Council Directive of 30 November 1989 on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace (third individual directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (89/656/EEC)

SECTION I U.K. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1 U.K. Subject

1. This Directive, which is the third individual directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC, lays down minimum requirements for personal protective equipment used by workers at work.

2. The provisions of Directive 89/391/EEC are fully applicable to the whole scope referred to in paragraph 1, without prejudice to more [X1 stringent] and/or specific provisions contained in this Directive.

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Council Directive 89/656/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace (third individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (Official Journal of the European Communities No L 393 of 30 December 1989).

Article 2 U.K. Definition

1. For the purposes of this Directive, personal protective equipment shall mean 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.

2. The definition in paragraph 1 excludes:

(a) ordinary working clothes and uniforms not specifically designed to protect the safety and health of the worker;

(b) equipment used by emergency and rescue services;

(c) personal protective equipment worn or used by the military, the police and other public order agencies;

(d) personal protective equipment for means of road transport;

(e) sports equipment;

(f) self-defence or deterrent equipment;

(g) portable devices for detecting and signalling risks and nuisances.

Article 3 U.K. General rule

Personal protective equipment shall be used when the risks cannot be avoided or sufficiently limited by technical means of collective protection or by measures, methods or procedures of work organization.