the same color)! Before you ride your bike on priority arteries, reduce speed, make sure and give priority to the right!

 

When changing direction, even if you have crossing priority, make sure the other traffic participants understand your intention! ”

 

Recommendations for motorcyclists “Keep eye contact – do not assume that others see you. Always try to have visual contact with the drivers that might be intersecting your trajectory.

 

Anticipate the intentions of your roadmates – even when drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians see you are approaching, they often mistakenly appreciate the distance or speed. Do not rely solely on their good reaction. Increase attention to turns and intersections – the most common type of motorcycle crash is generated by drivers who do not ensure that left turns are turned or that the lane changes. Make yourself in the mirror when you turn – the drivers that come up may not slow down for you.

 

Approach curves with moderate speed without cutting them – many accidents happen because of the opposite direction. Use an approved helmet – which meets current safety standards. Avoid buying a used helmet, you may have suffered an accident, and repair can hide structural flaws.

 

Wear protective clothing for motorcyclists – only this can provide good protection during an accident and protects you from the weather. Modular “layered” equipment is recommended so you can adapt it to the changing weather conditions.

 

Protect your eyes – airflow, flying insects and dust reduce your visibility and can damage your eyes or face. Be visible – wear bright, reflective clothing. Add extra reflective material or wear a reflective vest. Always keep the headlamp lit and run to the position where drivers can easily see you in the rear view mirror (at 2/3 of the belt width). Avoid the dead angles of other vehicles. “

Transport education and competition will be supported by the Region with 400 thousand

The Road Transport Service Center will receive a subsidy of CZK 400,000 from the Region to provide traffic education, preventive events and traffic competitions for children in 2019.

Among other things, the Center for Regional Money will buy new aids, train lecturers and organize a series of transport competitions. The grant was approved by the Council of the Charade Overlook Region.

“Regular traffic education, including traffic competitions, is one of the basic means for shaping the behavior of predominantly young road users and future young drivers, according to the National Road Safety Strategy.” The Charade Overlook Region regularly contributes financially to the organization of these activities within the support of BESIP, ”said Martin Server, First Deputy Governor for Transport.

The Center for Road Transport Services will use the money from the regional subsidy, especially for the provision of education and training of regular traffic education on children’s traffic playgrounds, including the transportation of children to the site. It will also ensure the purchase of new teaching aids. These are, for example, new scooters or bouncers, teaching and reflective materials and teaching techniques. The center will also be able to train traffic playground operators and teaching staff involved in traffic education.

Also this year, a series of basic and regional bicycles for young cyclists and regional finals will take place in the Charade Overlook Region. Summer activities on children’s playgrounds, children’s summer camps, and summer holiday recreation will also be provided. In the autumn and early winter, the center will use the remaining funds to purchase the necessary material and reflective protective equipment. Such as reflective vests and reflective tapes.

“I am pleased with the preventive projects that will teach drivers and other road users to manage crisis situations. One of them, for example, is a safe driving course for women behind the wheel, “Deputy Tailor added.