What is Personal Protective Equipment Regulation?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation refers to a set of regulations designed to ensure that personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety glasses, masks, and other gear, are appropriately designed, manufactured, tested, and labeled. These regulations are intended to ensure that PPE protects the wearer against potential health and safety risks in the workplace.

The most important PPE regulation is the European Union's (EU) Personal Protective Equipment Regulation (EU) 2016/425, which came into effect in 2018. This regulation replaced the previous PPE Directive and introduced new requirements for PPE manufacturers, importers, and distributors, including stricter requirements for testing, labeling, and product documentation.

The PPE regulation requires that PPE should be tested and certified to prove that it meets the required safety standards. The regulation also requires that manufacturers provide detailed instructions on how to use, maintain and dispose of PPE, and that PPE should be CE-marked, which indicates that it complies with the relevant safety standards.

Employers are responsible for providing their workers with appropriate PPE and ensuring that it is properly used and maintained. Failure to comply with PPE regulations can result in penalties and fines, and may also lead to legal liability in the event of an accident or injury in the workplace.

The EU Personal Protective Equipment Regulation (EU) 2016/425 divides PPE into three categories based on the level of risk they are designed to protect against. The categories are:

Category I: This category includes PPE designed to protect against minimal risks, such as superficial mechanical injury or contact with weak cleaning agents. Examples of Category I PPE include gloves, safety glasses, and other basic protective gear. These products only require a manufacturer's self-declaration of conformity with the regulation.

Category II: This category includes PPE designed to protect against medium to high risks, such as those posed by handling machinery or exposure to chemicals. Examples of Category II PPE include respiratory protection, chemical protective clothing, and fall protection equipment. These products must be tested and certified by an independent third-party body before they can be sold.

Category III: This category includes PPE designed to protect against the highest level of risk, such as those posed by exposure to harmful substances, extreme temperatures, or other life-threatening hazards. Examples of Category III PPE include full-body protective suits, diving equipment, and anti-microbial protection. These products must undergo the most rigorous testing and certification processes and require ongoing monitoring and periodic testing to ensure ongoing compliance with the regulation.

Overall, the categorization of PPE is intended to ensure that products are appropriately designed and tested for the level of risk they are intended to protect against, and that appropriate steps are taken to ensure ongoing compliance and safety.

Fitone group has all it disposable rubber gloves certifited with category III under the EU Personal Protective Equipment Regulation (EU) 2016/42.