Council Directive of 30 November 1989 on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace (third individual directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (89/656/EEC)

Council Directive

of 30 November 1989

on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace (third individual directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)

(89/656/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community and in particular Article 118a thereof,

Having regard to the Commission proposal(1), submitted after consultation with the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work,

In cooperation with the European Parliament(2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(3),

Whereas Article 118a of the Treaty provides that the Council shall adopt, by means of directives, minimum requirements designed to encourage improvements, especially in the working environment, to guarantee greater protection of the health and safety of workers;

Whereas, under the said Article, such directives shall avoid imposing administrative, financial and legal constraints in a way which would hold back the creation and development of small and medium-sized undertakings;

Whereas the Commission communication on its programme concerning safety, hygiene and health at work(4) provides for the adoption of a directive on the use of personal protective equipment at work;

Whereas the Council, in its resolution of 21 December 1987 concerning safety, hygiene and health at work(5), noted the Commission's intention of submitting to it in the near future minimum requirements concerning the organization of the safety and health of workers at work;

Whereas compliance with the minimum requirements designed to guarantee greater health and safety for the user of personal protective equipment is essential to ensure the safety and health of workers;

Whereas this Directive is an individual directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work(6); whereas, consequently, the provisions of the said Directive apply fully to the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace, without prejudice to more stringent and/or specific provisions contained in this Directive;

Whereas this Directive constitutes a practical step towards the achievement of the social dimension of the internal market;

Whereas collective means of protection shall be accorded priority over individual protective equipment; whereas the employer shall be required to provide safety equipment and take safety measures;

Whereas the requirements laid down in this Directive should not entail alterations to personal protective equipment whose design and manufacture complied with Community directives relating to safety and health at work;

Whereas provision should be made for descriptions which Member States may use when laying down general rules for the use of individual protective equipment;

Whereas, pursuant to Decision 74/325/EEC(7), as last amended by the 1985 Act of Accession, the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work is consulted by the Commission with a view to drawing up proposals in this field,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

SECTION I U.K. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1 U.K. Subject

1. This Directive, which is the third individual directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC, lays down minimum requirements for personal protective equipment used by workers at work.

2. The provisions of Directive 89/391/EEC are fully applicable to the whole scope referred to in paragraph 1, without prejudice to more [X1 stringent] and/or specific provisions contained in this Directive.

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Council Directive 89/656/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace (third individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (Official Journal of the European Communities No L 393 of 30 December 1989).

Article 2 U.K. Definition

1. For the purposes of this Directive, personal protective equipment shall mean all equipment designed to be worn or held by the worker to protect him against one or more hazards likely to endanger his safety and health at work, and any addition or accessory designed to meet this objective.

2. The definition in paragraph 1 excludes:

(a) ordinary working clothes and uniforms not specifically designed to protect the safety and health of the worker;

(b) equipment used by emergency and rescue services;

(c) personal protective equipment worn or used by the military, the police and other public order agencies;

(d) personal protective equipment for means of road transport;

(e) sports equipment;

(f) self-defence or deterrent equipment;

(g) portable devices for detecting and signalling risks and nuisances.

Article 3 U.K. General rule

Personal protective equipment shall be used when the risks cannot be avoided or sufficiently limited by technical means of collective protection or by measures, methods or procedures of work organization.

SECTION II U.K. EMPLOYERS’ OBLIGATIONS

Article 4 U.K. General provisions

1. Personal protective equipment must comply with the relevant Community provisions on design and manufacture with respect to safety and health.

All personal protective equipment must:

(a) be appropriate for the risks involved, without itself leading to any increased risk;

(b) correspond to existing conditions at the workplace;

(c) take account of ergonomic requirements and the worker's state of health;

(d) fit the wearer correctly after any necessary adjustment.

2. Where the presence of more than one risk makes it necessary for a worker to wear simultaneously more than one item of personal protective equipment, such equipment must be compatible and continue to be effective against the risk or risks in question.

3. The conditions of use of personal protective equipment, in particular the period for which it is worn, shall be determined on the basis of the seriousness of the risk, the frequency of exposure to the risk, the characteristics of the workstation of each worker and the performance of the personal protective equipment.

4. Personal protective equipment is, in principle, intended for personal use.

If the circumstances require personal protective equipment to be worn by more than one person, appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure that such use does not create any health or hygiene problem for the different users.

