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Personal Protective Equipment : regulation and standards in the European Union

Personal Protective Equipment : regulation and standards in the European Union. Henk Vanhoutte secretary general ESF. PPE = Personal Protective Equipment OHS = Occupational Health and Safety SUCAM = Selection, Use, Care And Maintenance ESF = European Safety Federation. E S F.

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Personal Protective Equipment : regulation and standards in the European Union

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  1. Personal Protective Equipment : regulation and standards in the European Union Henk Vanhoutte secretary general ESF Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  2. PPE = Personal Protective Equipment • OHS = Occupational Health and Safety • SUCAM = Selection, Use, Care And Maintenance • ESF = European Safety Federation Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  3. E S F European Safety Federation • manufacturers and distributors • members are national federations (e.g. ASIZ) Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  4. Influence of PPE on OHS • No statistics available • Limited information available – only on accidents – no health problems • Successes are not reported • Where link with PPE : • absence of appropriate PPE • PPE provided but not used or incorrectly used • Failure of PPE seems limited • General : hands ! • Construction industry : fall arrest systems ! Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  5. PPE in (OHS) legislation • EU directive 89/391 : framework OHS • Prevention • Collective protection • Personal protection • EU directive 89/656 : use of PPE • Other ‘social’ directives (ATEX, noise, vibrations, …) • EU directive 89/686 : production of PPE (CE marking) • Other EU directives might have influence on PPE (e.g. REACH, PE-D, ....) Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  6. PPE definition Definition as in 89/656 : all equipment designed to be worn or held by the worker to protect him against one or more hazards likely to endanger his safety and health at work, and any addition or accessory designed to meet this objective. Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  7. PPE definition • 89/686 : not only for occupational use (e.g. sports or DIY also included) • Excluded : • Workwear • Armed forces and maintenance of law and order • Self-defence • Some private use (e.g. weather) • Rescue of persons on vessels or aircraft • Helmets for 2 or 3 wheeled motor vehicles Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  8. Examples • High visibility clothing • Fall arrest systems • Hearing protectors • Respiratory protection • Head protection • Protective gloves • ... Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  9. PPE obligations employer • PPE must be provided and maintained free of charge for the employee • PPE must comply with legislation (e.g. CE marking) • PPE must be • Appropriate for the risks involved • Correspond to working conditions • Ergonomics and fit the employee • Information and training Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  10. PPE manufacturing • Producers directive : 89/686 • CE certification • 3 categories • general requirements to PPE • EN standards : to help users, producers and notified bodies to evaluate PPE – certification is according to the directive • Harmonised standards : give presumption of conformity – see annex ZA Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  11. Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  12. Marking of PPE • Marking/label on each product • CE • Manufacturer • Reference • Standards • Sizing • .... Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  13. Information for the user • In the language of the user + understandable • With each PPE (or smallest packaging) • Content : • name and address of the producer and notified body • description of the PPE • description of the risk • use of the PPE • pictograms • sizing • maintenance • important issues for the wearer • restrictions of the PPE Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  14. Declaration of conformity • Manufacturer declares to be in conformity with the Directive 89/686 (and if applicable other Directives) • Links product with EC Type Examination Certificate (category II and III) • Confirms for category III which Notified Body is following the quality of the products Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  15. PPE standards • CEN – ISO • Harmonised standards • Published in Official Journal of the EU • Give presumption of conformity for those Essential Health and Safety Requirements mentioned in annex ZA • Within CEN : PPE sector forum • Different TCs – WGs working on PPE standards Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  16. Standards for gloves • EN 420 : general requirements • EN 388 : mechanical requirements • EN 374 : chemical requirements • EN 407 : protection against thermal heat • EN 511 : protection against cold • EN 421 : against ionizing radiation and/or radioactive contamination Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  17. Standards for gloves • EN 10819 : vibration at the palm of the hand • EN 1082 : cuts and stabs by hand knifes • EN 659 : Fire Fighters’ gloves • EN 12477 : Welders gloves • EN 455 : Medical gloves for single use • EN 60903 : Electricians’ gloves • EN 381 : Chainsaw protective gloves Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  18. EN 420 : general requirements • Any glove materials that are in close contact with the user shall not harm the user’s health and hygiene. • Protective gloves shall be designed and manufactured to provide protection, when used to the manufacturer’s instruction, without harm to the user. Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  19. EN 420 : general requirements • pH value shall be between 3.5 and 9.5. • Chromium VI content in leather shall be below detection ( i.e. < 3 mg/kg ). • Natural rubber gloves shall be submitted to the requirements of EN455-3 on extractable protein content • No detectable azo-colorants Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  20. EN 420 : general requirements • If care instructions are provided, the relevant test of the specific standards shall be performed on the glove, before and after they have been subjected to the maximum recommended number of cleaning cycles – the levels of performance shall not be negatively affected. Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  21. EN 420 : general requirements • Glove sizes are defined as per hand sizesthey are to fit. • Glovesnotconforming to the minimum length are gloveswhich “Fit for Special applications”. Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  22. EN 420 : general requirements Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  23. EN 420 : general requirements • Electrostatic requirements • Dexterity (5 levels) Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  24. EN 420 pictograms

  25. PPE in management • OHS : Last in line ≠ failure of prevention and collective protection • HR : PPE = next to the skin : social impact • Marketing : PPE part of the corporate identity (e.g. protective clothing) Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  26. Investment versus Cost In reality : PPE often considered as cost Therefore : • No care given to selection : cheapest product available • No care given to training : only costs time and money • No care given to care and maintenance : too expensive and what’s the point ? Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  27. Investment versus Cost Good practice : • Correct selection • Correct training and use • Correct care and maintenance Results in : • Better protection • Better social climate • Better image for company Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  28. good practice ? Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  29. Conclusions • PPE are last line of defence • PPE are reality for most employees • Correct selection, use care and maintenance of PPE leads to long term savings Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

  30. Thank you for your attention www.eu-esf.org henk.vanhoutte@eu-esf.org Henk Vanhoutte ESF Moscow, 24.06.2010

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