Tag: reflective tape

Bus Driver for First Student Gets Reflective Belts for her Students

A school bus driver for First Student, based in Helena, Montana, recently felt the need to make school bus stops safer on her route. She decided to act after at least 7 kids were killed at bus stops nationwide last fall, or while loading/ Unloading their school buses.

 

Katee Horner has only been driving for a few months and quickly fell in love with the job and the children.

 

“I didn’t know if it was something I wanted to do when I first started, but I fell in love with it and all the kids on my school bus,” Horner said.

 

As Horner was thinking of ways to make the bus stop safer for the children she transports, she was reminded of the days she wore a reflective belt for various training exercises in the United States Army. In the army, the belts were referred to PT belts, physical training belts, and they were worn when running or conducting other activities so that cars were able to see them.

 

“Montana is very dark in the winter. If I am wearing a reflective vest in my school bus yard while I am getting ready to go out on my bus run, those kids aren’t even five minutes away from me waiting to be picked up, also in the dark,” Horner said.

 

First Student Location Manager Bevann Hamill added that some students are picked up in rural areas, where there are no sidewalks or lights. Especially in the winter there, it can get very dark. Horner said that half the time kids are standing on a dirt road.

 

Horner made it a goal to get as many kids as she can on her route a reflective belt. She also spread the word around to parents, asking them to help out where they can.

“It went from the kids on the busiest roads first, because they are the most at danger, and then I just went all around my entire bus route,” Horner said. “I am excited that so many parents like the idea. I also Had other local businesses find out about it and decide it was a very good idea too. They also wanted to help me get all my kid’s reflective belts.”

 

Hamill said when Horner presented the idea to her, she wanted to expand it to other routes and students. The transportation manager for Helena Public Schools and Hamill split the cost and bought belts in bulk.

 

“Even if in early summer here, it is bright in the day. But the colors on your clothes blend into all the new colors—the greens and yellows, they are blending in,” Horner said. “But the reflective belt with reflective tape is still making And I have about 75 percent of my kids still wearing them. I also have a few kids that are close enough to walk home, and they wear them when they walk home from school too.”

 

Hamill added that Horner has even seen kids on their bikes riding around and wearing the belts. “Especially the younger kids, they like them,” Hamill said. “She has gotten positive feedback from the kids and the families.”

 

Horner won second place for her idea in the nationwide safety category for First Student’s “Be First Awards.” Horner said she was honored to just be nominated, and even being chosen as a finalist was “super exciting.”

 

Horner was nominated by her peers and was selected as a finalist. Over 600 nominations were made in 7 different categories.

 

“Isay, second place is good enough for me, as long as the word gets around that the safety of our kids is number 1,” Horner said. “And that we need to get our kids more visible to other people, especially in the rural areas. To save a life, you can’t put a price on it. Yeah, the reflective belts, depending on what kind you get, might be anywhere from $4 to $10, but it’s nothing compared to a child’s life.”

 

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.

The reflective vest disappeared from the obligatory outfit. The ministry says no

With the October Decree, drivers have no obligation to drive bulbs or fuses in their car, and the contents of the first-aid kit have changed. Almost no one has noticed, however, that a reflective vest is missing in the mandatory equipment. The ministry tried to simplify the decree and go through the Austrians. However, experts point out complications in interpreting the law.

 

The Ministry of Transport has simplified the technical equipment of the car. Decree No. 208/2018 Coll. Came into effect with the first October day of last year, which amended the decree on the approval of the technical competence of the car and on the technical conditions of operation of the vehicle on the roads. For example, you do not need to carry spare bulbs in a car, for example, which most drivers can no longer replace, or fuses or, in certain circumstances, a spare wheel. And from the first-aid kit, the drivers could take out a lot of things.

 

The Czech Republic was one of the last countries where the law ordered drivers to carry the equipment. By decree, the Ministry has simplified many things and is actually going through the Austrians, who also do not have to carry everything from a flashlight to a light bulb in their car, but their equipment is mostly related to the driver and is more on his responsibility than he wants to be prepared for. You can find a detailed overview of the changes here.

 

But few have noticed that after the revision, the reflective vest with reflective tape has been dropped from the decree, and thus from the mandatory equipment of the car, also recommended and expertly discussed. This is already mentioned only in the Act on Road Traffic No. 361/2000 Coll., According to which the driver must wear it in the case when it is moving on the road outside the village during an emergency stand. There is no obligation to wear reflective elements in the village.

 

Experts criticize the gap in the law, as this innovation can lead to speculation in the technical and roadside control of the car, but also to reduce road safety.

 

“I’m surprised that almost no one noticed. All of them, after the amendment of this decree, were limited to information on bulbs, fuses and the contents of the first-aid kit. Thanks to this, we almost missed the big topic of visibility of road users and possible complications associated with missing a vest in the vehicle,” comments the transport specialist Martin from Dekra, who drew attention to the hole in the paragraphs.