5. Adequate information on each item of personal protective equipment, required under paragraphs 1 and 2, shall be provided and made available within the undertaking and/or establishment.

6. Personal protective equipment shall be provided free of charge by the employer, who shall ensure its good working order and satisfactory hygienic condition by means of the necessary maintenance, repair and replacements.

However, Member States may provide, in accordance with their national practice, that the worker be asked to contribute towards the cost of certain personal protective equipment in circumstances where use of the equipment is not exclusive to the workplace.

7. The employer shall first inform the worker of the risks against which the wearing of the personal protective equipment protects him.

8. The employer shall arrange for training and shall, if appropriate, organize demonstrations in the wearing of personal protective equipment.

9. Personal protective equipment may be used only for the purposes specified, except in specific and exceptional circumstances.

It must be used in accordance with instructions.

Such instructions must be understandable to the workers.

Article 5 U.K. Assessment of personal protective equipment

1. Before choosing personal protective equipment, the employer is required to assess whether the personal protective equipment he intends to use satisfies the requirements of Article 4(1) and (2).

This assessment shall involve:

(a) an analysis and assessment of risks which cannot be avoided by other means;

(b) the definition of the characteristics which personal protective equipment must have in order to be effective against the risks referred to in (a), taking into account any risks which this equipment itself may create;

(c) comparison of the characteristics of the personal protective equipment available with the characteristics referred to in (b).

2. The assessment provided for in paragraph 1 shall be reviewed if any changes are made to any of its elements.

Article 6(8) U.K. Rules for use

1. Without prejudice to Articles 3, 4 and 5, Member States shall ensure that general rules are established for the use of personal protective equipment and/or rules covering cases and situations where the employer must provide the personal protective equipment, taking account of Community legislation on the free movement of such equipment.

These rules shall indicate in particular the circumstances or the risk situations in which, without prejudice to the priority to be given to collective means of protection, the use of personal protective equipment is necessary.

Annexes I, II and III, which constitute a guide, contain useful information for establishing such rules.

2. When Member States adapt the rules referred to in paragraph 1, they shall take account of any significant changes to the risk, collective means of protection and personal protective equipment brought about by technological developments.

3. Member States shall consult the employers' and workers' organization on the rules referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.

Article 7 U.K. Information for workers

Without prejudice to Article 10 of Directive 89/391/EEC, workers and/or their representatives shall be informed of all measures to be taken with regard to the health and safety of workers when personal protective equipment is used by workers at work.

Article 8 U.K. Consultation of workers and workers' participation

Consultation and participation of workers and/or of their representatives shall take place in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 89/391/EEC on the matters covered by this Directive, including the Annexes thereto.

SECTION III U.K. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

[F1 Article 9 U.K. Amendments to the Annexes

The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 9a to make strictly technical amendments to the Annexes, in order to take account of technical harmonisation and standardisation relating to personal protective equipment, technical progress, changes in international regulations or specifications and knowledge in the field of personal protective equipment.

Where, in duly justified and exceptional cases involving imminent, direct and serious risks to workers’ and other persons’ physical health and safety, imperative grounds of urgency require action in a very short timeframe, the procedure provided for in Article 9b shall apply to delegated acts adopted pursuant to this Article.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1243 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 adapting a number of legal acts providing for the use of the regulatory procedure with scrutiny to Articles 290 and 291 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Text with EEA relevance).

[F2 Article 9a U.K. Exercise of the delegation

1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 9 shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from 26 July 2019 . The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.

3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 9 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making (9) .

5. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 9 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

Textual Amendments

F2 Inserted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1243 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 adapting a number of legal acts providing for the use of the regulatory procedure with scrutiny to Articles 290 and 291 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Text with EEA relevance).

Article 9b U.K. Urgency procedure

1. Delegated acts adopted under this Article shall enter into force without delay and shall apply as long as no objection is expressed in accordance with paragraph 2. The notification of a delegated act to the European Parliament and the Council shall state the reasons for the use of the urgency procedure.

2. Either the European Parliament or the Council may object to a delegated act in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 9a(6). In such a case, the Commission shall repeal the act immediately following the notification of the decision to object by the European Parliament or by the Council.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Inserted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1243 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 adapting a number of legal acts providing for the use of the regulatory procedure with scrutiny to Articles 290 and 291 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Text with EEA relevance).

