Regulations and standards for PPE clothing: What must every employer know?
Protective and work clothing are special categories of garments designed to ensure comfort while working and to protect against factors arising from the work - basic ones such as weather conditions or very specialized and health-threatening ones - e.g. chemicals. The basis for verifying whether PPE clothing genuinely meets these criteria are standards and certificates. Which work clothes are currently in force and why are they so important? We explain.
The importance of standards and certificates in work and protective clothing
Standards and certificates for protective clothing are intended to protect the worker and to standardize the requirements for the PPE garments they use. Protective clothing for employees is therefore subject to certain criteria that on one hand ensure an adequate level of health protection while performing duties - and on the other: provide a clear guideline for employers.
What are standards and certificates for protective clothing?
Certificates and clothing standards are a guarantee that the garment was produced according to specified rules and therefore meets the related requirements. Protective clothing and work footwear should each time be adapted to the specifics of the industry in which they will be used. The primary standard that protective clothing must meet is PN-EN ISO 13688:2013-12, which replaced the previously applicable PN-EN 340:2006. It clearly indicates that the garment meets rigorous requirements in terms of durability and providing safety to the worker.
Why should protective clothing meet standards?
Protective clothing must unconditionally meet OHS standards and certificates, because by law it is classified as personal protective equipment. This means that PPE garments affect the health safety of the worker, who while performing their tasks is exposed to hazardous factors. Protective clothing is to be used for the durationand until the risk associated with their occurrence ceases.
How does certification of protective clothing affect workplace safety?
Protective clothing standards confirm that a given garment protects the user by applying specified dimensions, materials, technologies or additions during production. It gives the employee confidence that the clothing provided protects against the harmful factors to which they are exposed and provides the employer with an indication that the protection supplied is appropriate.
Types of protective and work clothing
Protective clothing and workwear are not the same - the first is classified in OHS regulations as personal protective equipment that protects the worker from factors that threaten their health or life - e.g. gas-tight clothing, while the latter protects, for example, against weather conditions and other factors not dangerous to health and life. The basic classification divides workwear into that which protects against:
harmless soiling,
mechanical damage with non-serious effects,
hot factors with a low level of hazard,
atmospheric conditions.
Protective clothing, on the other hand, are far more specialized garments that can be classified according to the type of protection provided - against:
chemicals and biological substances hazardous to health,
temperatures below -50 °C,
flames and temperatures above 100 °C,
ionizing radiation,
gunshot wounds and stab wounds,
drowning,
a high-voltage current stream,
cutting by a chainsaw,
high electrical voltage.
Classification of protective clothing: categories and specializations
We can distinguish three types of protective clothing:
the simplest garments providing protection against basic and harmless factors - e.g. soiling from cleaning agents, mechanical damage or weather conditions;
garments that are intended to protect the worker against a specific harmful factor, usually related to the workplace. This can be, for example, welding protection, high-visibility clothing for road workers or roofing garments;
protective clothing, i.e. very specialized PPE garments that protect against the most dangerous factors such as flames, extremely low temperatures, but also hazardous substances or radiation.
Manufacturers of protective clothing also offer specific types of PPE garments intended for particular professions. In such cases they meet the standard criteria required in a given specialization - e.g. protective clothing for firefighters that comply with PN-EN 1486 or clothing for electricians meeting the standards: PN-EN 60895, PN-EN 1149, PN-EN 50286, PN-EN 61482-1-2, PN-EN 61340.
PPE workwear: standards and requirements
The primary standard that governs guidelines concerning all types of protective clothing is PN-EN ISO 13688:2013-12. It specifies general requirements regarding the functionality of garments, their wear process and the compatibility of individual clothing elements with each other. It also regulates the duties of manufacturers in terms of producing such clothing, as well as testing and labeling it.
Legal standards concerning protective and work clothing
Protective clothing and the workwear that is part of it are garments that must meet general criteria such as OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 or OiB Accreditation as well as specific ones - differing depending on the position and industry in which they will be used.
