In part 2, we delved deeper into the Manufacturer’s Regulation.

Here, we would like to take you through the User Guide, which specifically focuses on the use of personal protective equipment. Read on and find out what you really need to know about this legislation.

Intended for whom?

This Directive is part of the Framework Directive 89/391/EEC on occupational safety. EEC 89/656 focuses specifically on the use of PPE.

Therefore, it is primarily the employers, buyers, and prevention advisers that are addressed in this regulation.

This text may also be of interest to manufacturers and distributors because their customers start from this text (and not from the Manufacturer’s Regulation).

What is contained in them?

This legislative text is much less voluminous than the Manufacturer’s Regulation. As this is a Directive, each Member State must transpose it into national law.

This results in nuances here and there in the different Member States.

In Belgium, this transposition has led to the Codex; in the Netherlands, it is called the ‘arbowetgeving’; and in France, it is called ‘le Code du travail’.

The general information remains the same and covers:

• informing users,
• the individual nature of Personal Protective Equipment,
• the provision of PPEs, whether or not free of charge,
• the use of PPE according to the instructions for use.

The most practical content is the Appendix I in which a matrix of the parts of the body to be protected, on the one hand, and the risks, on the other hand, can help the prevention adviser to identify the necessary and correct PPE.

In addition, a number of activities are linked to certain PPEs.

What is not contained in them? – misunderstandings

This European legislative text does not define the standards to be met by the PPE to be used.

Nor will you find which certificates or other documents the manufacturer must be able to submit here.

This legislative text is also not the place to find out whether or not fit testing is required annually. This is reflected in the transposition of this European Directive into national legislation on a country-by-country basis.

Related documents

• The transposition of this Directive into national law:
  • Belgian Codex (decrees implementing the Law of 4 August 1996 on the well-being of workers in the performance of their work)
  • Dutch Arbowetgeving (Working Conditions Act of 18 March 1999 in full, Working Conditions Decree of 15 January 1997 in full, and Working Conditions Regulation in full)
  • French Code du travail (bringing together different legislations).
• The manufacturer’s legislation when it comes to checking the necessary documents provided by the manufacturer (certification procedures)
• An attest of conformity
• A user’s manual