Article 10 U.K. Final provisions

1. Member States shall bring; into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive not later than 31 December 1992. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the provisions of national law which they adopt, as well as those already adopted, in the field covered by this Directive.

F3 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F3 Deleted by Directive 2007/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 amending Council Directive 89/391/EEC, its individual Directives and Council Directives 83/477/EEC, 91/383/EEC, 92/29/EEC and 94/33/EC with a view to simplifying and rationalising the reports on practical implementation (Text with EEA relevance).

Article 11 U.K.

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

[F4 ANNEX I U.K. RISKS IN RELATION TO THE BODY PARTS TO BE PROTECTED BY PPE (*) (*) This list of risks/parts of the body cannot be expected to be exhaustive. The risk assessment will determine the need to provide a PPE and its characteristics according to the provisions of this Directive.

Textual Amendments

F4 Substituted by Commission Directive 2019/1832 of 24 October 2019 amending Annexes I, II and III to Council Directive 89/656/EEC as regards purely technical adjustments.

]

[F4 ANNEX II U.K. NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF TYPES OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WITH REGARD TO THE RISKS THEY PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST

Equipment for HEAD PROTECTION U.K.

• Helmets and/or caps/balaclavas/headgears against:

  • Impacts caused by falling or ejected object

  • Collision with an obstacle

  • Mechanical risks (perforation, abrasion)

  • Static compression (lateral crushing)

  • Thermal risks (fire, heat, cold, hot solids including molten metals)

  • Electric shock and live working

  • Chemical risks

  • Non-ionizing radiation (UV, IR, solar or welding radiation)

• Hairnets against risk of entanglement

Equipment for HEARING PROTECTION U.K.

• Earmuffs (including e.g. earmuffs attached to a helmet, active noise reduction earmuffs, earmuffs with electrical audio input)

• Earplugs (including e.g. level-dependent earplugs, earplugs adapted to the individual)

Equipment for EYE AND FACE PROTECTION U.K.

• Spectacles, goggles and face shields (prescription lenses where appropriate) against:

  • Mechanical risks

  • Thermal risks

  • Non-ionizing radiation (UV, IR, solar or welding radiation)

  • Ionizing radiation

  • Solid aerosols and liquids of chemical and biological agents

Equipment for RESPIRATORY PROTECTION U.K.

• Filtering devices against:

  • Particles

  • Gases

  • Particles and gases

  • Solid and/or liquid aerosols

• Insulating devices, including with an air supply

• Self-rescue devices

• Diving equipment

Equipment for HAND AND ARM PROTECTION U.K.

• Gloves (including mittens and arm protection) against:

  • Mechanical risks

  • Thermal risks (heat, flame and cold)

  • Electric shock and live working (antistatic, conductive, insulating)

  • Chemical risks

  • Biological agents

  • Ionizing radiation and radioactive contamination

  • Non-ionizing radiation (UV, IR, solar or welding radiation)

  • Vibration risks

• Finger stalls

Equipment for FOOT AND LEG PROTECTION and anti-slip protection U.K.

• Footwear (e.g. shoes, including in certain circumstances clogs, boots that may have steel toe-caps) to protect against:

  • Mechanical risks

  • Slipping risks

  • Thermal risks (heat, flame and cold)

  • Electric shock and live working (antistatic, conductive, insulating)

  • Chemicals risks

  • Vibration risks

  • Biological risks

• Removable instep protectors against mechanical risks

• Kneepads against mechanical risks

• Gaiters against mechanical, thermal and chemical risks and biological agents

• Accessories (e.g. spikes, crampons)

SKIN PROTECTION — BARRIER CREAMS (10) U.K.

• There could be barrier creams to protect against:

  • Non ionizing radiation (UV, IR, solar or welding radiation)

  • Ionizing radiation

  • Chemicals

  • Biological agents

  • Thermal risks (heat, flame and cold)

Equipment for BODY PROTECTION/OTHER SKIN PROTECTION U.K.

