Making sure your PPE is fully compliant
Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be properly tested and assessed. In recent years, more non-compliant PPE has become available – especially on online marketplaces – meaning it is more important than ever to select equipment carefully.
It is essential to make sure PPE is fully compliant and approved to protect the wearer.
PPE conformity and compliance
PPE placed on the UK or EU market must meet PPE Regulation 2016/425. Products are divided into three risk categories:
Each category is subject to different conformity assessment procedures with various documentation requirements.
Category 1 PPE must have the appropriate conformity marking and a Declaration of Conformity (DOC).
Category 2 and 3 PPE needs a type examination (CE/UKCA) certificate, issued by a Notified Body (CE) or Approved Body (UKCA), plus the appropriate conformity marking and a DOC.
Category 3 PPE is also subject to ongoing monitoring. The relevant Notified or Approved Body must audit the manufacturer or perform testing annually to ensure products remain compliant.
Non-compliant PPE
It is increasingly important to check PPE is compliant as more substandard equipment has made its way onto the market in recent years. The growth of online marketplaces since 2020 has brought an influx on non-compliant products.
In 2021, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) conducted a test purchasing programme to assess the compliance of products available from specific online marketplaces (OMPs). The test programme targeted product categories that regularly appeared on the OPSS list of recalls and alerts and the EU Safety Gate system.
The products selected were unbranded or from unknown brands, low price range, and had poor reviews (below 3*) or were perceived to be low specification from images.
Almost 90% of Category 3 PPE products purchased were found to be non-compliant. Out of 315 products tested, 276 were non-compliant, compared with only 39 compliant products.
This highlights the potential risks involved when buying low-cost PPE from unknown brands online. Current legislation makes the issue difficult to combat, however a new Product Regulation and Metrology bill is underway which should give market surveillance authorities greater regulatory powers to stop non-compliant products being sold on online marketplaces.
To ensure PPE is safe to use, it is important to check it has been properly tested and certified. There are several ways to make sure your PPE is compliant.
Check product markings
PPE needs to have certain markings on the products or packaging. Checking that the correct markings are present helps to determine if the PPE is compliant.
All PPE must carry a conformity marking. This is a CE or alternative UKCA mark, which is applicable in the UK. Usually the conformity marking appears on the product itself. Some smaller products, such as ear plugs, have the conformity marking on the packaging instead.
Category 3 products have a 4-digit number below the conformity marking. The 4-digit number relates to which Notified Body (CE) or Approved Body (UKCA) are responsible for ongoing conformity assessment.
Products certified to British, European or International standards carry additional markings related to that standard. The product is marked with the standard number itself – e.g. EN 166. Sometimes the publication year is shown after the standard number.
Standards may also require markings relating to the product’s performance. Safety spectacle lenses, for example, could be marked 1 F – showing the optical class and impact rating. Find out more about eye protection markings.
Checking markings helps to determine if PPE has been properly approved. Products without the correct conformity and performance markings are not fully compliant, which may also indicate that the PPE has not been independently assessed.
False conformity markings have been identified on some products found on online marketplaces. It is therefore important to check documentation as well to ensure the product is compliant.
Check documentation
PPE must be accompanied by specific documentation. Documents may be physically provided with the product or available through a web link provided on the user instruction leaflet or packaging.
Every PPE product must have a Declaration of Conformity (DOC). The DOC is issued by the manufacturer, stating that the product is in conformity with the PPE Regulation and relevant product standards.
DOCs for category 2 and 3 products state the relevant type examination (CE/UKCA) certificate number. For category 3 products, the relevant conformity assessment procedure and Notified / Approved body details must also be shown on the DOC.
The CE or UKCA certificate can offer further information about product conformity, detailing optional requirements and relevant compatibility information.
Buy from a Registered Safety Supplier
The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) Registered Safety Supplier Scheme (RSSS) helps to combat non-compliant and counterfeit products. Members of the RSSS are independently audited to ensure the safety equipment they offer meets the appropriate standards, fully complies with the PPE regulation and is appropriately CE marked.
Between December 2022 and December 2023, the BSIF conducted a testing programme, purchasing non-member products and sending them for independent assessment. 79% of the non-member products were found to be non-compliant.
Purchasing from a Registered Safety Supplier removes the risk and lets you know the equipment meets the relevant standards and legislation. JSP are proud members of the Registered Safety Supplier Scheme, offering reassurance that all JSP PPE is properly tested and certified.
Select trusted, tested, traceable PPE
JSP PPE is tested in-house and externally at world-renowned independent test houses, ensuring conformity with all relevant legislation and performance standards. We offer services to verify your products and guarantee your PPE is genuine, as well as making conformity information easy to access and understand.
The JSPCheck™ system offers full traceability information for JSP helmets. Entering the details from the product’s barcode label returns precise, down-to-the-second manufacturing information, confirming the authenticity and quality of your PPE.
Documentation for JSP PPE is available at documents.jspsafety.com. The website gives you access to DOCs, certificates, user instructions and more, enabling you to easily confirm your PPE is compliant.
The JSP-GO website provides simple explanations of the icons found on JSP PPE and packaging, helping you to understand product performance and suitable uses.
PPE must be properly approved to ensure it can provide protection. The amount of non-compliant products available on the market makes it more important than ever to check PPE conformity details and select quality equipment from trusted suppliers. If you need help to make sure your PPE is compliant, contact JSP Technical Helpline for assistance.
Environment, Health and Safety Manager at Qena company for water and wastewater
3dThis article is very important and the information it contains almost true. But the problem here is that the standard specifications tests and the documentation raise the price of the ppe.