BSI : BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION
The changes mean that the old Directive will now be reimplemented as a Regulation which will be called the PPE Regulation ( EU ) 2016 / 425 rather than remain in its current status . This means that the new Regulation will not have to be transposed into each Member State ’ s national law . ( A Directive is a legislative act that sets out an objective that all EU countries must achieve by a given date . However , it is up to the individual countries to decide how this is done . In contrast a Regulation is a binding legislative act , and it must be applied in its entirety across the EU without the need for separate national legislation .)
What are the main changes to be aware of ?
• PPE Directive will be replaced by a Regulation .
• A number of types of protection will move from category II ( intermediate ) to category III ( complex ) such as hearing protection and life jackets .
• There will be a requirement to supply a declaration of conformity with every item of PPE that is placed on the market , or at least a weblink as to where it can be found .
• A five year certificate of validity is bringing the Regulation in line with similar European requirements such as the Medical Devices Directive .
The PPE Regulations are mandatory - covering any type of product that falls within its scope . It is a legal requirement for anyone involved in the PPE industry to comply . Previously , the PPE Directive focused on manufacturers placing products onto the market , but the new Regulation requires the whole supply chain to be involved . This means , when the regulation comes into force , that distributors or anyone in the supply and distribution chain should take appropriate measures to ensure that PPE meets standard requirements , and that they make available on the market only products which comply with the Regulation .
For those that want to go above and beyond , the BSI Kitemark™ gives a higher level of assurance that a product will do what it claims . It helps differentiate well-made PPE protection products from those of a lower standard – or indeed counterfeit goods . Buyers look for the BSI Kitemark™ because it ’ s a sign of quality , safety , trust and reliability . It is also a quality mark that is used widely in the equestrian world at competitions like Pony Club meets where they specify that BSI Kitemark™ approved helmets must be used by competitors taking part in their events .
Employees have a right to be safe in the workplace and employers must provide the correct level of protection to prevent respiratory conditions . With a growing number of cheaper imports entering the market , organisations need to be aware of what to look for when choosing respiratory protection – and other Personal Protection Equipment .
For more information and insight , go to : www . bsigroup . com
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