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Commission Directive 2019/1832Show full title

Commission Directive 2019/1832 of 24 October 2019 amending Annexes I, II and III to Council Directive 89/656/EEC as regards purely technical adjustments

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Commission Directive 2019/1832

of 24 October 2019

amending Annexes I, II and III to Council Directive 89/656/EEC as regards purely technical adjustments

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 89/656/EEC of 30 November 1989 on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace(1), and in particular Article 9 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Principle 10 of the European Pillar of Social Rights(2), proclaimed at Gothenburg on 17 November 2017, provides that every worker has the right to a healthy, safe and well-adapted working environment. The workers’ right to a high level of protection of their health and safety at work and to a working environment that is adapted to their professional needs and that enables them to prolong their participation in the labour market includes the use of personal protective equipment at the workplace if risks cannot be avoided or sufficiently limited by other means, measures, methods or procedures of work organisation.

(2) The implementation of the directives related to the health and safety of workers at work, including Directive 89/656/EEC, was the subject of an ex-post evaluation, referred to as a REFIT evaluation. The evaluation looked at the directives’ relevance, at research and at new scientific knowledge in the various fields concerned. The REFIT evaluation, referred to in the Commission Staff Working Document(3), concludes, among other things, that the use of personal protective equipment concerns approximately 40 % of the EU’s workforce, as risks at the workplace cannot be avoided by any other means, and that there is a need to address difficulties in implementing Directive 89/656/EEC.

(3) In its Communication ‘Safer and Healthier Work for All – Modernisation of the EU Occupational Safety and Health Legislation and Policy’(4), the Commission reiterated that while the REFIT evaluation of the Union’s acquis on occupational health and safety confirmed that the legislation in this field is generally effective and fit-for-purpose, there is scope for updating outdated rules and ensuring better and broader protection, compliance and enforcement on the ground. The Commission emphasises the particular need to consider the definition of personal protective equipment and its use by different services and sectors, as set out in Article 2 of Directive 89/656/EEC.

(4) Directive 89/656/EEC lays down minimum requirements for the use of personal protective equipment used by workers at work, which is to be used when the risks concerned cannot be avoided or sufficiently limited by technical means of collective protection or by measures, methods or procedures of work organisation. To facilitate the establishment of the general rules required pursuant to Article 6 of Directive 89/656/EEC, Annexes I, II and III to Directive 89/656/EEC provide non-binding guidelines intended to facilitate and support the selection of appropriate personal protective equipment for the risks, activities and sectors concerned.

(5) Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council(5) lays down the provisions regarding the design, manufacture and marketing of personal protective equipment. Regulation (EU) 2016/425 modified the risk categorisation of products, to enable employers to understand and thus to deploy personal protective equipment, as further explained in the Personal Protective Equipment Guidelines(6) that clarify procedures and matters referred to in Regulation (EU) 2016/425. It is considered appropriate to update Annexes I, II and III to Directive 89/656/EEC in order to ensure consistency with the risk classification laid down in Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and to align them with terminologies used and types of personal protective equipment referred to in Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

(6) Article 4(1) of Directive 89/656/EEC foresees that employers must provide personal protective equipment that complies with the relevant Union provisions on design and manufacture with respect to safety and health. Pursuant to that Article, employers who provide that personal protective equipment to their workers must ensure that such personal protective equipment fulfils the requirements laid down in Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

(7) Annex I to Directive 89/656/EEC sets out a specimen risk survey table for the use of personal protective equipment and sets out types of risks that could occur in workplaces in relation to different parts of the body to be protected by personal protective equipment. Annex I should be amended to take account of new types of risks that appear in workplaces and to ensure consistency with the risk classification and the terminology used, in particular in Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

(8) Annex II to Directive 89/656/EEC, which sets out a non-exhaustive guide list of types of personal protective equipment, should be amended to take account of the new types of risks identified in Annex I to that directive. Annex II should also be amended to include examples of personal protective equipment currently available on the market in conformity with Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and the terminology used in that Regulation.

(9) Annex III to Directive 89/656/EEC sets out a non-exhaustive guide list of activities and sectors of activity that could require the provision of personal protective equipment, bringing together the risk classifications set out in Annex I to that directive and the types of personal protective equipment described in Annex II to that directive. Annex III to Directive 89/656/EEC should be restructured to ensure consistency between the terminology and classifications used across the three annexes and with Regulation (EU) 2016/425. This will enable employers from different sectors and industries to better identify and provide personal protective equipment that corresponds to specific activities and the specific types of risks that workers are exposed to, as indicated by the risk assessment.