• Personal protective equipment for protection against falls from a height, such as retractable type fall arresters, full body harnesses, sit harnesses, belts for work positioning and restraint and work positioning lanyards, energy absorbers, guided-type fall arresters including an anchor line, rope adjustment devices, anchor devices that are not designed to be permanently fixed and that do not require fastening works before use, connectors, lanyards, rescue harness

• Protective clothing, including whole body (i.e. suits, overalls) protection and partial body (i.e. gaiters, trousers, jackets, waistcoats, aprons, kneepads, hoods, balaclavas) protection against:

  • Mechanical risks

  • Thermal risks (heat, flame and cold)

  • Chemicals

  • Biological agents

  • Ionizing radiation and radioactive contamination

  • Non-ionizing radiation (UV, IR, solar or welding radiation)

  • Electric shock and live working (antistatic, conductive, insulating)

  • Entanglement and trapping

• Lifejackets for prevention of drowning and buoyancy aids

• PPE for signalling the user’s presence visually]

[F4 ANNEX III U.K. NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ACTIVITIES AND SECTORS OF ACTIVITY WHICH MAY REQUIRE THE PROVISION OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (*) (*) The risk assessment will determine the need to provide a PPE and its characteristics according to the provisions of this Directive

I. PHYSICAL RISKS U.K.

Risks	Body part affected Type of PPE	Examples of activities where the use of the corresponding type of PPE may be necessary (*)	Industry and Sectors
PHYSICAL — MECHANICAL
Impact caused by falling or ejected objects, collision with an obstacle and high-pressure jets	Cranium Protective helmet	Work on, underneath or in the vicinity of scaffolding and elevated workplaces Carcase Work and road work Formwork's erection and stripping Scaffolding's assembly and installation Assembly and installation works Demolitions Blasting works Work in pits, trenches, shafts and tunnels Work in the vicinity of lifts, lifting gear, cranes, and conveyors Works in underground workings, quarries, open diggings Work with industrial furnaces, containers, machinery, silos, bunkers and pipelines Slaughtering and Cutting line at slaughterhouses Load handling or Transport and storage Forest work Work on steel bridges, steel building construction, steel hydraulic structures, blast furnaces, steel works and rolling mills, large containers, large pipelines, boiler plants and power stations Earth and rock works Work with bolt-driving tools Work with blast furnaces, direct reduction plants, steelworks, rolling mills, metalworks, forging, drop forging and casting Work involving travelling on bicycles and mechanically propelled bikes	Building construction Civil engineering construction Machinery manufacturing, installation and maintenance Shipbuilding Mining works Energy production Infrastructure construction and maintenance Iron and Steel industry Slaughterhouses Railway shunting work Harbours, transport and logistics Forest Industry
	Eyes and/or face Spectacles, goggles and face shields	Welding, grinding and separating work Manual hammering Caulking and chiselling Rock working and processing Work with bolt-driving tools Work on stock removing machines for small chippings Drop forging The removal and breaking up of fragments Spraying of abrasive substances Use of brush cutter or chainsaw Dental and surgical procedures	Building construction Civil engineering construction Machinery manufacturing, installation and maintenance Shipbuilding Mining works Energy production Infrastructure construction and maintenance Iron and Steel industries Metal and Wood industries Stone carving Gardening Healthcare Forestry
	Foot and leg (parts) Footwear (shoes/boots, etc.) with safety or protective toecap Footwear with metatarsal protection	Carcase Work and road work Erection and stripping of formwork Scaffolding's assembly and installation Demolitions Blasting works Working and processing of rock Slaughtering and Cutting line works Transport and storage Work with moulds in the ceramics industry Work with frozen meat blocks and preserved foods packaging Flat glass products and container glassware manufacture, working and processing Conversion and maintenance work Forest works Work with concrete and prefabricated parts involving formwork erection and stripping Work in contractors’ yards and warehouses Roof work Work on steel bridges, steel building construction, masts, towers, lifts, steel