The latest ADAC test on high-visibility vests has yielded alarming results: 60 per cent of the models tested barely fulfil their purpose, if at all, and all of the failures come from the low-cost segment of the internet. This shows once again that the supposedly simple PPE ‘high-visibility vest’ is anything but trivial. A vest that does not reflect in an emergency is not only useless – it is dangerous.

The current reporting rightly urges careful product selection. However, it remains to be questioned why companies and individual buyers still rely on cheap, untested vests, even though the EN ISO 20471 standard provides clear guidelines. Especially when it comes to workwear that is designed to protect lives, price should not be the decisive criterion. Quality must be the top priority.

It is also particularly critical that many companies neglect their risk assessment. A simple high-visibility vest may not be sufficient for certain activities – especially where employees are exposed to multiple risks at the same time. Modern multinorm solutions and high-tech textiles with LEDs, sensors or particularly resistant fibres offer significantly higher safety and efficiency. Companies that cut corners or opt for cheap solutions are taking an unnecessary risk – both legally and in terms of employee safety.

Conclusion: It is high time that safety was no longer measured by price. Companies must consistently rely on tested, high-quality products and incorporate technological developments into their selection of PPE. Cheap goods from the internet should no longer set the standard – only tested quality provides real protection.