(10) The Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work was consulted on the measures resulting from the adoption of the Commission’s Communication ‘Safer and Healthier Work for All – Modernisation of the EU Occupational Safety and Health Legislation and Policy’ that are required to keep the Union’s occupational health and safety legislation effective and fit-for-purpose.

(11) In its ‘Opinion on the Modernisation of Six OSH Directives to Ensure Healthier and Safer Work for All’(7), adopted on 6 December 2017, the Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work recommends that Directive 89/656/EEC should be amended to enhance its relevance and effectiveness.

(12) In a subsequent ‘Opinion on technical updates to the annexes of the Personal Protective Equipment Directive (89/656/EEC)’(8), adopted on 31 May 2018, the Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work recommends that specific updates to Annex I, II and III to Directive 89/656/EEC, taking into account the latest technological developments in the field and ensuring consistency with Regulation (EU) 2016/425, should be carried out.

(13) In preparing the current update of Annexes I, II and III to Directive 89/656/EEC, the Commission was assisted by experts representing Member States, who provided technical and scientific support.

(14) In accordance with the Joint Political Declaration on explanatory documents(9), adopted by the Member States and the Commission on 28 September 2011, Member States have undertaken to accompany, in justified cases, the notification of their transposition measures with one or more documents explaining the relationship between the components of a directive and the corresponding parts of national transposition instruments.

(15) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 17 of Council Directive 89/391/EEC(10),

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

Annexes I, II and III to Directive 89/656/EEC are replaced by the text in the Annex to this Directive.

Article 2

1.Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 20 November 2021 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.

When Member States adopt those measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

2.Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Article 3

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 4

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 24 October 2019.

For the Commission

The President

Jean-Claude Juncker

ANNEX

(1)Annex I to Directive 89/656/EEC is replaced by the following:

ANNEX I

RISKS IN RELATION TO THE BODY PARTS TO BE PROTECTED BY PPE (*) (*) This list of risks/parts of the body cannot be expected to be exhaustive. The risk assessment will determine the need to provide a PPE and its characteristics according to the provisions of this Directive.

(2)Annex II to Directive 89/656/EEC is replaced by the following:

ANNEX II NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF TYPES OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WITH REGARD TO THE RISKS THEY PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST

Equipment for HEAD PROTECTION

  • Helmets and/or caps/balaclavas/headgears against:

    • Impacts caused by falling or ejected object

    • Collision with an obstacle

    • Mechanical risks (perforation, abrasion)

    • Static compression (lateral crushing)

    • Thermal risks (fire, heat, cold, hot solids including molten metals)

    • Electric shock and live working

    • Chemical risks

    • Non-ionizing radiation (UV, IR, solar or welding radiation)

  • Hairnets against risk of entanglement

Equipment for HEARING PROTECTION

  • Earmuffs (including e.g. earmuffs attached to a helmet, active noise reduction earmuffs, earmuffs with electrical audio input)

  • Earplugs (including e.g. level-dependent earplugs, earplugs adapted to the individual)

Equipment for EYE AND FACE PROTECTION

  • Spectacles, goggles and face shields (prescription lenses where appropriate) against:

    • Mechanical risks

    • Thermal risks

    • Non-ionizing radiation (UV, IR, solar or welding radiation)

    • Ionizing radiation

    • Solid aerosols and liquids of chemical and biological agents

Equipment for RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

  • Filtering devices against:

    • Particles

    • Gases

    • Particles and gases

    • Solid and/or liquid aerosols

  • Insulating devices, including with an air supply

  • Self-rescue devices

  • Diving equipment

Equipment for HAND AND ARM PROTECTION

  • Gloves (including mittens and arm protection) against:

    • Mechanical risks

    • Thermal risks (heat, flame and cold)

    • Electric shock and live working (antistatic, conductive, insulating)

    • Chemical risks

    • Biological agents

    • Ionizing radiation and radioactive contamination

    • Non-ionizing radiation (UV, IR, solar or welding radiation)