hydraulic structures, blast furnaces, steelworks and rolling mills, large containers, large pipelines, cranes, boiler plants and power stations Furnace construction, heating and ventilation installation and metal assembly work Work with blast furnaces, direct reduction plants, steelworks, rolling mills, metal works, forging, drop forging, hot pressing and drawing plants Work in quarries and open diggings, coal stock removal Work with moulds in the ceramics industry Lining of kilns in the ceramics industry Railway shunting work	Building construction Civil engineering construction Machinery manufacturing, installation and maintenance Shipbuilding Mining works Energy production Infrastructure construction and maintenance Iron and Steel industry Slaughterhouses Logistic Companies Manufacturing Industry Glass Industry Forest Industry
Falls due to slipping	Foot Slip-resistant footwear	Works on slippery surfaces Works on humidity environments	Building construction Civil engineering construction Shipbuilding Slaughterhouse Cleaning Food industries Gardening Fishing industry
Falls from a height	Whole body PPE designed to prevent or arrest falls from height	Work on scaffolding Assembly of prefabricated parts Works on masts Roof work Work on vertical or slope surfaces Work in high crane cabs Work in high cabs of warehouse stacking and retrieval equipment Work in high sections of drilling towers Work in shafts and sewers	Building construction Civil engineering construction Shipbuilding Infrastructure maintenance
Vibration	Hands Protective Gloves	Works with hand-guided tools	Manufacturing industries Building work Civil Engineering work
Static compression of parts of the body	Knee (leg parts) Kneepads	Installation of blocks, tiles and pavers on the floor	Building construction Civil engineering construction
	Foot Footwear with toecaps	Demolitions Load handling	Building construction Civil engineering construction Transport and storage Maintenance
Mechanical injuries (abrasion, perforation, cuts, bites, wounds or stabs)	Eyes and/or face Spectacles, goggles, face shields	Works with hand-guided tools Welding and forging Grinding and separating work Chiselling Rock working and processing Work on stock removing machines for small chippings Drop forging The removal and breaking up of fragments Spraying of abrasive substances Use of brush cutter or chainsaw	Building construction Civil engineering construction Shipbuilding Mining works Energy production Infrastructure maintenance Iron and Steel industries Metal and Wood industries Stone carving Gardening Forestry
	Hands Mechanical protective gloves	Works with steel framework Handling of sharp-edged objects, other than machines where there is a danger of the gloves being caught Regular cutting using a hand knife for production and slaughtering Changing the knives of cutting machines Forest works Gardening work	Building construction Civil engineering construction Shipbuilding Infrastructure maintenance Manufacturing industries Food industry Slaughter Forest industry
	Forearms Arm protection	Boning and cutting	Food industry Slaughter
	Trunk/Abdomen/Leg Protective apron, gaiters Penetration resistance trousers (cut-resistant trousers)	Regular cutting using a hand knife for production and slaughtering Forest works	Food industry Slaughter Forest industry
	Foot Penetration resistance footwear	Carcase works and road works Demolition Formwork's erection and stripping Forest works	Building construction Civil engineering construction Shipbuilding Mining works Forest industry
Entanglement and trapping	Whole body Protective clothing for use where there is a risk of entanglement with moving parts	Entangle oneself in parts of machines Get caught in parts of machines Get caught with garment in parts of machines Get swept away	Machine building Manufacture of heavy-duty machines Engineering Construction Agriculture
PHYSICAL — NOISE
Noise	Ears Hearing protectors	Work with metal presses Work with pneumatic drills The work of ground staff at airports Works with power tools Blasting works Pile-driving work Wood and textile working	Metal Industry Manufacturing industry Building construction Civil engineering construction Aeronautical industry Mining works
PHYSICAL — THERMAL
Heat and/or fire	Face/Whole head Welding headshields, helmets/caps against heat or fire, protective hoods against heat and/or flame	Work in presence of high temperatures, radiating heat or fire Work with or in the vicinity of molten substances Work with welding plastics guns	Iron and Steel Industry Metal Industry Maintenance services Manufacturing Industry
