PPE standards

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) standards

Specific standards against specific hazards

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is governed by Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 to meet the essential health and safety requirements of workers exposed to one or more occupational hazards. This regulation defines the hazards to which adapted PPE must be associated, and the procedures for placing products on the market, with the creation of the EU type-examination application and other associated documentation.

In accordance with legislation, PPE is subject to EU type-examination by a notified body. Each garment comes with a sewn-in PPE sticker and instructions for use guaranteeing its compliance with the requirements of the claimed standards and the essential provisions of Regulation 2016/425.

Regulation 2016/425 defines 3 categories of PPE according to the hazards involved:

Category 1 – PPE for minor hazards

PPE designed to protect against minor hazards whose effects have no impact on the user’s health (e.g. superficial injuries).

• Superficial mechanical action.
• Contact with cleaning materials of weak action or prolonged contact with water.
• Contact with hot surfaces not exceeding 50°C.
• Damage to the eyes due to exposure to sunlight (other than during observation of the sun).
• Atmospheric conditions that are not of an extreme nature.

For these PPE, the manufacturer self-certifies the PPE by drawing up a file documenting the field of protection claimed, to attest to the PPE’s conformity with the field of protection claimed (test report, technical data sheet, CE marking).

Category 2 – PPE for major hazards

PPE designed to protect against major hazards that can cause irreversible effects. These are known as “intermediate” hazards.

Example: high-visibility, cold, welders, etc.

These more complex PPE items are tested for compliance with European standards by an authorized body. After validation, the notified body issues the manufacturer with an EU Type-Examination Certificate (TEC)

Category 3 – PPE for major hazards

PPE designed to protect against serious, irreversible and lethal hazards.

Example: protection against large splashes of molten metal, chemical protection, protection against the thermal hazards of electric arcs, etc.

In addition to being tested for compliance with European standards by an authorized body, these PPE are subject to mandatory annual quality control based on a choice of 2 modules:

• MODULE C2: Supervised product checks at random intervals (sampling – Annex VII of the Regulation)
• MODULE D: Quality assurance of the production process (quality system audit – Annex VIII of the Regulation)

All PPE conforming to the European standard must be clearly and fully marked. It must be supplied with instructions for care and use.