    • Vibration risks

  • Finger stalls

Equipment for FOOT AND LEG PROTECTION and anti-slip protection

  • Footwear (e.g. shoes, including in certain circumstances clogs, boots that may have steel toe-caps) to protect against:

    • Mechanical risks

    • Slipping risks

    • Thermal risks (heat, flame and cold)

    • Electric shock and live working (antistatic, conductive, insulating)

    • Chemicals risks

    • Vibration risks

    • Biological risks

  • Removable instep protectors against mechanical risks

  • Kneepads against mechanical risks

  • Gaiters against mechanical, thermal and chemical risks and biological agents

  • Accessories (e.g. spikes, crampons)

SKIN PROTECTION — BARRIER CREAMS (11)

  • There could be barrier creams to protect against:

    • Non ionizing radiation (UV, IR, solar or welding radiation)

    • Ionizing radiation

    • Chemicals

    • Biological agents

    • Thermal risks (heat, flame and cold)

Equipment for BODY PROTECTION/OTHER SKIN PROTECTION

  • Personal protective equipment for protection against falls from a height, such as retractable type fall arresters, full body harnesses, sit harnesses, belts for work positioning and restraint and work positioning lanyards, energy absorbers, guided-type fall arresters including an anchor line, rope adjustment devices, anchor devices that are not designed to be permanently fixed and that do not require fastening works before use, connectors, lanyards, rescue harness

  • Protective clothing, including whole body (i.e. suits, overalls) protection and partial body (i.e. gaiters, trousers, jackets, waistcoats, aprons, kneepads, hoods, balaclavas) protection against:

    • Mechanical risks

    • Thermal risks (heat, flame and cold)

    • Chemicals

    • Biological agents

    • Ionizing radiation and radioactive contamination

    • Non-ionizing radiation (UV, IR, solar or welding radiation)

    • Electric shock and live working (antistatic, conductive, insulating)

    • Entanglement and trapping

  • Lifejackets for prevention of drowning and buoyancy aids

  • PPE for signalling the user’s presence visually

(3)Annex III to Directive 89/656/EEC is replaced by the following:

ANNEX III

NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ACTIVITIES AND SECTORS OF ACTIVITY WHICH MAY REQUIRE THE PROVISION OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (*) (*) The risk assessment will determine the need to provide a PPE and its characteristics according to the provisions of this Directive

I. PHYSICAL RISKS
RisksBody part affectedType of PPEExamples of activities where the use of the corresponding type of PPE may be necessary (*)Industry and Sectors
PHYSICAL — MECHANICAL
Impact caused by falling or ejected objects, collision with an obstacle and high-pressure jets

Cranium

Protective helmet

  • Work on, underneath or in the vicinity of scaffolding and elevated workplaces

  • Carcase Work and road work

  • Formwork's erection and stripping

  • Scaffolding's assembly and installation

  • Assembly and installation works

  • Demolitions

  • Blasting works

  • Work in pits, trenches, shafts and tunnels

  • Work in the vicinity of lifts, lifting gear, cranes, and conveyors

  • Works in underground workings, quarries, open diggings

  • Work with industrial furnaces, containers, machinery, silos, bunkers and pipelines

  • Slaughtering and Cutting line at slaughterhouses

  • Load handling or Transport and storage

  • Forest work

  • Work on steel bridges, steel building construction, steel hydraulic structures, blast furnaces, steel works and rolling mills, large containers, large pipelines, boiler plants and power stations

  • Earth and rock works

  • Work with bolt-driving tools

  • Work with blast furnaces, direct reduction plants, steelworks, rolling mills, metalworks, forging, drop forging and casting

  • Work involving travelling on bicycles and mechanically propelled bikes

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Machinery manufacturing, installation and maintenance

  • Shipbuilding

  • Mining works

  • Energy production

  • Infrastructure construction and maintenance

  • Iron and Steel industry

  • Slaughterhouses

  • Railway shunting work

  • Harbours, transport and logistics

  • Forest Industry

Eyes and/or face

Spectacles, goggles and face shields

  • Welding, grinding and separating work

  • Manual hammering

  • Caulking and chiselling

  • Rock working and processing

  • Work with bolt-driving tools

  • Work on stock removing machines for small chippings

  • Drop forging

  • The removal and breaking up of fragments

  • Spraying of abrasive substances

  • Use of brush cutter or chainsaw

  • Dental and surgical procedures

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Machinery manufacturing, installation and maintenance