Protective clothing: OHS regulations and minimum requirements
The most important currently applicable general standards are: PN-P-84525:1998 for workwear and PN-EN ISO 13688:2013-12 for protective clothing. They must also meet the requirements of Polish Standards and provide the employee with comfort and ergonomics.
Standards for PPE clothing: what are the requirements?
According to the Labour Code, the employer must provide employees working in their company with professional workwear. Do the regulations specify when this obligation must be fulfilled? Yes - article 237 of the Labour Code states clearly: if occupational health and safety, sanitary or technological requirements in the workplace require appropriate clothing, the employer should provide it. The same applies when an employee’s private clothing may be damaged or soiled during the performance of professional duties. When must an employee use protective clothing? Always when they are exposed to contact with dangerous factors, such as water, fire, fumes, high levels of noise, electricity.
Safety standards: how does protective clothing provide protection to the worker?
OHS regulations regarding protective clothingdo not explicitly specify the exact type of garment to be used - however, they must correspond to the company's regulations, which list the types of risks present at a given position and their degree. The primary function of protective clothing is to isolate the worker from harmful factors to which they are exposed while performing their tasks.
Practical aspects of using protective and work clothing
It is the employer's responsibility to provide work and protective clothing, which may include: work trousers, footwear for the employee, work jackets or coveralls. An important part of every type of protective clothingis also accessories such as helmets, hearing protectors or safety glasses. Each time, in addition to meeting the required standards, they must also satisfy functional criteria.
How does appropriate protective clothing protect the worker?
Clothing for employees, thanks to specific construction, materials and properties obtained during production, protects against factors harmful to health. It can isolate from them - e.g. gas-tight clothing - or counteract their effects - e.g. clothing resistant to hot factors.
Use of protective clothing in the workplace
Is the employer obliged to provide protective clothing?In the case of risks present at the workplace - yes. It is also the employer's responsibility to maintain, launder and repair PPE garments and to verify whether they still provide protective properties. The basis here is regular replacement to which workwear is subject. How often is a new one due? Regulations do not specify this precisely - the period of use for clothing and work footwear is determined by the company's regulations -however, when they become damaged the employee must receive new ones.
Work clothing and footwear: practical aspects
Standards for PPE garments are not everything. When selecting clothing for an employee, remember that it must meet basic ergonomic principles. It should be the right size while allowing freedom of movement during professional duties, without endangering the worker.
Standards and certificates of work and protective clothing
Remember that protective garments should also be marked with appropriate certificates - CE and EAC. They indicate not only compliance with technical criteria, but also the provision of high quality and conformity with required regulations.
Certificates for workwear: what should they contain?
The basic certificate for workwear is the CE mark, which indicates its compliance with the regulations in force in the European Union. Among other popular ones you can find e.g. OEKO-TEXR® .
How does protective clothing meet certificate requirements?
The basis for awarding a certificate to protective clothing is meeting the standards specified for work in a given establishment - e.g. the already mentioned CE, EAC certificate, which confirms compliance with technical requirements imposed by the Eurasian Customs Union or providing certain properties - e.g. OEKO-TEXR® Standard 100, which verifies textile products at every stage of production.
Key Tips for Employers: How to Provide Appropriate Protective Clothing for Employees?
Every employer should provide their employees with appropriate protective clothing in accordance with applicable standards and certificates. Protective clothing must meet specified requirements to effectively protect employees against hazards specific to their industry, e.g. chemicals or high temperatures. It is also important to regularly check and replace clothing to maintain its protective properties. Observing these rules increases safety in the workplace and complies with OHS regulations.
Car warning vest should be in every vehicle – in case of a breakdown it will allow the driver standing next to the vehicle to remain visible even after dark. However high-visibility vests are also an essential piece of equipment for construction workers, road workers and many other jobs. Check what to consider when buying a warning vest!
