End of the transition period: EU PPE regulation must be implemented
As of April 21, 2019, the European Union's new PPE Regulation must be applied. All innovations of the regulation must be implemented now. The regulation is primarily aimed at manufacturers, importers and distributors of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as notified testing and certification bodies. It replaces the PPE Directive 89/686/EEC.
© Depositphotos/piotrek@wytrazek.pl
Professor Frank Werner, Head of the DGUV's Personal Protective Equipment Division, comments: "The PPE Regulation defines new requirements for the placing on the market of PSA thus leading to uniform specifications for the PPE market. However, the new requirements do not change the safety level of PPE: Personal protective equipment, which were placed on the market under the PPE Directive, are still considered safe and do not need to be replaced."
An overview of the most important innovations from the point of view of occupational health and safety:
The classification of some products as PPE is changing. There are three categories to which different testing requirements are assigned. Products such as hearing protection, life jackets or PPE for protection against chain saw cuts now fall under category III, which means they are subject to production control by a notified body.
In Germany, Category III protective equipment is subject to mandatory practical instruction for employees. Companies are now being asked to adapt their instructions accordingly.
In the future, manufacturers must include the so-called declaration of conformity with each individual product or make it available via the Internet. The declaration confirms that the product meets the requirements of the regulation. Until now, it was sufficient to be able to present the declaration of conformity "on request".
The scope of the Regulation is more comprehensive than before. In the future, it will hold all economic actors accountable - including dealers and importers.
Until now, EC type examinations were valid indefinitely. According to the new regulation, EU type examination certificates will only be issued for a maximum of five years.
More info