  • Shipbuilding

  • Mining works

  • Energy production

  • Infrastructure construction and maintenance

  • Iron and Steel industries

  • Metal and Wood industries

  • Stone carving

  • Gardening

  • Healthcare

  • Forestry

Foot and leg (parts)

Footwear (shoes/boots, etc.) with safety or protective toecap

Footwear with metatarsal protection

  • Carcase Work and road work

  • Erection and stripping of formwork

  • Scaffolding's assembly and installation

  • Demolitions

  • Blasting works

  • Working and processing of rock

  • Slaughtering and Cutting line works

  • Transport and storage

  • Work with moulds in the ceramics industry

  • Work with frozen meat blocks and preserved foods packaging

  • Flat glass products and container glassware manufacture, working and processing

  • Conversion and maintenance work

  • Forest works

  • Work with concrete and prefabricated parts involving formwork erection and stripping

  • Work in contractors’ yards and warehouses

  • Roof work

  • Work on steel bridges, steel building construction, masts, towers, lifts, steel hydraulic structures, blast furnaces, steelworks and rolling mills, large containers, large pipelines, cranes, boiler plants and power stations

  • Furnace construction, heating and ventilation installation and metal assembly work

  • Work with blast furnaces, direct reduction plants, steelworks, rolling mills, metal works, forging, drop forging, hot pressing and drawing plants

  • Work in quarries and open diggings, coal stock removal

  • Work with moulds in the ceramics industry

  • Lining of kilns in the ceramics industry

  • Railway shunting work

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Machinery manufacturing, installation and maintenance

  • Shipbuilding

  • Mining works

  • Energy production

  • Infrastructure construction and maintenance

  • Iron and Steel industry

  • Slaughterhouses

  • Logistic Companies

  • Manufacturing Industry

  • Glass Industry

  • Forest Industry

Falls due to slipping

Foot

Slip-resistant footwear

  • Works on slippery surfaces

  • Works on humidity environments

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Shipbuilding

  • Slaughterhouse

  • Cleaning

  • Food industries

  • Gardening

  • Fishing industry

Falls from a height

Whole body

PPE designed to prevent or arrest falls from height

  • Work on scaffolding

  • Assembly of prefabricated parts

  • Works on masts

  • Roof work

  • Work on vertical or slope surfaces

  • Work in high crane cabs

  • Work in high cabs of warehouse stacking and retrieval equipment

  • Work in high sections of drilling towers

  • Work in shafts and sewers

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Shipbuilding

  • Infrastructure maintenance

Vibration

Hands

Protective Gloves

  • Works with hand-guided tools

  • Manufacturing industries

  • Building work

  • Civil Engineering work

Static compression of parts of the body

Knee (leg parts)

Kneepads

  • Installation of blocks, tiles and pavers on the floor

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

Foot

Footwear with toecaps

  • Demolitions

  • Load handling

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Transport and storage

  • Maintenance

Mechanical injuries (abrasion, perforation, cuts, bites, wounds or stabs)

Eyes and/or face

Spectacles, goggles, face shields

  • Works with hand-guided tools

  • Welding and forging

  • Grinding and separating work

  • Chiselling

  • Rock working and processing

  • Work on stock removing machines for small chippings

  • Drop forging

  • The removal and breaking up of fragments

  • Spraying of abrasive substances

  • Use of brush cutter or chainsaw

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Shipbuilding

  • Mining works

  • Energy production

  • Infrastructure maintenance

  • Iron and Steel industries

  • Metal and Wood industries

  • Stone carving

  • Gardening

  • Forestry

Hands

Mechanical protective gloves

  • Works with steel framework

  • Handling of sharp-edged objects, other than machines where there is a danger of the gloves being caught

  • Regular cutting using a hand knife for production and slaughtering

  • Changing the knives of cutting machines

  • Forest works

  • Gardening work

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Shipbuilding

  • Infrastructure maintenance

  • Manufacturing industries

  • Food industry

  • Slaughter

  • Forest industry

Forearms

Arm protection

  • Boning and cutting

  • Food industry

  • Slaughter

Trunk/Abdomen/Leg

Protective apron, gaiters

Penetration resistance trousers (cut-resistant trousers)