	Trunk/abdomen/legs Protective apron, gaiters	Welding and forging Casting	Iron and Steel Industry Metal Industry Maintenance services Manufacturing industry
	Hand Protective gloves against heat and/or flame	Welding and forging Work in presence of high temperatures, radiating heat or fire Work with or in the vicinity of molten substances	Iron and Steel Industry Metal Industry Maintenance services Manufacturing industry
	Forearms Sleeves	Welding and forging Work with or in the vicinity of molten substances	Iron and Steel Industry Metal Industry Maintenance services Manufacturing industry
	Foot Footwear against heat and/or flame	Work with or in the vicinity of molten substances	Iron and Steel Industry Metal Industry Maintenance services Manufacturing industry
	Whole/partial body Protective clothing against heat and/or flame	Work in presence of high temperatures, radiating heat or fire	Iron and Steel Industry Metal Industry Forest Industry
Cold	Hand Protective gloves against cold Foot Footwear against cold	Work in the open air in extreme cold conditions Work in deep-freeze rooms Work with cryogenic liquids	Building construction Civil engineering construction Shipbuilding Mining works Food Industry Agriculture and fisheries sector
	Whole/partial body including head Protective clothing against cold	Work in the open air in cold weather conditions Work in deep-freeze rooms	Building construction Civil engineering construction Shipbuilding Mining works Food Industry Agriculture and fisheries sector Transport and storage
PHYSICAL — ELECTRICAL
Electric shock (direct or indirect contact)	Whole head Electrically insulating helmets Hands Electrically insulating gloves Foot Electrically insulating footwear Whole body/Hands/Foot Conductive PPE intended to be worn by skilled persons during live working at a nominal power system voltage up to 800 kV AC and 600 kV DC	Live working or close to live parts under electrical tension Work on electrical system	Energy production Transmission and distribution of electrical energy Industrial facilities maintenance Building construction Civil engineering construction
Static electricity	Hands Antistatic gloves Foot Antistatic/conductivefootwear Whole body Antistatic clothing	Handling plastic and rubber Pouring, collecting or loading into a container Work near to highly charged elements such as conveyor belts Handling explosives	Manufacturing industry Feed industry Bagging and packing plants Production, storage or transport of explosives
PHYSICAL — RADIATION
Non-ionizing radiation, including sunlight (other than direct observation)	Head Caps and helmets	Work in open air	Fishing and agriculture Building construction Civil engineering construction
	Eyes Protective spectacles, goggles and face shields	Work with radiant heat Furnace operations Work with laser Work in open air Welding and gas cutting Glass blowing Germicidal lamps	Iron and Steel Industries Manufacturing industry Fishing and agriculture
	Whole body (skin) PPE against Natural and artificial UV	Work in the open air Electrical welding Germicidal lamps Xenon lamps	Building construction Civil engineering construction Shipbuilding Mining works Energy production Infrastructure maintenance Fishing and agriculture Forest industry Gardening Food industry Plastic industry Printing industry
Ionizing radiation	Eyes Protective spectacles/goggles against ionizing radiation Hands Protective gloves against ionizing radiation	Operating in X-ray facilities Operating in the area of medical radio diagnosis Work with radioactive products	Healthcare Veterinary care Radioactive waste plant Energy production
	Trunk/abdomen/partial body Protective apron against x-rays /Coat/Vest/Skirt against x-rays	Operating in X-ray facilities Operating in the area of medical radio diagnosis	Healthcare Veterinary care Dental care Urology Surgery Interventional radiology Laboratories
	Head Headwear & Caps PPE for protection against e.g. development of brain tumours	Medical X-ray work places and facilities	Healthcare Veterinary care Dental care Urology Surgery Interventional radiology
	Partial body PPE for thyroid protection PPE for gonads protection	Operating in X-ray facilities Operating in the area of medical radio diagnosis	Healthcare Veterinary care
	Whole body Protective clothing against ionizing radiation	Operating in the area of medical radio diagnosis Work with radioactive products	Energy production Radioactive waste plant