Is a warning vest mandatory?
A warning vest is an inexpensive item of clothing that everyone should have. It is useful not only in the car, but also when cycling after dark or even as protection for a pedestrian walking on the roadside.
Do you have to have a warning vest in the car? Polish regulations do not impose such a requirement on drivers. They indicate, among other things, the need to have a reflective triangle and a fire extinguisher. Although you won't get a fine for not having a warning vest, it is definitely worth having one. If you often travel with passengers, it's best to equip yourself with reflective vests in quantities sufficient to provide visibility to passengers if needed.
Reflective warning vest – a requirement in many professions
While a high-visibility vest for a motorcycle, bicycle or car is not required by regulations, in some professions it is. Professional high-visibility clothing is a necessary part of the wardrobe for airport workers, heavy equipment operators, construction workers, and people performing official duties on roads or in railway areas.
As for warning vests, regulations in 2023 require them to be one of three colors: yellow, orange or red. In addition to fluorescent colors, they must also have reflective elements.
High-visibility clothing is divided into class one, two and three. In the case of warning vests only classes one and two are possible, because class three requires reflectors on the sleeves or trouser legs. Such a standard is met, for example, by warning jackets.
A class one high-visibility vest must have 0.14 m2 of fluorescent background, while the total area of reflective elements must be 0.10 m2. For class two these values are 0.50 m2 and 0.13 m2 respectively. A professional class 2 vest is ORLA Warning Vest. Available in two colors – orange and yellow, it meets EU standards EN ISO 20471 and EN ISO 13688. Two reflective strips 5 cm wide provide visibility, and the anatomical fit guarantees comfort of use of the reflective warning vest both during work duties and while traveling by bike, motorcycle or on foot.
Summer and winter warning vest to suit your needs
When choosing a reflective warning vest for pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists, pay particular attention to its size and the quality of the material. Contrary to appearances, fit is very important – especially if you will be wearing the vest for a long time. This type of body-protecting clothing is available in standard sizes – from S to 3XL. Importantly, these products are not divided into men's and women's high-visibility vests – they are universal garments with a simple cut.
In cold months, an insulated work warning vest will provide protection against cold, wind and precipitation. The REMS insulated warning vest model has a warm inner layer. An additional convenience is a zipper closure instead of traditional Velcro. This solution allows better protection against low temperatures and weather conditions. The REMS warning vest also has two inner pockets that allow for storing accessories useful at work.
How much does a reflective warning vest cost?
Purchasing a reflective PPE vest will not usually ruin the household budget of someone who wants to be visible while cycling or to have such important protection in the car.
You can also find much cheaper products in stores and at online auctions. Do yellow and orange reflective vests for 4–5 PLN differ from those from a trusted manufacturer costing a dozen or so zlotys? Although they may look the same at first glance, you will notice the difference in how long the product lasts. The reflective warning material on high-quality vests is much more durable – it retains its shape after many wash cycles. Meanwhile, cheap reflective vests often lose their properties after just 2–3 washes.
So if you don't want to spend two years wearing a vest that has never been washed, choose a higher-class product. Quality matters especially when you buy reflective warning PPE vests for your employees.
Of course you'll pay more for an insulated warning vest with pockets. For the aforementioned REMS model you'll pay 166 PLN. In this case, however, you should particularly take quality into account. A vest of poor quality, made of non-breathable material, will cause significant discomfort during work. It is definitely better to opt for products from a trusted warning vest manufacturer.Author: Paweł Sokołowski
WHAT IS THE CE MARK?
The CE marking (Conformité Européenne) is the European conformity mark. Its use on a product's packaging indicates that the manufacturer has applied and fulfilled the relevant requirements contained in European directives/regulations, as well as in the European standards covering the product. A product that meets safety requirements will be marked with the CE mark, thereby informing the user that it is safe and has been properly placed on the market.WHY WAS IT INTRODUCED?