  • Regular cutting using a hand knife for production and slaughtering

  • Forest works

  • Food industry

  • Slaughter

  • Forest industry

Foot

Penetration resistance footwear

  • Carcase works and road works

  • Demolition

  • Formwork's erection and stripping

  • Forest works

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Shipbuilding

  • Mining works

  • Forest industry

Entanglement and trapping

Whole body

Protective clothing for use where there is a risk of entanglement with moving parts

  • Entangle oneself in parts of machines

  • Get caught in parts of machines

  • Get caught with garment in parts of machines

  • Get swept away

  • Machine building

  • Manufacture of heavy-duty machines

  • Engineering

  • Construction

  • Agriculture

PHYSICAL — NOISE
Noise

Ears

Hearing protectors

  • Work with metal presses

  • Work with pneumatic drills

  • The work of ground staff at airports

  • Works with power tools

  • Blasting works

  • Pile-driving work

  • Wood and textile working

  • Metal Industry

  • Manufacturing industry

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Aeronautical industry

  • Mining works

PHYSICAL — THERMAL
Heat and/or fire

Face/Whole head

Welding headshields,

helmets/caps against heat or fire, protective hoods against heat and/or flame

  • Work in presence of high temperatures, radiating heat or fire

  • Work with or in the vicinity of molten substances

  • Work with welding plastics guns

  • Iron and Steel Industry

  • Metal Industry

  • Maintenance services

  • Manufacturing Industry

Trunk/abdomen/legs

Protective apron, gaiters

  • Welding and forging

  • Casting

  • Iron and Steel Industry

  • Metal Industry

  • Maintenance services

  • Manufacturing industry

Hand

Protective gloves against heat and/or flame

  • Welding and forging

  • Work in presence of high temperatures, radiating heat or fire

  • Work with or in the vicinity of molten substances

  • Iron and Steel Industry

  • Metal Industry

  • Maintenance services

  • Manufacturing industry

Forearms

Sleeves

  • Welding and forging

  • Work with or in the vicinity of molten substances

  • Iron and Steel Industry

  • Metal Industry

  • Maintenance services

  • Manufacturing industry

Foot

Footwear against heat and/or flame

  • Work with or in the vicinity of molten substances

  • Iron and Steel Industry

  • Metal Industry

  • Maintenance services

  • Manufacturing industry

Whole/partial body

Protective clothing against heat and/or flame

  • Work in presence of high temperatures, radiating heat or fire

  • Iron and Steel Industry

  • Metal Industry

  • Forest Industry

Cold

Hand

Protective gloves against cold

Foot

Footwear against cold

  • Work in the open air in extreme cold conditions

  • Work in deep-freeze rooms

  • Work with cryogenic liquids

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Shipbuilding

  • Mining works

  • Food Industry

  • Agriculture and fisheries sector

Whole/partial body including head

Protective clothing against cold

  • Work in the open air in cold weather conditions

  • Work in deep-freeze rooms

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Shipbuilding

  • Mining works

  • Food Industry

  • Agriculture and fisheries sector

  • Transport and storage

PHYSICAL — ELECTRICAL
Electric shock (direct or indirect contact)

Whole head

Electrically insulating helmets

Hands

Electrically insulating gloves

Foot

Electrically insulating footwear

Whole body/Hands/Foot

Conductive PPE intended to be worn by skilled persons during live working at a nominal power system voltage up to 800 kV AC and 600 kV DC

  • Live working or close to live parts under electrical tension

  • Work on electrical system

  • Energy production

  • Transmission and distribution of electrical energy

  • Industrial facilities maintenance

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

Static electricity

Hands

Antistatic gloves

Foot

Antistatic/conductivefootwear

Whole body

Antistatic clothing

  • Handling plastic and rubber

  • Pouring, collecting or loading into a container

  • Work near to highly charged elements such as conveyor belts

  • Handling explosives

  • Manufacturing industry

  • Feed industry

  • Bagging and packing plants

  • Production, storage or transport of explosives

PHYSICAL — RADIATION
Non-ionizing radiation, including sunlight (other than direct observation)

Head

Caps and helmets

  • Work in open air

  • Fishing and agriculture

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

Eyes

Protective spectacles, goggles and face shields

  • Work with radiant heat

  • Furnace operations

  • Work with laser

  • Work in open air

  • Welding and gas cutting

  • Glass blowing

  • Germicidal lamps

  • Iron and Steel Industries

  • Manufacturing industry

  • Fishing and agriculture

Whole body (skin)

