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Reflective Safety Vest
The protective garment most commonly worn in dark and dangerous conditions is the reflective safety vest. It was introduced in the 1970s in response to a mandate by regulators to ensure the safety of workers whose occupations placed them in risky situations.
What is a Reflective Vest?
Reflective Safety Vests are waistcoats with very reflective capabilities. The waistcoats incorporate “retroreflective stripes” that reflect light when a car’s headlights, for example, shine on them, thereby making the wearer more visible. The reflective stripes are arranged in a particular pattern so as to allow drivers to better distinguish the human form from that of an inanimate object.
So saying, however, an Australian study in 2009 found that for bicyclists the effectiveness of reflective stripes was greater when placed on the lower leg rather than on a vest. The movement of the legs, and thus the reflective stripes, made the cyclist more readily identifiable as a human, much more than when wearing a relatively motion-free vest/jacket. Click here for some great deals on a Reflective Safety Vest.
Description of a Reflective Vest
Reflective safety vests are typically made from a lightweight mesh fabric or polyester knit. Mesh is a cooler option for warmer climes. Usually sleeveless, some are available with short sleeves. They are of a loose construction with Velcro or buckle fastening to facilitate slipping-on over clothing, and are water-proof and flame-resistant. They are manufactured in vivid, easily-seen colors: yellow, chartreuse, lime and orange. The reflective tapes are placed horizontally in single or double layers along the hem of the garment, and sometimes around the middle of the vest. Additionally, stripes are placed vertically over each shoulder, from front to back. For those vests with sleeves, reflective stripes circle the sleeve hems.
The Types of Reflective Vests
Reflective vests are manufactured for children and adults alike. Some are certified by the American National Standards Institute while others are not. Certification by ANSI ensures that a particular class of vest is manufactured to a certain standard and achieves a desired degree of safety, depending on the circumstances in which the vests will be worn. There are three classes of certification: I, II and III.
Situations Requiring Reflective Vests
Many professional and recreational situations warrant the wearing of reflective safety vests. These situations usually involve darkness or low-light, high-density vehicular traffic, inclement weather and the presence of heavy, moving pieces of machinery. The following list is by no means definitive, but workers on construction sites, postal delivery men or women, highway workers, traffic controllers, utility workers, crossing guards, paramedics, rescue workers, some firefighters and some law enforcement officers are among those who operate in situations requiring safety apparel. People such as runners, hikers and hunters who engage in recreational activities during times of low-visibility are advised to wear reflective vests.
Statistical and anecdotal evidence show that the wearing of reflective vests in high-risk circumstances saves human lives. For anyone who works or plays outdoors in low-light or adverse weather conditions, being seen by motorists should be of utmost importance.
There are also a variety of different Reflective Safety Vests for Dogs. They are great for small dogs, and dogs with dark fur to avoid any traffic accidents at night, so your dog will be safe at night.