Personal protective equipment: what is it for?
Some tradessay “at risk”, are more dangerous than others. This is why they require special protections. Personal protective equipment, such as a helmet, mask, gloves or safety harness, is thus lent to the employee by the employer, so as to protect him from the risks of work accidents related to his position as work.
The employer must create and use what is called the “single safety document” (DUS) where the “single risk assessment document” (DUER). This document lists all the risks present in the employee’s activity.
The employer is required to eliminate or reduce these risks as much as possible, which personal protective equipment allows. However, the employee is not obliged to wear PPE in the absence of danger. The labor code even stipulates that this can hinder the smooth running of his work.
NB : wearing PPE is not always considered an obligation and depends on the legislation of each country.
Different types of protection
On construction sites and in certain factories, the employee is often faced with multiple dangers. Projections of products, heat, noise pollution, the list of risks is long. Employees are therefore regularly required to wear:
- a helmeta helm or a visor ;
- from safety shoes ;
- from protective clothing (jacket with closed collar and long sleeves tight at the wrists, long pants);
- from hearing protection (ear muffs, earplugs, etc.);
- a respiratory protective device (FFP mask);
- safety glasses.
NB : this personal protective equipment is constantly evolving according to new technologies, as well as new risks.
Regulation of personal protective equipment
The personal protective equipment used by companies is not chosen at random. They are subject to a very precise rules. This equipment must therefore comply with European regulations transposed into French law and undergo a certain number of tests before being placed on the market.
Respiratory devices, safety glasses, hearing protection, helmets, all PPE must be notified based on the European standards. Once this equipment has been certified, it must then be adopted in the field. This is the role of all those involved in company prevention.