PPE against

Natural and artificial UV

  • Work in the open air

  • Electrical welding

  • Germicidal lamps

  • Xenon lamps

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Shipbuilding

  • Mining works

  • Energy production

  • Infrastructure maintenance

  • Fishing and agriculture

  • Forest industry

  • Gardening

  • Food industry

  • Plastic industry

  • Printing industry

Ionizing radiation

Eyes

Protective spectacles/goggles against ionizing radiation

Hands

Protective gloves against ionizing radiation

  • Operating in X-ray facilities

  • Operating in the area of medical radio diagnosis

  • Work with radioactive products

  • Healthcare

  • Veterinary care

  • Radioactive waste plant

  • Energy production

Trunk/abdomen/partial body

Protective apron against x-rays

/Coat/Vest/Skirt against x-rays

  • Operating in X-ray facilities

  • Operating in the area of medical radio diagnosis

  • Healthcare

  • Veterinary care

  • Dental care

  • Urology

  • Surgery

  • Interventional radiology

  • Laboratories

Head

Headwear & Caps

PPE for protection against e.g. development of brain tumours

  • Medical X-ray work places and facilities

  • Healthcare

  • Veterinary care

  • Dental care

  • Urology

  • Surgery

  • Interventional radiology

Partial body

PPE for thyroid protection

PPE for gonads protection

  • Operating in X-ray facilities

  • Operating in the area of medical radio diagnosis

  • Healthcare

  • Veterinary care

Whole body

Protective clothing against ionizing radiation

  • Operating in the area of medical radio diagnosis

  • Work with radioactive products

  • Energy production

  • Radioactive waste plant

II. CHEMICAL RISKS (including nanomaterial)
RisksBody part affectedType of PPEExamples of activities where the use of the corresponding type of PPE may be necessary (*)Industry and Sectors
CHEMICAL — AEROSOLS

Solid (dusts, fumes, smokes, fibres,

and nano-material)

Respiratory system

Respiratory protective devices against particles

  • Demolition

  • Blasting works

  • Sanding and Polishing of surfaces

  • Work in presence of asbestos

  • Use of materials consisting of/containing nanoparticles

  • Welding

  • Chimney sweeper

  • Work on the lining of furnaces and ladles where there may be dust

  • Work in the vicinity of blast furnace taps where there may be heavy metal fumes

  • Work in the vicinity of the blast furnace charge

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Shipbuilding

  • Mining works

  • Iron and Steel industries

  • Metal and Wood industries

  • Automotive industry

  • Stone carving

  • Pharmaceuticals industry

  • Healthcare services

  • Preparation of cytostatics

Hands

Chemical Protective gloves

and barrier cream as an additional/accessory protection

  • Work in presence of asbestos

  • Use of materials consisting of/containing nanoparticles

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Shipbuilding

  • Industrial facilities maintenance

Whole body

Protective clothing against solid particles

  • Demolition

  • Work in presence of asbestos

  • Use of materials consisting of/containing nanoparticles

  • Chimney sweeper

  • Preparation of plant protection products

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Shipbuilding

  • Industrial facilities maintenance

  • Agriculture

Eyes

Spectacles/goggles and face shields

  • Woodworking

  • Road work

  • Mining industry

  • Metal and wood industry

  • Civil engineering construction

Liquid

(mists and fogs)

Respiratory system

Respiratory protective devices against particles

  • Surface treatment (e.g. varnishing/painting, abrasive blasting)

  • Surface cleaning

  • Metal Industry

  • Manufacturing Industry

  • Automotive sector

Hands

Chemical protective gloves

  • Surface treatment

  • Surface cleaning

  • Work with liquid sprays

  • Works with acids and caustic solutions, disinfectants and corrosive cleaning substances

  • Metal Industry

  • Manufacturing industry

  • Automotive sector

Whole body

Chemical protective clothing

  • Surface treatment

  • Surface cleaning

  • Metal Industry

  • Manufacturing industry

  • Automotive sector

CHEMICAL — LIQUIDS

Immersion

Splashes, sprays and jets

Hands

Chemical protective gloves,

  • Work with liquid sprays

  • Works with acids and caustic solutions, disinfectants and corrosive cleaning products

