Dinamitek presents its guide to the new European PPE legislation.

The rules are changing in the field of PPE, find out how with Dinamitek

European Regulation 2016/425, which repeals Directive 89/686/EEC, came into force on April 21, 2018. This regulation applies to the entire European Union. This means that PPE classified under the new regulation can circulate freely throughout Europe , as the regulations regarding PPE design and manufacturing requirements are the same in all European Union countries. For PPE imported from outside the EU, it is the importer's responsibility to verify that it complies with the applicable legislation.

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The new regulation extends to all PPE “ devices designed and manufactured to be worn or held by a person to protect him from one or more risks to his health or safety ” including components, accessories and spare parts as well as everything that is used to connect the PPE worn to other devices or machinery.
PPE is mandatory when there are no other methods to avoid risks in the workplace and prevention techniques are not possible. Priority is given to collective protection techniques and work reorganization that increase safety levels by lowering the danger threshold and workers' risk factors. Consequently, workers themselves are required to wear the appropriate PPE .
The new regulation applies to newly manufactured PPE ; for all other products, the rules remain unchanged: the product is considered compliant if it has not been tampered with and has not expired. PPE regulated under 89/686/EEC can be sold until April 21, 2023, and can be used until the end of its declared useful life.
Currently, certified PPE under the new regulation is available on the market (from April 21, 2018), and this dual presence will continue until April 21, 2023.

What changes then?
This initial period of regulatory change affects manufacturers, who must comply with the new rules when manufacturing PPE. The manufacturer must indicate in the instruction manual that the PPE complies with Regulation (EU) 2016/425, along with the website where the document of conformity can be downloaded and the risks against which the PPE is intended to protect. The manufacturer "assumes responsibility for the conformity of the PPE" to the requirements established by the regulation. Furthermore, the manufacturer must be able to provide the EU declaration of conformity and technical documentation upon request. With the EU declaration of conformity, the manufacturer assumes responsibility for the conformity of the PPE to the requirements established by the EU Regulation.
The new regulation categorizes PPE into 3 types: Category I, Category II and Category III.
Category I includes all PPE that protects against minor hazards, such as superficial mechanical injuries, temperatures below 50 degrees Celsius, mild chemicals, exposure to sunlight, and non-extreme weather conditions. Category III includes PPE that protects against serious risks with extreme consequences, such as death and irreversible damage. Category II includes all PPE that protects against situations not covered by the other two categories.

In summary
PPE must be appropriate to the risk to be prevented , must be safe, practical, ergonomic and must be able to be used in combination if it is necessary to prevent multiple risks.
The EMPLOYER chooses the PPE , takes care of training workers in the correct use of the PPE, checks the efficiency of the PPE
WORKERS undergo training, use PPE correctly , and take care of routine maintenance of their devices

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