The protective vest
According to the Royal Decree of 7 August 1995 (Belgian Official Journal 15.09.1995), personal protective equipment (PPE) is defined as any equipment intended to be worn or held by the worker in order to protect him against one or more risks likely to threaten his safety or health at work, as well as any supplement or accessory intended for this purpose. Excluded from this definition are ordinary work clothes and uniforms that are not specifically intended to protect the safety and health of the worker; PPE for the military, police and law enforcement services; PPE for road transport; sports equipment, etc. The protective vest is one of the most recommended protective equipment for riders. What exactly is the protective vest used for? Which one should you choose? We talk about it in this article.
What is the protective vest for?
One of the personal protective equipment that is highly recommended in the equestrian sectors is the protective vest. This is a category 2 PPE that will protect the worker in the event of a fall or a horse's hoof strike to the upper part of the body (thorax and back). The protective vest covers the entire rib cage and the upper part of the abdomen on the front of the body, and goes from the seventh cervical vertebra to the coccyx on the back. It is sometimes also equipped with shoulder pads. The existing standard for the design of protective vests is the harmonized European standard EN13158.
A protective vest is made up of a combination of foams whose purpose is to absorb the energy of the impact as much as possible. The vest offers protection mainly against the risk of muscle contusions and sometimes against rib fractures. It does not effectively protect against shoulder dislocations or clavicle fractures, because the latter occur mainly through compression. You will find the best protective vests on La Sellerie Française . On this platform of equestrian accessories, you will be able to make the best choices and benefit from the best value for money.
How to choose a good protective vest?
For protection to be effective, the vest must be adapted to the worker and properly adjusted. The employer must ensure that the vest is chosen so that it is as light and comfortable as possible. Any damaged vest must be replaced. In addition to the classic vest, a French company has developed a self-inflating vest. This is a vest containing air cushions, a compressed gas cartridge (CO2) and a spiral cord that is connected to a ring on the saddle when the rider is on horseback. If the rider is ejected, the traction exerted on the cord releases a striker that pierces the CO2 cartridge and allows the vest to inflate in 0.5 seconds. The self-inflating vest protects the neck, spine, pelvis and thorax. To be effective, it must be adapted to the worker and worn over the last item of clothing.