The Blackrock Workwear range has many products covered by European legislation which fall under the category of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and covered by Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 and Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended) which give the main requirements for PPE. PPE is classed as equipment that protects the user against health or safety risks at work. It can include items such as safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses. It also includes respiratory protective equipment (RPE) including masks. All our Blackrock products are independently tested by notified bodies to the appropriate European standards and are marked accordingly on the product or packaging.
PPE is needed to reduce the risk. It should be as a last resort and provided in most cases by your employer. Equipment should be selected carefully and you must know how to use it and replace it when it is required.
When selecting and using PPE:
- Choose products which are CE marked in accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002
- Choose equipment that suits you – you’re more likely to use it if it’s comfortable to wear
- If more than one item of PPE is worn at the same time, make sure they can be used together
- PPE must be properly looked after and stored when not in use, eg in a dry, clean cupboard. If it is reusable it must be cleaned and kept in good condition.
Types of PPE and EN Legislation
Eyes
Hazards
Chemical or metal splash, dust, projectiles, gas and vapour
Options
Safety spectacles, goggles, face screens, faceshields, visors – ensure your eyewear is covered by EN 166:2001 and is marked with the CE mark
Head and neck
Hazards
Impact from falling or flying objects, risk of head bumping, tangled hair in machinery
Options
Industrial safety helmets, bump caps – Helmets approved to BS EN 397:2012 and bump caps covered by EN 812:2012
Ears
Hazards
Noise – a combination of sound level and duration of exposure, very high-level sounds are a hazard even with short duration
Options
Earplugs, earmuffs, semi-insert/canal caps – all covered by CE EN 352:2002
Hands and arms
Hazards
Abrasion, temperature extremes, cuts and punctures, impact, chemicals
Options
Gloves, gloves with a cuff, and gauntlets – covered by CE EN 388:3003 and CE EN 420:2003 all showing the shield with the mechanical hazard rating on the back of the glove to demonstrate the properties of each glove.
Feet
Hazards
Wet, hot and cold conditions, electrostatic build-up, slipping, cuts and punctures, falling objects, heavy loads, metal and chemical splash, vehicles
Options
Safety boots and shoes with protective toecaps and some with penetration-resistant mid-soles – all covered by CE EN 20345:2012 – each pair will show what standard of testing it achieves inside each boot or shoe
Breathing
Hazards
Oxygen-deficient atmospheres, dusts, gases and vapours
Options
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE). Some respirators rely on filtering contaminants from workplace air. These include simple filtering facepieces and respirators and power-assisted respirators. Make sure it fits properly, eg for tight-fitting respirators (filtering facepieces, half and full masks) - these all covered by BS EN 149:2001+A1:2009 for disposable masks and BS EN 140 & EN 141 for the reusable filter respirator
Body
Hazards
Heat, chemical or metal splash, spray from pressure leaks or spray guns, contaminated dust, impact or penetration, excessive wear or entanglement of own clothing
Options
Conventional or disposable overalls, boiler suits – our Cat 3 type 5 & 6 are covered by BS EN 13034:1997 and BS EN 13982-1:2000