After the European Union removed trade barriers between Member States and established a common policy toward partner countries outside the EU, an area of free movement of goods was created within the Community. However, the main barrier to trade remained national requirements concerning, for example, the quality and safety of products. The national systems of regulations and standards used by countries often differed significantly from one another. This caused a range of problems for manufacturers who, in order to sell their product in different countries, had to meet separate requirements each time.
Because consumer safety could not be compromised by eliminating standards, the only solution was to harmonize national systems so that goods would be subject to the same requirements throughout the Community.
In 1993, European legal acts called NEW APPROACH DIRECTIVES were created at EU level. They defined essential safety requirements for different groups of products that must be met before they can be placed on the market or put into service on the Single European Market.
IS CE MARKING MANDATORY OR VOLUNTARY?
if a product falls under one of the New Approach Directives, CE marking is mandatory.
applying CE marking to products that are not subject to the New Approach Directives is prohibited.
WHO CAN AFFIX THE CE MARK?
CE marking may be affixed by the manufacturer or their authorized representative. Most products fall under Module A, i.e., the manufacturer's self-assessment module. If another module applies (B or D), an EU type-examination certificate must be obtained in cooperation with a notified body (a certifying institute).
WHAT IS A CE CERTIFICATE?
The term "CE certificate" does not exist in the nomenclature of the New Approach directives. If someone talks about a CE certificate, they most likely mean the EU declaration of conformity or the EU type-examination certificate confirming the product's conformity with the relevant EN standard.
Currently, the process of marking and certification is regulated by 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.
Source: https://www.oznakowanie-ce.plAuthor: Grzegorz Nowak
In 2022 as many as 66,606 occupational accidents were reported in Poland. 365 of the injured suffered very serious injuries, and the number of fatal accidents amounted to 180. In almost 80% the lower or upper limbs were injured. Among the most common causes was contact with a stationary or moving object. These data clearly indicate how important it is to provide employees with appropriate protective clothing.
Differences between protective clothing and workwear
To begin with, it is worth dispelling an important mistake. The term „occupational protective clothing (PPE)” and “workwear” are often used interchangeably. However, they do not mean the same thing. To fully answer this question, it is useful to know the exact definitions of both concepts.
Definition of workwear and protective clothing
Workwear is clothing used in the workplace when there is a high risk of soiling or damaging outer garments. In other words, workwear replaces the employee’s clothing in situations where it may become dirty or ruined while performing duties. The use of uniform work outfits may also be related to building brand recognition (e.g., bank or insurance company employees).
And what is protective clothing? The definition states that it is clothing used in the workplace that is intended to cover or replace personal clothing. In addition, it is designed to provide protection against hazards. Both conditions must be met, so workwear that does not protect against specific dangerous substances or events is not protective clothing.
Applications of workwear and protective clothing
When is protective clothing used? Examples of such situations can be found in every industry. It is most often used by employees on production floors and those working in the field, and its purpose is to protect against impacts and cuts (such as protective boots with a steel toe cap). There is also protective clothing for welding and heavy aprons for laboratory technicians who come into contact with hazardous substances.
Work clothes are used even more frequently. They can be found in organizations that care about brand recognition linked to employee attire. Work uniforms are also widely used in the catering industry.
Types of protective and work clothing
Any clothing can be divided according to the part of the wardrobe it represents: protective or work gloves, trousers, jackets, boots or vests. It is worth paying more attention to the classification of protective clothing depending on the hazard it is meant to protect against. In this context, one can list:
Protective clothing for welders, protecting against electric arc, burns and splatter.
Harnesses related to working at heights.
Insulating protective clothing, used by electricians.
High-visibility clothing, protecting road workers, as well as emergency services operating at the scene of a road accident.
Chemical protective clothing, resistant to short-term exposure to hazardous corrosive substances.
Protective earmuffs that protect against excessively loud equipment noise.
