Jennifer Herb spends a lot of time alongside railway tracks in all kinds of weather.

As a shunting attendant at DB Cargo, a subsidiary of German railway giant Deutsche Bahn , she checks brakes, inspects undercarriages and couples and uncouples freight cars.

Her work clothes have to move with her every step: bending, climbing, turning and walking kilometers on uneven ground. They must be visible day and night and protect her from snow, wind, sun and rain.

Herb usually wears a high-visibility jacket and trousers in bright orange with reflective stripes. They were made specifically for women and have a high stretch content.

"The clothing works with me, like another colleague," wrote the shunting attendant on the blog of the Cologne-based workwear manufacturer Bierbaum-Proenen.

Poorly fitting workwear can lead to workplace accidents

High-visibility clothing used to be stiff and heavy — especially for women forced to wear men's designs, just in smaller sizes.

These clothes were often too tight around the…