# 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)

EU Directive 1989/656 · adopted 30 November 1989

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)

## Introductory text

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, submitted after consultation with the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work,
In cooperation with the European Parliament,
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,
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 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, 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; 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, 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: GENERAL PROVISIONS

## 1 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 stringent and/or specific provisions contained in this Directive.

## 2 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.

## 3 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: EMPLOYERS’ OBLIGATIONS

## 4 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.

## 5 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.

## 6 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.

## 7 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.

## 8 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: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

## 9 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.

## 9a 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 .
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.

## 9b 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.

## 10 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.
3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

## 11 

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

## Annex I RISKS IN RELATION TO THE BODY PARTS TO BE PROTECTED BY PPE (*)



## Annex II: NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF TYPES OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WITH REGARD TO THE RISKS THEY PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST

## Equipment for HEAD PROTECTION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

## Annex III: NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ACTIVITIES AND SECTORS OF ACTIVITY WHICH MAY REQUIRE THE PROVISION OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (*)

## I PHYSICAL RISKS

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)

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

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

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

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/1989/656 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-1989-656
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

