Wise Worksafe A4 Catalogue Vr1 25 - Flipbook - Page 77
PPE Standards
Standards
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION.
Respiratory Protection – UK/EN Standards
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) safeguards workers from dusts, fumes, gases, and vapours in the workplace.
UK/EN standards de昀椀ne mask types, 昀椀lters, and protection levels to ensure effective respiratory safety.
EN 149:2001 +A1:2009 – Filtering Half Masks
• FFP1 (PF 4): Low protection, e.g., sanding, drilling
• FFP2 (PF 10): Moderate protection, e.g., plastering, cement, wood dust
• FFP3 (PF 20): High protection, e.g., hazardous powders, biological agents
• Markings: R = reusable, NR = single shift, D = dolomite clogging test
EN 143 / EN 14387 – Particle & Gas Filters
• P1–P3 昀椀lters: Protection against solid and/or liquid particles
• Gas 昀椀lter types: A (organic), B (inorganic), E (acidic), K (ammonia) with classes 1–3 indicating capacity
EN 140 / EN 136 / EN 12941 – Masks & Powered Devices
• Half masks, quarter masks, full-face masks, and powered hoods/helmets must be used with the appropriate 昀椀lters for the hazard.
OTHER PPE.
Here’s a summary of the current situation for the standard EN 166:2001 (Personal Eye Protection) and its replacement in the UK / UK PPE market:
What EN 166:2001 covers
EN 166:2001 sets out requirements for protective eyewear (safety glasses, goggles, face shields) including optical clarity, impact resistance, mechanical
strength, resistance to ageing, ignition, etc. mcrsafetyeurope.com+1
Typical markings include optical class (1,2,3), impact levels (F, B, A), and optional features (K for scratch resistance, N for anti fog, etc). toprisesafety.com
Transition & Replacement Standard
• The standard EN 166 is being replaced by the new series EN ISO 16321 1/ 2/ 3 (Eye and face protection for occupational use) which was published:
/ EN ISO 16321 1:2022 – general requirements Uvex Safety+1
/ EN ISO 16321 2:2021 – welding & related techniques Uvex Safety+1
/ EN ISO 16321 3:2022 – mesh protectors Uvex Safety
• The withdrawal / harmonisation process: EN 166:2001 remains recognised until its withdrawal date. According to the EU
noti昀椀cation, the harmonised status of EN 166:2001 and related eyewear standards is extended to 11 Nov 2025. Uvex Safety
• Some sources indicate that EN 166:2001 and other older standards are set to be withdrawn by November 2024 (or at least
lose harmonised status) though the EU Of昀椀cial Journal decision (2024/2599) suggests an extension.
HEARING PROTECTION.
EN 352 – Hearing Protection
EN 352 speci昀椀es requirements for personal hearing protectors in the workplace. It covers different types of devices:
• EN 352 1: Earmuffs
• EN 352 2: Earplugs
• EN 352 3: Helmet-mounted devices
• EN 352 4: Level-dependent/communication devices
Key Features:
• SNR (Single Number Rating): Indicates the overall noise reduction in decibels (dB) that the protector provides.
/ Example: SNR 32 means the device reduces average noise exposure by 32 dB.
• Attenuation values for different frequencies may also be given (H, M, L bands).
• Products must meet EN 352 requirements for impact, durability, comfort, and hygiene.
• Markings include: EN 352 part, manufacturer, model, and SNR value.
Practical Note:
• SNR is critical for selecting the correct protector based on workplace noise levels. Employers must match SNR to noise exposure per risk assessment.
FALL ARREST.
Key Standards for Fall Arrest Equipment
• EN 361: Full body harnesses for fall arrest. LiftingSafety+2support.jspsafety.com+2
• EN 360: Retractable type fall arresters. onsite-support.co.uk+1
• EN 795: Anchor devices requiring speci昀椀ed strength and test criteria. A2M+1
• EN 354, EN 355, EN 362: Lanyards, energy absorbers and connectors used in fall arrest systems. onsite-support.co.uk+1
• BS 8681: A new British Standard establishing provider competence for personal fall protection anchor systems. bsif-heightsafetygroup.org
HELMETS PROTECTION.
Key details
• The current harmonised standard is BS EN 397:2012 + A1:2012 (Industrial Safety Helmets) which is published as of February 2012.
BSI Knowledge+2Skanwear®+2
• A newer revision has been introduced: EN 397:2025 “Industrial Protective Helmet” standard, which brings signi昀椀cant updates to design,
performance and testing.
• EN 812 – Industrial Bump Caps
• EN 812 is the European standard for protective headgear (bump caps) intended to protect the wearer against minor impacts
(such as bumping the head on low ceilings or piping), not against falling objects or suspended/moving loads
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