PPE Regulation Date Approaching - Are You Ready?

According to BSIF (British Safety Industry Federation) ‘all PPE already on the market can continue to be sold indefinitely as it was compliant at the time it was supplied by the certificate holder, but product supplied by the manufacturer from 21^st April 2019 needs to comply with the regulation.’

Compliance can be based on an EC Type Directive certificate until it expires or until 20^th April 2023, whichever comes sooner, but in all other respects the product needs to fully comply. The main changes to the legislation include, but are not exhaustive of:

• The PPE must provide protection ‘against all risk encountered’ has been replaced with ‘the risks against which it is intended to protect.’
• Hearing protection has been moved to Category III from Category II
• A product risk assessment is now needed in a technical file

To build awareness, American Multinational, Honeywell has released a free technical guide called ‘Key Regulations and Standards To Look Out For When The Hands Need Protection,’¹ which not only discusses the law adjustment, but pays special attention to the most recent changes to EN 374, the chemical protection gloves standard.

This also declares the new levels of protection and markings used, which are now defined by Type A, B and C. These types are categorised as follows.

• Type A: 30 minutes minimum breakthrough time for at least 6 defined chemicals
• Type B: 30 minutes for at least 3 defined chemicals
• Type C: 10 minutes for 1 defined chemical

So to round off, regulations are not there to be ignored, but although the transition is in full swing, you have ample time before the changes affect you directly, even as far away as 2023.

¹ Available to download at hwll.co./SkinIrritation