High visibility clothing: regulations that must be complied with

If you want to be up to date on high visibility clothing, current regulations and typologies, take a few minutes to read the following article from T2S Ibérica. Like any garment, high-visibility clothing must meet a number of parameters known as “quality standards.”

Significantly, beyond being a textile product, these types of items are essential for industrial safety, so their manufacture is subject to even stricter measures than in conventional clothing.

From T2S Ibérica, as experts in high visibility clothing, we want to present the existing considerations in this field and the regulations to which it is subject. Compliance with the rules is essential for any regularized environment and high visibility garments do not escape this reality.

The ISO 20471 standard establishes the parameters under which high-visibility clothing must be manufactured, highlighting three essential levels on the type of garment that can be marketed and worn by workers.

In this sense, class 3, as the highest level, assumes that high-visibility clothing provides more protection than others, covering the upper extremities and being made to avoid substantial damage by corrosive or flammable materials, in addition to including the already recognized retroreflective tapes.

On the other hand, class 2 represents an intermediate level of protection whose main characteristic is the absence of sleeves for the upper extremities. However, these clothing require workers to be arranged in areas of greater visibility, as they are usually employed for road work.

Additionally, class 1, as the lowest level according to the ISO 20471 standard, implies that it meets the minimum safety conditions for outdoor work.

Despite the above, the middle and lower classes, represented in ISO 20471, are equally acceptable to be used in work environments where conditions may change suddenly. In particular, outdoor work suggests that workers should be prepared to face weather conditions such as cold or heavy rain. Therefore, certifications are necessary through other quality standards complementary to high-visibility clothing.

Working under complicated conditions is sometimes necessary to meet the objectives of a company, although this implies that workers must have all the necessary implements so that their lives are not at risk. This is where the EN 343 standard is crucial, as it applies especially to high-visibility clothing so that the materials and seams repel rain and are completely waterproof.

The seams can be simple or welded. They must also be covered with a thermal layer that allows the individual to maintain body temperature in optimal conditions.

Additionally, heavy rain usually brings with it other peculiarities such as the decrease in temperature and the rise of fog, so that this garment allows the worker to be seen in a better way and to safeguard his integrity when working in external environments.

The ISO 20471 standard, although it is very important in the industrial and labor context, requires other quality certifications that are integrated in the manufacture of high visibility clothing, since there are other types of risks when working in extreme conditions.

For example, ISO 14116, EN 1149-5 and EN 13034 provide for protection against burns, electrical shock and corrosive materials, respectively.

The chances of suffering occupational accidents in these conditions are greatly increased by the exposure that workers must have, so it is essential to consider acquiring garments and other implements that are truly useful to protect the integrity of individuals.

On the other hand, high-visibility workwear should always be under constant review, since technological advances can lead to a noticeable improvement in the performance of these items. The preservation of the health and physical condition of workers is not only a moral but also a legal obligation, so that compliance with these standards implies a series of benefits at different levels.

Considering this premise, in T2S Ibérica we have an extensive catalog of high visibility clothing, made under these strict production parameters and complying with the legislature and national and international standards.

If you need more information or have any specific questions, on our website you can find the different means through which to contact us. As specialists in high visibility clothing, we can help you to know all kinds of details about the regulations regarding high visibility clothing and we will do our best to meet your requirements. In this way, you will have the necessary occupational and industrial safety tools to safeguard the integrity of workers.

Call us at +34 93 848 05 68 or write to us info@t2siberica.com . Count on T2S Ibérica to protect your workers!