2020Vests forum
Safety concerns with sharp contact points on exovests during falls or bending
What the thread found
- The upper chest metal plate can contact the throat area when the vest shifts upward during bending without the rig attached.
- The rear rod assembly screw can contact the spine during backward impacts or when the torso bends.
- Proper fitting with the chest plate positioned low on the chest and front rods pulled down away from the throat helps minimize throat contact during normal operation.
- Adding booster pads at the shoulders can reduce contact between the back and rear rod assembly.
- Filing down the rear screw to a flat profile is one approach to reduce injury risk from that contact point.
- A padded or soft protective cap over the rear screw could provide additional protection against impacts.
Depends on
- Safety concerns only manifest during falls or dynamic movements, not during normal fitted wear with the rig attached.
- The suggested modifications and protections had not yet been implemented or tested at the time of discussion.
- No formal testing of the vest's protective performance during impacts was documented.