CE Certification for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are essential tools for workplace safety and the protection of workers’ health. The reference legislation is Regulation (EU) 2016/425, which establishes requirements, classification, and certification procedures for placing PPE on the market.

face shield

Classification of PPE

Regulation (EU) 2016/425 divides PPE into three categories, based on the level of risk they are intended to protect against:

Category I PPE

Includes equipment of simple design intended to protect against minimal risks, such as:

  • Superficial mechanical injury
  • Atmospheric conditions that are not extreme
  • Contact with hot surfaces not exceeding 50°C
cat 1 ppe work gloves
back protector
Category II PPE

Includes all PPE that does not fall into Category I or III. These are the most common devices and cover the majority of risks in the workplace.

Category III PPE

Includes equipment of complex design intended to protect against risks that may cause very serious consequences such as death or irreversible damage to health. This category includes PPE against:

  • Falls from a height
  • Harmful chemical agents
  • Hazardous atmospheres
half face mask

PPE Certification

To be marketed, PPE must comply with specific conformity assessment procedures:

  • Category I PPE: can be self-certified by the manufacturer.
  • Category II and III PPE: must be certified by a notified body.

Certification attests that the product complies with the essential health and safety requirements set out in the regulation.

Production Surveillance

For Category III PPE, a continuous production control system carried out by notified bodies is also mandatory to ensure that safety standards are maintained over time.

Harmonized Standards for PPE

Harmonized standards define the technical requirements and test methods to demonstrate the conformity of PPE with European legislation. Below are the main reference standards to be verified during the Risk Analysis:

Head protection
  • EN 397 — Industrial safety helmets
  • EN 812 — Industrial bump caps
Eye and face protection
  • EN 166 — Personal eye protection
  • EN 170 — Ultraviolet filters
  • EN 172 — Sunglare filters for industrial use
Hearing protection
  • EN 352 — Hearing protectors
Respiratory protection
  • EN 149 — Filtering half masks to protect against particles
  • EN 140 — Half masks and quarter masks
  • EN 136 — Full face masks
  • EN 143 — Particle filters
  • EN 14387 — Gas filters and combined filters
Hand and arm protection
  • EN 388 — Protective gloves against mechanical risks
  • EN 374 — Protective gloves against chemicals and micro-organisms
  • EN 407 — Protective gloves against thermal risks
  • EN 511 — Protective gloves against cold
Foot and leg protection
  • EN ISO 20345 — Safety footwear
  • EN ISO 20346 — Protective footwear
  • EN ISO 20347 — Occupational footwear
Body protection
  • EN ISO 13688 — Protective clothing — General requirements
  • EN 343 — Protection against rain
  • EN ISO 20471 — High visibility clothing
  • EN 13034 — Protection against liquid chemicals
  • EN 14605 — Protective clothing against liquid chemicals
Protection against falls from a height
  • EN 361 — Full body harnesses
  • EN 362 — Connectors
  • EN 363 — Personal fall protection systems
  • EN 365 — General requirements for fall protection devices

Conclusion

The correct selection and certification of PPE is essential to ensure safety in the workplace. Relying on products compliant with Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and harmonized standards means effectively protecting both workers and companies.