The Personal Protection Equipment at work regulations (SL1992/2966) require employers to provide each of their employees with the appropriate PPE (Personal Protection Equipment). One of the classified parts of the PPE are protective safety gloves which must be CE marked in order to fulfil the regulations.
To assist in the selection of PPE, the Personal Protection Equipment Directive (89/686/EEC) is written such that safety equipment is categorised. This categorisation enables Safety Personnel to select the appropriate PPE to match the hazards and risks identified during Health and Safety Audits. In addition, the properties of protective safety gloves are described by a range of European Standards, and safety gloves must coply with the relevant standards.
The PPE risk categories are described as simple, intermediate and complex design.
Simple design gloves may be used in situations where the end-user can identify the hazards and level of protection required; where the effect of the hazards aare gradual and can be identified in good time. Examples of simple design safety gloves include: gardening gloves, protection against cleaning materials of weak action, protection against heat (not above 50°C), and protection against minor impacts and vibrations.
More information coming soon!