  • Processing of coating materials

  • Tanning

  • Work in hairdressers and beauty salons

  • Textile and clothing industry

  • Cleaning industry

  • Automobile industry

  • Beauty and hairdressing sectors

Forearms

Chemical protective sleeves

  • Works with acids and caustic solutions, disinfectants and corrosive cleaning products

  • Cleaning

  • Chemical industry

  • Cleaning industry

  • Automobile industry

Foot

Chemical protective boots

  • Work with liquid sprays

  • Works with acids and caustic solutions, disinfectants and corrosive cleaning products

  • Textile and clothing industry

  • Cleaning industry

  • Automobile industry

Whole body

Chemical protectiveclothing

  • Work with liquid sprays

  • Works with acids and caustic solutions, disinfectants and corrosive cleaning products

  • Cleaning

  • Chemical industry

  • Cleaning industry

  • Automobile industry

  • Agriculture

CHEMICAL — GASES AND VAPOURS
Gases and vapours

Respiratory system

Respiratory protective devices against gases

  • Surface treatment (e.g. varnishing/painting, abrasive blasting)

  • Surface cleaning

  • Work in fermentation and distilling rooms

  • Work inside tanks and digesters

  • Work in containers, restricted areas and gas-fired industrial furnaces where there may be gas or insufficient oxygen

  • Chimney sweeper

  • Disinfectants and corrosive cleaning substances

  • Work in the vicinity of gas converters and blast furnace gas pipes

  • Metal Industry

  • Automotive sector

  • Manufacturing industry

  • Cleaning industry

  • Alcoholic drinks production

  • Wastewater treatment plants

  • Waste treatment plant

  • Chemical Industry

  • Petrochemical industry

Hands

Chemical protective gloves

  • Surface treatment

  • Surface cleaning

  • Work in fermentation and distilling rooms

  • Work inside tanks and digesters

  • Work in containers, restricted areas and gas-fired industrial furnaces where there may be gas or insufficient oxygen

  • Metal Industry

  • Automotive sector

  • Manufacturing industry

  • Alcoholic drinks production

  • Wastewater treatment plants

  • Waste treatment plant

  • Chemical Industry

  • Petrochemical industry

Whole body

Chemical protective clothing

  • Surface treatment

  • Surface cleaning

  • Work in fermentation and distilling rooms

  • Work inside tanks and digesters

  • Work in containers, restricted areas and gas-fired industrial furnaces where there may be gas or insufficient oxygen

  • Metal Industry

  • Automotive sector

  • Manufacturing industry

  • Alcoholic drinks production

  • Wastewater treatment plants

  • Waste treatment plant

  • Chemical Industry

  • Petrochemical industry

Eyes

Spectacles, goggles and face shields

  • Spray painting

  • Woodworking

  • Mining operations

  • Automotive sector

  • Manufacturing industry

  • Mine industry

  • Chemical Industry

  • Petrochemical industry

III. BIOLOGICAL AGENTS
RisksBody part affectedType of PPEExamples of activities where the use of the corresponding type of PPE may be necessary (*)Industry and Sectors
BIOLOGICAL AGENTS (contained in) - AEROSOLS
Solids and liquids

Respiratory system

Respiratory protective devices against particles

  • Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues

  • Work in presence of biological agent

  • Healthcare

  • Veterinary clinics

  • Clinical analysis laboratories

  • Research Laboratories

  • Retirement homes

  • Homes assistances

  • Wastewater treatment plants

  • Waste treatment plant

  • Food Industry

  • Biochemical production

Hands

Protective gloves against microorganisms

Whole/partial body

Protective clothing against biological agents

Eyes and/or face

Protective spectacles, goggles and face shields

  • Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues

  • Work in presence of biological agent

  • Healthcare

  • Veterinary clinics

  • Clinical analysis laboratories

  • Research Laboratories

  • Retirement homes

  • Homes assistances

  • Wastewater treatment plants

  • Waste treatment plant

  • Food Industry

BIOLOGICAL AGENTS (contained in) - LIQUIDS
Direct and indirect contact

Hands

Protective gloves against microorganisms

Whole/partial body

Protective clothing against biological agents

Eyes and/or face

Protective goggles and face shields

  • Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues (bites, stings)