II. CHEMICAL RISKS (including nanomaterial) U.K.

Risks	Body part affected Type of PPE	Examples of activities where the use of the corresponding type of PPE may be necessary (*)	Industry and Sectors
CHEMICAL — AEROSOLS
Solid (dusts, fumes, smokes, fibres, and nano-material)	Respiratory system Respiratory protective devices against particles	Demolition Blasting works Sanding and Polishing of surfaces Work in presence of asbestos Use of materials consisting of/containing nanoparticles Welding Chimney sweeper Work on the lining of furnaces and ladles where there may be dust Work in the vicinity of blast furnace taps where there may be heavy metal fumes Work in the vicinity of the blast furnace charge	Building construction Civil engineering construction Shipbuilding Mining works Iron and Steel industries Metal and Wood industries Automotive industry Stone carving Pharmaceuticals industry Healthcare services Preparation of cytostatics
	Hands Chemical Protective gloves and barrier cream as an additional/accessory protection	Work in presence of asbestos Use of materials consisting of/containing nanoparticles	Building construction Civil engineering construction Shipbuilding Industrial facilities maintenance
	Whole body Protective clothing against solid particles	Demolition Work in presence of asbestos Use of materials consisting of/containing nanoparticles Chimney sweeper Preparation of plant protection products	Building construction Civil engineering construction Shipbuilding Industrial facilities maintenance Agriculture
	Eyes Spectacles/goggles and face shields	Woodworking Road work	Mining industry Metal and wood industry Civil engineering construction
Liquid (mists and fogs)	Respiratory system Respiratory protective devices against particles	Surface treatment (e.g. varnishing/painting, abrasive blasting) Surface cleaning	Metal Industry Manufacturing Industry Automotive sector
	Hands Chemical protective gloves	Surface treatment Surface cleaning Work with liquid sprays Works with acids and caustic solutions, disinfectants and corrosive cleaning substances	Metal Industry Manufacturing industry Automotive sector
	Whole body Chemical protective clothing	Surface treatment Surface cleaning	Metal Industry Manufacturing industry Automotive sector
CHEMICAL — LIQUIDS
Immersion Splashes, sprays and jets	Hands Chemical protective gloves,	Work with liquid sprays Works with acids and caustic solutions, disinfectants and corrosive cleaning products Processing of coating materials Tanning Work in hairdressers and beauty salons	Textile and clothing industry Cleaning industry Automobile industry Beauty and hairdressing sectors
	Forearms Chemical protective sleeves	Works with acids and caustic solutions, disinfectants and corrosive cleaning products	Cleaning Chemical industry Cleaning industry Automobile industry
	Foot Chemical protective boots	Work with liquid sprays Works with acids and caustic solutions, disinfectants and corrosive cleaning products	Textile and clothing industry Cleaning industry Automobile industry
	Whole body Chemical protectiveclothing	Work with liquid sprays Works with acids and caustic solutions, disinfectants and corrosive cleaning products	Cleaning Chemical industry Cleaning industry Automobile industry Agriculture
CHEMICAL — GASES AND VAPOURS
Gases and vapours	Respiratory system Respiratory protective devices against gases	Surface treatment (e.g. varnishing/painting, abrasive blasting) Surface cleaning Work in fermentation and distilling rooms Work inside tanks and digesters Work in containers, restricted areas and gas-fired industrial furnaces where there may be gas or insufficient oxygen Chimney sweeper Disinfectants and corrosive cleaning substances Work in the vicinity of gas converters and blast furnace gas pipes	Metal Industry Automotive sector Manufacturing industry Cleaning industry Alcoholic drinks production Wastewater treatment plants Waste treatment plant Chemical Industry Petrochemical industry
	Hands Chemical protective gloves	Surface treatment Surface cleaning Work in fermentation and distilling rooms Work inside tanks and digesters Work in containers, restricted areas and gas-fired industrial furnaces where there may be gas or insufficient oxygen	Metal Industry Automotive sector Manufacturing industry Alcoholic drinks production Wastewater treatment plants Waste treatment plant Chemical Industry Petrochemical industry
	Whole body Chemical protective clothing	Surface treatment Surface cleaning Work in fermentation and distilling rooms Work inside tanks and digesters Work in containers, restricted areas and gas-fired industrial furnaces where there may be gas or insufficient oxygen	Metal Industry Automotive sector Manufacturing industry Alcoholic drinks production Wastewater treatment plants Waste treatment plant Chemical Industry Petrochemical industry
	Eyes Spectacles, goggles and face shields	Spray painting Woodworking Mining operations	Automotive sector Manufacturing industry Mine industry Chemical Industry Petrochemical industry