 

He added that it is necessary to alert the driver to the absence of a vest in the compulsory gear, as this should be clearly and completely defined in the decree to avoid speculation and speculation about the interpretation of the law. Now, drivers need to have a vest in the car.

 

The ministry insists that the vest remains compulsory. However, it is not really in the decree. Therefore, the editors asked for an interpretation of the transport law expert Michal Diablo. “It is necessary to distinguish between compulsory equipment, that is, what must be in the vehicle at all times and between what the driver must sometimes wear. And since the reflective vest has dropped out of the Decree on Technical Approval and Technical Conditions for Vehicle Operation on October 1, 2018, there is no doubt that it is no longer part of the mandatory equipment,” Dlabola pointed out.

 

Likewise, Roman, an expert on transport safety, sees the new Vision Zero security platform. “The reflective vest is no longer listed in the mandatory vehicle equipment. It is hard to say whether this is a mistake or a ministry’s intention,” he said.

 

The topic of visibility is often discussed and road safety experts often resemble the vest. In addition, since February 2016, the obligation to have reflex accessories for pedestrians outside the village has been introduced in the Czech Republic. “For this reason, the absence of a reflective vest appears to be a mistake in the compulsory equipment of the vehicle. If there is a mistake, the immediate remedy is in place,” Bednar appeals.

 

What does it mean in practice? The driver doesn’t have to drive her in the car. “This means that if the driver does anything other than move on a road outside the village in an emergency, due to an accident, failure, or nausea, no one can skip it and fine for not having a reflective vest in the vehicle. The police cannot blame the driver even if he/she is in an emergency state in the village or if he/she is in a state of an emergency outside the municipality, but does not move along the road,” explained Michal Dlabola, an expert on transport law.

 

Since the vest is not directly listed in the decree, it should not be interested in the STK technicians as part of the mandatory equipment of the car, which may not cause it to malfunction during the technical test of the car and threaten the driver that his car will not pass MOT due to a missing vest. Only mandatory equipment items are subject to control.

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.

Accessories and clothes for dogs: open it this winter

Fighting the cold in winter is not just about humans. Dogs are also affected and wrapping them in clothes can help them to have a better time this season. When being at home, the heating and the fact of indoors allowing them to be acclimated, but when leaving the street, the change of temperature can affect them. Especially the small ones, the puppies, the elderly and the coolest. And if your dog is the one that prefers to be near the stove at home, you may need some clothes to walk around.

 

If you want to know how to shelter dogs in winter and what clothes to wear, in Showroom we tell you what clothes can help them not to be cold: coats, raincoats, pullovers.

 

COATS FOR DOGS

Reversible English-style coat by Think Pet

The British paintings give this coat an elegant touch for those who want their dog to look more when walking. It is a reversible garment with a waterproof outer side that looks more like an anorak and a soft and flexible interior with English frames. Each one to adapt to the climatic conditions of the different moments of autumn and winter. You choose which side you prefer to take your pet depending on the time it takes or the style you want to wear. In addition, it is elastic and with Velcro closure to make it easy to place.

 

Waterproof jacket with the reflective tape

To protect the water, this Petilleur garment is made with a waterproof outer layer, resistant to wear and with a fleece interior composed to be warm. It has a design with a reflective band so you can always see your dog when it runs freely and not lose sight of it. And also protects the wind at the top with a retractable neck.

 

Jacket Black by Scamper

This padded coat protects from the cold in the coldest days of winter, has a sober but functional design and can be folded easily as equivalent human garments to store it when you do not want to use it without occupying too much space.

 

Hoodie

Do you want your dog to be warm and with an informal and sporty style? For this, this polyester hoodie is ideal. This garment allows to protect from the cold to pets of all sizes and made with an elastic material allows it to be placed very easily without being squeezed or bothered. And it is ideal for the days when it is colder since the hood allows you to protect your head from low temperatures.

 

Sports velvet tracksuit

A sweatshirt-jumpsuit with a sporty design reminiscent of the branded tracksuits of humans. It stands out for being made with velvet so that it is warm and soft while it is worn by our pet while it is waterproof so that it can be worn on rainy days as well. It has a hood so that the head and ears are protected from cold and wind. A perfect garment for the winter that allows our dog to wear other styles as well as sweaters and coats.

The fireman’s jacket is the big must-have this winter

For some seasons now the “workwear” has found a prominent place in the male wardrobe. For the autumn/winter 2018-2019 the trend is further strengthened and takes on an even more precise and decisive identity. Just think of the collections by Craig Green, the talent also enlisted by Moncler for the Genius project, which has always been linked to the world of uniforms for its collections, to realize that the phenomenon is no longer just wearing raw jeans or a chore coat, but it’s much more. To demonstrate the fashion shows of Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton, Junya Watanabe in short, high-sounding names in the fashion universe who have chosen the fireman’s uniform, in particular, as a key to the winter wardrobe. Thus the bright details and the important constructions that we usually see on policemen or firefighters become the new codes of fashion, from the yellow neon strips to the reflective tape. The same collection by Kanye West, sales say, is focusing everything on a jacket that not by chance seems stolen from that of the firemen. And to think of it, who as a child did not dream, even if only for a short time, of becoming a firefighter?

