Each activity imposes its own security constraints. A mason, a food processing operator and a maintenance technician face very different risks on a daily basis. Personal protective equipment (PPE) covers each sensitive area facing threats on the ground. When it comes to securing your teams, the initial questions always remain the same: what danger threatens each position and what solution can limit it?
Employer’s legal obligations regarding PPE
The Labor Code is explicit on this point: the employer has the obligation to provide PPE free of charge to its employees, to ensure their maintenance and to replace them as soon as they are no longer in use (article R4323-95 of the Labor Code). He must also assess the risks of each workstation and record this analysis in the single professional risk assessment document (DUERP).
The law also sets a clear hierarchy: reducing the risk at source as a priority, using collective protection secondarily, and only using PPE as a complement or when other measures are insufficient (article L4121-2). In the event of a breach, the manager may be held civilly and criminally liable, regardless of the human and economic costs that a workplace accident entails.
What is PPE? Definition and regulatory framework
Personal protective equipment means any device worn by a person to protect them against one or more risks threatening their health or safety. European Regulation (EU) 2016/425, applicable since April 2018, constitutes the reference text for the design, certification and marketing of PPE in Europe.
This regulation distinguishes three categories according to the level of risk:
- Category I covers minor risks;
- category II intermediate risks;
- Category III serious or fatal dangers.
The higher the category, the more stringent the certification and user training requirements.
The CE marking certifies the conformity of the product with these requirements. Each PPE is also subject to a lifespan set by the manufacturer, sometimes short even without intensive use. This is particularly the case for helmets and harnesses whose materials age over time. Certain Category III PPE is subject to mandatory periodic checks (article R4323-99).
Beyond this marking, a common basis for all PPE, each product family also meets specific European technical standards: EN standards, which define the expected performance levels in the face of a specific risk. It is to these standards that we refer to compare and select PPE suitable for a given workstation.
PPE by profession: construction, agri-food, chemistry
The danger varies from one sector to another, and the equipment required with it. Here are the most common protections, by field of activity:
- Building and public works: construction helmet (EN 397), S3 safety shoes (EN ISO 20345), anti-cut gloves (EN 388), fall protection harness (EN 361) for working at height, high visibility clothing (EN ISO 20471).
- Agri-food: gloves compatible with food contact, disposable suit, cap, apron and non-slip shoes suitable for wet floors.
- Chemical industry: chemical protective suit (depending on the type of product handled), chemical-resistant gloves (EN 374), protective glasses and respiratory protection device (EN 136 or EN 140).
- Metallurgy and welding: heat-resistant gloves (EN 407), face shield (EN 166), flame-retardant clothing (EN ISO 11612) and hearing protection (EN 352) depending on sound exposure.
- Industrial maintenance: multipurpose gloves, protective glasses, safety shoes and hearing protection if the sound exposure level exceeds 80 dB(A).
- Logistics and warehouse: S1 or S2 safety shoes, handling gloves and high visibility vest.
This list constitutes a starting point; the field conditions always refine the final choice. Needs vary from one site to another for the same profession. A closed shop welding area requires more than an outdoor station. The DUERP helps you decide item by item.
How to choose comfortable and compliant PPE?
Effective protection covers every part of the body exposed to danger: head, eyes, respiratory tract, hands, body and feet. A single unprotected area is enough to expose the employee to a serious risk.
Comfort is as important as compliance. A glove that is too large reduces the precision of movements. A poorly fitted mask allows particles to pass through. Uncomfortable equipment ends up no longer being worn. It is advisable to test sizes, models and options and then collect user feedback before placing an order.
How to encourage the wearing of PPE at work?
Acceptance of PPE begins with education. Clearly explaining the danger associated with each position helps employees better understand the usefulness of their equipment. Involving teams in the choice of equipment promotes its adoption: an operator more easily wears a glove that he has chosen, tested and validated himself. Clear displays near risk areas and in changing rooms reinforce the culture of prevention.
Organizational monitoring is just as important. Designating a PPE contact person in the company simplifies orders, renewal and monitoring of expiry dates. This organization avoids stock shortages and the wearing of damaged equipment.
Regulatory compliance sets the framework, but it is not enough to guarantee effective protection. It is by anchoring prevention in work habits, through training, dialogue and rigorous monitoring, that we sustainably reduce accidents.
Sources
- (1) Article R4323-95 of the Labor Code.
- (2) Article L4121-2 of the Labor Code.
- (3) Article R4323-99 of the Labor Code.