  • Work in presence of biological agent

  • Healthcare

  • Veterinary clinics

  • Clinical analysis laboratories

  • Research Laboratories

  • Retirement homes

  • Homes assistances

  • Wastewater treatment plants

  • Waste treatment plant

  • Food Industry

  • Forest industry

Splashes, sprays and jets

Hands

Protective gloves against microorganisms

  • Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues

  • Work in presence of biological agent

  • Healthcare

  • Veterinary clinics

  • Clinical analysis laboratories

  • Research Laboratories

  • Retirement homes

  • Homes assistances

  • Wastewater treatment plants

  • Waste treatment plant

  • Food Industry

Forearms

Protective sleeves against microorganisms

  • Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues

  • Work in presence of biological agent

  • Healthcare

  • Veterinary clinics

  • Clinical analysis laboratories

  • Research Laboratories

  • Retirement homes

  • Homes assistances

  • Wastewater treatment plants

  • Waste treatment plant

  • Food Industry

Foot/legs

Protective over boots and gaiters

  • Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues

  • Work in presence of biological agent

  • Healthcare

  • Veterinary clinics

  • Clinical analysis laboratories

  • Research Laboratories

  • Retirement homes

  • Homes assistances

  • Wastewater treatment plants

  • Waste treatment plant

  • Food Industry

Whole body

Protective clothing against biological agents

  • Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues

  • Work in presence of biological agent

  • Healthcare

  • Veterinary clinics

  • Clinical analysis laboratories

  • Research Laboratories

  • Retirement homes

  • Homes assistances

  • Wastewater treatment plants

  • Waste treatment plant

  • Food Industry

BIOLOGICAL AGENTS (contained in) – MATERIALS, PERSONS, ANIMALS, ETC.
Direct and indirect contact

Hands

Protective gloves against microorganisms

Whole/partial body

Protective clothing against biological agents

Eyes and/or face

Protective goggles and face shields

  • Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues (bites, stings)

  • Work in presence of biological agent

  • Healthcare

  • Veterinary clinics

  • Clinical analysis laboratories

  • Research Laboratories

  • Retirement homes

  • Homes assistances

  • Wastewater treatment plants

  • Waste treatment plant

  • Food Industry

  • Forest industry

IV. OTHER RISKS
RisksBody part affectedType of PPEExamples of activities where the use of the corresponding type of PPE may be necessary (*)Industry and Sectors
Non-visibility

Whole body

PPE for signalling the user’s presence visually

  • Work in proximity of movement of vehicles

  • Asphalt works and road marking

  • Railway works

  • Driving means of transport

  • Work of ground staff at airport

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Shipbuilding

  • Mining works

  • Transport services and passengers transports

Oxygen deficiency

Respiratory system

Insulating respiratory protectives devices

  • Work in confined spaces

  • Work in fermentation and distilling rooms

  • Work inside tanks and digesters

  • Work in containers, restricted areas and gas-fired industrial furnaces where there may be gas or insufficient oxygen

  • Work in shafts, sewers and other underground areas connected with sewage

  • Alcoholic drinks production

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Chemical Industry

  • Petrochemical industry

Respiratory system

Diving equipment

  • Underwater works

  • Civil engineering construction

Drowning

Whole body

Life jacket

  • Work on or near water

  • Work in the sea

  • Work in an airplane

  • Fishing industry

  • Aeronautical industry

  • Building construction

  • Civil engineering construction

  • Shipbuilding

  • Docks and harbours

(2)

European Pillar of Social Rights, 2017, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/social-summit-european-pillar-social-rights-booklet_en.pdf

(3)

SWD(2017) 10 final

(4)

COM(2017) 12

(5)

Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment and repealing Council Directive 89/686/EEC (OJ L 81, 31.3.2016, p. 51).

(6)

PPE Regulation Guidelines – Guide to application of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment, https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/29201

(7)

Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work Doc. 1718/2017

(8)

Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work Doc. 443/18

(10)

Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (OJ L 183, 29.6.1989, p. 1).

(11)

In certain circumstances, as a result of the risk assessment, barrier creams could be used together with other PPE with the aim of protecting workers’ skin from related risks. Barrier creams are PPE under the scope of Directive 89/656/EEC as this type of equipment can be considered in certain circumstances as “additional or accessory” within the meaning of Article 2 of Directive 89/656/EEC. However, barrier creams are not PPE according to the definition in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

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