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PPE Directive Briefing

Jon Orton January 2009

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Intertek’s capabilities

Requirements and procedures

Types of PPE

What is the PPE Directive?

Contents

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What is the PPE Directive?

• European legislation • Text available here http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/mechan_equipment/ppe/dir89-686.htm • Intended to ensure that PPE products are safe and fit for purpose prior to placing on the market • Mandatory since 1995 • Legal requirement in all 25 member countries of the European Union (EU) • Allows free movement of goods within EU

Directive 89/686/EEC

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25 members of EU

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What is PPE?

• Any device or appliance designed to be worn or held by an individual for protection against one or more health and safety hazards in the execution of the user's activities

Personal Protective Equipment

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PPE Examples

• Respiratory protection

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PPE Examples

• Eye protection

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PPE Examples

• Head protection

• High-visibility

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PPE Examples

• Hearing protection

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PPE Examples

• Hand/arm protection

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PPE Examples

• Fall arrest equipment

• Foot/leg protection

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PPE Examples

• Protective clothing

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PPE Examples

• Buoyancy aids and life-jackets

• Protective sports equipment

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Scope of the PPED

• PPE for armed forces and police • PPE for self-defence • PPE for private use protecting against adverse atmospheric conditions, damp and water, heat • PPE for protection or rescue of persons on vessels or aircraft which are not worn all the time • Motorcycle helmets and visors

What is NOT covered by the PPE Directive?

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Categories of PPE

• Category I – protection against minimal risks • Category II – intermediate risks • Category III – protection against mortal danger or dangers that may seriously and irreversibly harm the user

The 3 categories are subject to different procedures and requirements

PPED defines 3 categories of PPE:

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Requirements of the PPED

• PPED includes a list of health and safety requirements which all PPE must meet (however not all requirements are applicable to all types of PPE) • Harmonised European standards are designed to test products for compliance with specific health and safety requirements • Current list of harmonised standards for PPE can be found here http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/mechan_equipment/ppe/stand.htm • All common types of PPE are covered by harmonised standards

How to demonstrate compliance with the PPE Directive?

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Category I PPE

• Comply with applicable health and safety requirements • Perform product testing • Compile Technical File • Make Declaration of Conformity • CE mark the product • Effectively “self-certification”

Required procedures:

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Some Definitions

What is a Technical File? • Test reports • Product specifications • Details of compliance with health and safety requirements of PPED • Quality control systems

What is a Declaration of Conformity? • A signed declaration to say that the product is in compliance with the PPE Directive

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Declaration of Conformity Usually signed by manufacturer or importer

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Category II PPE

• Comply with applicable health and safety requirements • Perform product testing • Compile Technical File • EC Type Examination by a Notified Body according to Article 10 of the PPE Directive • Notified Body issues certificate • Make Declaration of Conformity • CE mark the product

Required procedures:

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More Definitions

What is a Notified Body? • An institution or company which has been approved by national government and authorised to perform conformity assessments according to the Directive • There are approximately 100 Notified Bodies for the PPE Directive, listed here http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newapproach/legislation/nb/notified_bodies.htm

What is an EC Type Examination? • Notified Body checks that product has been tested satisfactorily • Examine Technical File • Issues certificate – effectively a license to CE mark the product and sell throughout EU

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Example certificate Note – no expiry date

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Category III PPE

• Comply with applicable health and safety requirements • Perform product testing • Compile Technical File • EC Type Examination by a Notified Body according to Article 10 of the PPE Directive • Notified Body issues certificate • Make Declaration of Conformity • CE mark the product • Annual checks performed by Notified Body according to Article 11 of the PPE Directive – either selected testing or quality system audits

Required procedures:

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Intertek’s Capabilities

• EN ISO 20345/6/7 – safety/protective/occupational footwear • EN 15090 – footwear for firefighters • EN 420 – protective gloves, general requirements • EN 388 – protective gloves against mechanical risks • EN 13061 – shin guards for football players (GZ only) • EN 13138 – buoyancy aids (Leicester only)

Note: US lab in Cortland can perform PPE testing to US standards

Which harmonised standards can Intertek currently perform?

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Intertek – Notified Body

• Footwear • Gloves • Buoyancy aids

Intertek Leicester is approved by UK government to perform EC Type Examinations according to Article 10 of the PPED (not Article 11)

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Future Developments?

• Leicester – intending to expand certification capability to include other types of PPE such as high-visibility, shin guards • GZ – expand testing capability according to developments in Leicester • Expand glove testing to include other types, such as thermal protection (EN 407), chemical protection (EN 374) • Additional footwear capabilities, such as motorcycle boots (EN 13634), chainsaw protective boots (EN ISO 17249)

PPE Directive revision?

Intertek plans for PPE:

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Thank you

jonathan.orton@intertek.com