III. BIOLOGICAL AGENTS U.K.

Risks	Body part affected Type of PPE	Examples of activities where the use of the corresponding type of PPE may be necessary (*)	Industry and Sectors
BIOLOGICAL AGENTS (contained in) - AEROSOLS
Solids and liquids	Respiratory system Respiratory protective devices against particles	Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues Work in presence of biological agent	Healthcare Veterinary clinics Clinical analysis laboratories Research Laboratories Retirement homes Homes assistances Wastewater treatment plants Waste treatment plant Food Industry Biochemical production
	Hands Protective gloves against microorganisms Whole/partial body Protective clothing against biological agents Eyes and/or face Protective spectacles, goggles and face shields	Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues Work in presence of biological agent	Healthcare Veterinary clinics Clinical analysis laboratories Research Laboratories Retirement homes Homes assistances Wastewater treatment plants Waste treatment plant Food Industry
BIOLOGICAL AGENTS (contained in) - LIQUIDS
Direct and indirect contact	Hands Protective gloves against microorganisms Whole/partial body Protective clothing against biological agents Eyes and/or face Protective goggles and face shields	Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues (bites, stings) Work in presence of biological agent	Healthcare Veterinary clinics Clinical analysis laboratories Research Laboratories Retirement homes Homes assistances Wastewater treatment plants Waste treatment plant Food Industry Forest industry
Splashes, sprays and jets	Hands Protective gloves against microorganisms	Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues Work in presence of biological agent	Healthcare Veterinary clinics Clinical analysis laboratories Research Laboratories Retirement homes Homes assistances Wastewater treatment plants Waste treatment plant Food Industry
	Forearms Protective sleeves against microorganisms	Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues Work in presence of biological agent	Healthcare Veterinary clinics Clinical analysis laboratories Research Laboratories Retirement homes Homes assistances Wastewater treatment plants Waste treatment plant Food Industry
	Foot/legs Protective over boots and gaiters	Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues Work in presence of biological agent	Healthcare Veterinary clinics Clinical analysis laboratories Research Laboratories Retirement homes Homes assistances Wastewater treatment plants Waste treatment plant Food Industry
	Whole body Protective clothing against biological agents	Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues Work in presence of biological agent	Healthcare Veterinary clinics Clinical analysis laboratories Research Laboratories Retirement homes Homes assistances Wastewater treatment plants Waste treatment plant Food Industry
BIOLOGICAL AGENTS (contained in) – MATERIALS, PERSONS, ANIMALS, ETC.
Direct and indirect contact	Hands Protective gloves against microorganisms Whole/partial body Protective clothing against biological agents Eyes and/or face Protective goggles and face shields	Work that involve contact with human body and animal fluids and tissues (bites, stings) Work in presence of biological agent	Healthcare Veterinary clinics Clinical analysis laboratories Research Laboratories Retirement homes Homes assistances Wastewater treatment plants Waste treatment plant Food Industry Forest industry

IV. OTHER RISKS U.K.

Risks	Body part affected Type of PPE	Examples of activities where the use of the corresponding type of PPE may be necessary (*)	Industry and Sectors
Non-visibility	Whole body PPE for signalling the user’s presence visually	Work in proximity of movement of vehicles Asphalt works and road marking Railway works Driving means of transport Work of ground staff at airport	Building construction Civil engineering construction Shipbuilding Mining works Transport services and passengers transports
Oxygen deficiency	Respiratory system Insulating respiratory protectives devices	Work in confined spaces Work in fermentation and distilling rooms Work inside tanks and digesters Work in containers, restricted areas and gas-fired industrial furnaces where there may be gas or insufficient oxygen Work in shafts, sewers and other underground areas connected with sewage	Alcoholic drinks production Civil engineering construction Chemical Industry Petrochemical industry
	Respiratory system Diving equipment	Underwater works	Civil engineering construction
Drowning	Whole body Life jacket	Work on or near water Work in the sea Work in an airplane	Fishing industry Aeronautical industry Building construction Civil engineering construction Shipbuilding Docks and harbours]

(1)

OJ No C 161, 20.6.1988, p. 1,

OJ No C 115, 8.5.1989, p. 27 and

OJ No C 287, 15.11.1989, p. 11.

(2)

OJ No C 12, 16.1.1989, p. 92 and

OJ No C 256, 9.10.1989, p. 61.

(3)

OJ No C 318, 12.12.1988, p. 30.

(4)

OJ No C 28, 3.2.1988, p. 3.

(5)

OJ No C 28, 3.2.1988, p. 1.

(6)

OJ No L 183, 29.6.1989, p. 1.

(7)

OJ No L 185, 9.7.1974, p. 15.

(8)

See the Commission communication (OJ No C 328, 30.12.1989, p. 3).

(9)

[F2 OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1 .]

(10)

[F4 In certain circumstances, as a result of the risk assessment, barrier creams could be used together with other PPE with the aim of protecting workers’ skin from related risks. Barrier creams are PPE under the scope of Directive 89/656/EEC as this type of equipment can be considered in certain circumstances as ‘ additional or accessory ’ within the meaning of Article 2 of Directive 89/656/EEC. However, barrier creams are not PPE according to the definition in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/425.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Inserted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1243 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 adapting a number of legal acts providing for the use of the regulatory procedure with scrutiny to Articles 290 and 291 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Text with EEA relevance).

F4 Substituted by Commission Directive 2019/1832 of 24 October 2019 amending Annexes I, II and III to Council Directive 89/656/EEC as regards purely technical adjustments.