PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT DIRECTIVE:89/686/EEC

Coverage:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is defined in the Directive as any device or appliance designed to be worn or held by an individual for protection against one or more health and safety hazards in the execution of the user's activities.

Dates:

Implemented in the majority of Member States from 1 January 1993 with an extension to the transition period until 30 June 1995. Mandatory from 1 July 1995.

CE Mark:

All products covered need to be CE marked, following one of these procedures

Simple Design/Category I

• Comply with the Basic Health and Safety Requirements
• Compile Technical Documents
• Draw up EC Declaration of Conformity
• Apply CE Mark

Intermediate Design/Category II

• Comply with the Basic Health and Safety Requirements
• Compile Technical Documents
• EC Type Examination testing
• Draw up EC Declaration of Conformity
• Apply CE mark

Complex Design/Category III

• Comply with the Basic Health and Safety Requirements
• Compile Technical Documents
• EC Type Examination testing
• Product Control/Quality System as Article 11
• Draw up EC Declaration of Conformity
• Apply CE mark

Technical File (Category II and III):

This must contain sufficient information to identify the product e.g. general assembly drawing, list of components, materials and material grades, etc. If the product is to be certified against a non-harmonised standard, then the file must show how each applicable essential requirement has been addressed. The technical file should also contain a test and inspection plan.

Quality Documents:

Manufacturers of Category III equipment (Article 8 (4)) will need to specify which control method they wish to follow, Article 11.A or 11.B. The submitted manual will need to outline how the applicable requirements are to be met.

Product/Quality System Surveillance:

Article 11.A requires the product control system to be documented together with an annual selection of product samples for independent testing.
Article 11.B requires the quality system to be assessed and monitored by annual visits; the generally accepted minimum standard is ISO9001:2000, with specified permitted exclusions.

INSPEC Services

We can offer a full range of services in support of the P.P.E. Directive, from a simple, straightforward product test right through to full certification. We cover all product groups in a fast efficient manner and we also have available the most up to date information on recent developments.

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