Safety First: In many industries, employees work near moving vehicles, machinery, or in poorly lit environments. Wearing high-visibility clothing in these situations is crucial for their safety. EN ISO 20471 is an international standard that ensures this clothing meets specific requirements, enhancing visibility and reducing the risk of accidents.

Benefits of EN ISO 20471 Certified Clothing:

• Enhanced Visibility: This standard ensures garment design, materials, and reflective elements maximize visibility in various lighting conditions, making workers easily noticeable.

• Improved Safety: By increasing visibility, the risk of collisions and accidents involving workers is significantly reduced.

• Compliance Assurance: Employers can be confident their workers are equipped with compliant safety gear, fulfilling their legal obligations.

Understanding the Standard:

• Components: EN ISO 20471 defines three key components of high-visibility clothing:

• Fluorescent material: Bright colors boost visibility during daylight and low-light conditions.

• Reflective strips: These enhance visibility in darkness by reflecting light back to the source.

• Contrast material: Darker areas provide durability and minimize dirt accumulation on fluorescent and reflective components.

• Classes: The standard defines three classes based on risk levels:

• Class 1: Suitable for low-risk environments with minimal traffic or machinery movement (e.g., company premises).

• Class 2: Offers good visibility for moderate-risk environments like roadworks or twilight work (e.g., maximum traffic speed of 50 km/h).

• Class 3: Mandatory for high-risk environments with significant traffic or machinery movement (e.g., dark environments, high-speed traffic).

Below is a chart that shows the amount of minimum Reflective & Fluorescent material required for each clothing class

	class 1	class 2	class 3
reflective tape	0.10㎡	0.13㎡	0.20㎡
fluorescent material	0.14㎡	0.50㎡	0.80㎡

Key Points to Remember:

• Choose the right class of clothing based on your work environment's risk level.

• Ensure proper maintenance of the clothing through professional cleaning to maintain effectiveness.

• Logos on high-visibility clothing must comply with specific guidelines to avoid compromising visibility.

Conclusion:

By understanding EN ISO 20471 and its importance, you can choose the appropriate high-visibility clothing for your employees, ensuring their safety and compliance with regulations. Remember, prioritizing safety is always a sound investment.