What is personal protective equipment and how does it affect workers' safety?
What do we mean by personal protective equipment?
In Poland alone, 66 606 workplace accidents were reported in 2022. Unfortunately, 180 of them proved fatal. How can this unfortunate statistic be reduced? One of the simplest and easiest ways is the use of personal protective equipment. What are they and when are they legally required? What obligations fall on employees and which on the employer? Don’t wait for an accident to happen. Check now.
What is personal protective equipment?
To begin, it is worth considering what personal protective equipment is. These are all devices and equipment (such as clothing) that have been designed to protect against a specific hazard. Therefore a police uniform or a waiter’s outfit does not count as personal protective equipment, whereas a forester's trousers (with anti-cut inserts) are already included in this group.
Differences between personal protective equipment and workplace protective measures
Many diverse measures are implemented to ensure employee safety. Therefore, personal protective measures include personal protective equipment as well as workplace protective measures. The first category concerns equipment worn directly by the employee, such asprotective clothing or harnesses for working at height. Workplace protective measures, on the other hand, include solutions applied in the workplace. This group can include machine guards, ventilation or signal lighting.
Types and categories of personal protective equipment
How many groups personal protective equipment is divided into depends on the classification used. The most popular division includes:
Limb protection such as protective footwear or gloves.
However, this is not the only possible division. Equally popular are the categories into which personal protective equipment can be divided.
Category I covers protection against minimal risks. An example might be gardening gloves.
Category II includes solutions used in the case of more serious health hazards. Examples includesafety glasses or footwear with steel toe caps.
Category III, in turn, covers PPE protecting against the most serious hazards that can cause severe bodily harm or death. A good example of this type of equipment is harnesses for working at height.
Regardless of the classification method, it is worth using all personal protective equipment to minimize any hazards in the work environment.
How to choose personal protective equipment?
The decision about which occupational PPE will be appropriate is made by the employer. For this purpose they should seek expert opinions and consult with employees or their representatives. In addition, an analysis should be carried out regarding the types of work performed at the facility and the hazards present for the employee. This often forms part of the occupational risk analysis for specific positions.
When do we use personal protective equipment?
The use of personal protective equipment is closely linked to hazards in the work environment. Although the selection of PPE depends on the employer based on a risk and hazard analysis in the workplace, there are general guidelines on when to use PPE. They are always necessary in cases where hazards cannot be eliminated or sufficiently reduced by work organization or collective protective measures.
Who determines the types of personal protective equipment?
As already mentioned, the employer decides which types of personal protective equipment are used at a given workstation. It is worth knowing, however, what obligations this entails — both for the employer and for employees.
Who is responsible for providing protective equipment?
First and foremost, the employer is obliged to provide employees with individual and collective protective equipment. They are also responsible for all protective devices and accessories, including protective clothing for employees. This means the employer must take care of the condition of PPE: launder it, maintain it, clean it, repair it, de-dust it or disinfect it. It is common practice for employees to take their protective clothing home and wash it themselves. In such cases the employer should reimburse the cleaning costs.
What are the employee's obligations regarding the use of protective equipment?
Employees also have obligations related to the use of personal protective equipment. Above all, they must always use it in accordance with the rules set by the employer, which should be included in the instructions for using personal protective equipment. They should also take care of the devices and accessories entrusted to them. If these are destroyed due to the employee's fault, they must reimburse the purchase costs, reduced by depreciation. The employee should also inform their superiors about any damage or destruction of protective equipment.
Regulations regarding personal protective equipment
The currently applicable main legal act in the field of individual and collective protective equipment is Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016. Its purpose was to harmonize rules across the European Union and to increase the safety of PPE users.
What requirements should personal protective equipment meet?
Personal protective equipment is designed to protect against specific hazards. Therefore, it must meet appropriate parameters and ISO standards. These standards are issued for different types of protective equipment. Fulfillment of all requirements should be confirmed by issuing the appropriate certificate. The CE mark on personal protective equipment is also important, confirming that they are permitted for use within the European Union.
How long can personal protective equipment be used?
PPE may only be used if it is not in any way damaged or destroyed. The new regulation on personal protective equipment also introduced a maximum certification period for such equipment. It is currently 5 years. After that time, re-certification tests should be carried out or new individual and collective protective equipment should be purchased.
EU regulation and other normative acts regarding protective equipment
The currently applicable EU regulation and ISO standards are the primary acts that indicate what requirements personal protective equipment should meet. However, it is also possible to apply other regulations, including internal regulations, provided that the criteria they use are stricter than the basic provisions (provide a higher level of protection than the parameters indicated in the standards).
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