Flame-resistant protective clothing for firefighters and people working near open flames.
Additionally, categories of protective clothing may also concern seasons, such as winter and summer protective clothing.
Protective clothing markings
Types of protective clothing can also be characterized by the areas of the body they are meant to protect.
Protective clothing (symbol U).
Lower limb protection (symbol N).
Upper limb protection (symbol R).
Head protection (symbol G).
Face and eye protection (symbol T).
Hearing protection (symbol S).
Respiratory protection (symbol D).
Protection against falls from height (symbol W).
Full body insulating protection (symbol I).
So how to choose the appropriate protective and work clothing for your workplace? That is always the employer’s responsibility!
Employer's obligations regarding protective and work clothing
Under current labor regulations, the employer is obliged to provide the employee free of charge with workwear, protective clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) if required by the working conditions. Importantly, the decisive factor is the conditions prevailing in a given work environment, not, for example, the job title. For this reason, employees in similar positions at different companies may receive a different set of clothing.
Protective clothing is the employer's obligation
The employer must determine what professional workwear and protective clothing are needed for each employee. This usually takes place during a dialogue with employees or their representative. These arrangements are then entered into the work regulations, which define the conditions for being in the workplace, as well as equipping employees with tools, materials, protective and work clothing and personal and hygiene protective equipment. Typically the details are presented as a protective clothing allocation table for each position.
Work clothing and footwear provided by the employer
Work and protective clothing are provided free of charge. At the same time, they remain the property of the employer. This means that upon termination of employment, all personal protective equipment and allocated clothing must be returned to the supervisor. Also, in the event of clothing being destroyed due to the employee’s fault, reimbursement of the purchase costs is required (after accounting for depreciation).
Employer's duties regarding employee safety
The employer’s duties related to protective clothing and workwear also include cleaning, maintenance, repair, dust removal and disinfection. However, employees often wash their work clothes themselves. In such cases they are entitled to reimbursement of the costs they incur.
Standards and certifications of workwear and protective clothing
Workwear does not require certification, because its primary task is to protect personal clothing from dirt or damage. However, specialist protective clothing for workers must meet specific standards and criteria in order to effectively protect against hazards in the workplace.
Clothing materials: what determines their protective properties?
Protective garments are made from natural materials (cotton), regenerated (cellulose-based) and synthetic materials (polyester or polyamide). From these, several dozen popular materials with specific properties have been developed. Among them you can find:
Ortalion made from polyester. It is characterized by very low weight and high resistance to damage.
Fleece, a soft and warm polyester knit.
Stretch, i.e. stretch fabrics with added Lycra or PBT.
Corduroy, a warm cotton fabric resistant to cuts and tears, but prone to abrasion.
Ballistic nylon, also used in the production of bulletproof vests. It is very resistant to damage and abrasion.
Kevlar, an elastic material that is also extremely durable.
The choice of the appropriate material depends on the work environment and the conducted occupational risk analysis.
Certification by EN ISO standards: what does it mean for protective clothing?
In Poland, EU Regulation No. 2016/425 of 16 March currently applies. It specifies a number of standards for particular types of protective and specialized clothing. It is there that the exact parameters that protective clothing for firefighters, welders and other positions must meet are defined.
All protective garments must also have certificates confirming compliance with the above standards. To obtain them, clothing undergoes rigorous laboratory tests, which must then be repeated at regular intervals.
Summary: protective and work clothing
There are still many workplace accidents in Poland. To provide employees with the best possible protection, protective clothing and personal protective equipment are used in accordance with the protective clothing allocation table. Each such garment must meet protective clothing standards, confirming protection against hazards in the working environment.
In many positions, an employee also receives workwear that protects personal clothing from damage or soiling. In this case, there is no need to obtain certifications.
Both workwear and protective clothing belong to the employer, who should care for them: clean, repair and maintain them.Author: Grzegorz Nowak