High visibility clothing with fairtrade cotton

More and more companies, cities or institutions are focusing on sustainable procurement. Now boco also offers a high visibility clothing with fairtrade cotton. The clothing impresses with many strategically placed reflectors.

 

“Reusable instead of disposable” is the philosophy of the rental service for workwear. The goal is the long use of clothing. In addition to high-quality materials, boco relies on a controlled supply chain. “Sustainable procurement is playing an increasingly important role in businesses and cities and is being expanded to as many areas as possible. Sustainable workwear is also becoming increasingly important, “explains Egon Dalponte, boco Product Manager at CWS-boco Germany. Municipalities often have special requirements, especially in the public sector. That’s why the new boco High Visibility Fairtrade cotton collection now also includes protective clothing with a sustainability factor.

 

Fairtrade cotton

The 50% cotton portion of the high visibility collection is made from fair trade cotton. Each garment in the collection contains a label with a code. According to CWS-boco, the cooperatives receive a fixed minimum price and an additional premium for their cotton, which they can use for joint projects. The environment is also protected because the use of genetically modified cotton is just as prohibited as that of chemical fertilizers or high amounts of water.

 

Safety thanks to the visibility

In many sectors, such as road construction or waste management companies, good visibility when working is important for the safety of employees. When choosing the right high-visibility clothing, not only in compliance with the current standard important but care for clothing and checking the reflectors should also be taken into account. The boco high visibility collection complies with the safety standard DIN EN ISO 20471 and offers the wearer long-term protection. The service provider regularly checks the protective functions of the clothing and ensures their safe maintenance. Many reflective tapes on the legs, sleeves and shoulder area ensure high visibility. The high visibility collection also includes a work jacket, trousers, dungarees, and a safety vest. The collection is available in the color combinations warning orange / gray and warning yellow/gray.

The light system for bikers

Stop lamp and indicators more visible to other users

Coupled with the lighting of the motorcycle, waterproof, warning, and fog functions.

 

Road-Light launches Clic-Light, a lighting system designed to improve the visibility of bikers on the road. Because PTW users are not always well-received by motorists, the start-up of Toulouse has devised a new accessory to make even more visible the stop-lamp and turn signals.

 

The Clic-Light is a wireless device that is worn in the back of the driver and synchronously reproduces the ignition of stop-lamp and turns signals, placing itself directly in the field of view of the user located behind.

 

Unlike fluorescent safety clothing and reflective tape, this system is active and therefore attracts more attention to reduce the risk of collision.

 

The LEDs that make up the device have two different intensities that adapt to the brightness to be well seen during the day without “blind” other drivers at night.

 

In addition, the Clic-Light has a function “Warning” and fog. The light module also detects when it is installed upside down and automatically reverses the flashing to avoid that when activating the turn signal to the right on the bike, the Clic-Licht starts to go to the left. Finally, it automatically goes to sleep after 5 minutes when not in use and does not move. Just shake it to restart it.

 

Weighing just over 300 grams, the Clic-Light is compatible with all types of vehicles. Rainproof and visible up to 300 meters, it has a range of 4 hours with the stop light on continuously. Road Light offers its luminous device for 179 euros.

How to choose a good backpack for a child?

Mid-August is the trade signal that the time has come for school layettes. Shop shelves and special promotional islands get backpacks, shoe bags, notebooks, crayons and drawing blocks. However, many parents start shopping by buying a school bag, or rather a backpack, because they dominate the children’s back. Typical satchels also have the form of a backpack.

 

“The younger the child, the better the backpack should have,” says the saleswoman from the Manufaktura store. “Unfortunately, children carry real weights so they must have decent equipment.”

 

Often when buying a school backpack, the price decides. And these, especially in hypermarkets are very attractive. Simple backpacks without decorations can be purchased for PLN 9.90. The ones that cost up to PLN 50 are very popular. Usually, the price ranges from PLN 49-99. Experts advise against buying the cheapest backpacks, because these quickly lose fashion by pressing on the back and the spine, and are also torn under the weight of books and other school accessories.

 

“We invested in expensive schoolbags when the daughter went to the first grade, but after three years, when she goes to the fourth class satchel, we gave a neighbor’s daughter,” says Anna Janas, mother of 9-year-old Zuzia.

 

In one of the hypermarkets for the youngest, a wide selection of school bags with graphics from popular cartoons was prepared. The motifs from “Land of Ice” and “My Little Pony” for girls are still searched. The boys choose motifs from “Cars”, “Star Wars” or “Ben 10”. There are also backpacks (typical schoolbags) designed specifically to prevent posture disadvantages among children. They are equipped with profiled stiffening, adjustable, soft braces, as well as reflective tapes and a ventilation system. Older students, on the other hand, can buy more subdued backpacks from brands such as Nike or Puma. Backpacks in the colors of foreign football clubs like FC Barcelona are also popular.