Personal Protective Equipment
(370 Article in 535 versions)Choose from a wide range of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) products designed to keep you and your employees safe. Products include safety glasses, respiratory protection, protective gloves and much more.
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Personal protective equipment from DENIOS
The safety and health of employees plays a central role in the modern working world. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is an indispensable element in protecting employees from the many dangers in the workplace. At DENIOS, you will find a comprehensive selection of PPE that meets the highest standards and fulfils the legal requirements. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the different types of PPE, the employer's responsibilities, the selection criteria and the legal requirements to ensure a safe and healthy workplace.
What is Personal Protective Equipment?
Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE for short, includes all equipment worn or used by employees to protect themselves from health and safety hazards. This also includes additional equipment that is connected to the Personal Protective Equipment and pursues the same goal. At DENIOS you will find a wide range of PPE that fulfils various protective functions:
Respiratory protection: Protects the respiratory tract from hazardous substances and particles. One example is FFP2 masks, which are used particularly in environments with dust or harmful substances.
Safety goggles: Provide protection for the eyes against mechanical, chemical or optical hazards.
Hearing protection: Prevents hearing damage caused by noise. This includes earplugs or earmuffs.
Protective gloves: Protect the hands from mechanical, chemical and thermal risks.
Head protection: Helmets and protective hard hats that protect against head injuries caused by falling objects or impact.
Fall protection: Systems such as harnesses and ropes that protect people working at height from falling.
Protective clothing: Clothing that protects against various hazards, e.g. chemical protection suits or flame protection clothing.
Who is responsible for providing Personal Protective Equipment?
The Occupational Health and Safety Act stipulates that the employer is obliged to provide the necessary personal protective equipment. The employer must take measures to eliminate or minimise risks to the health and safety of employees. However, PPE should only be used as a last resort. Technical and organisational protective measures should be checked and implemented first: According to Section 4 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, hazards must always be eliminated or mitigated at source first. The legally prescribed ‘T-O-P’ sequence is as follows:
- Technical protective measures: These include mechanical or electrical devices, such as extraction systems or protective devices on machines, which eliminate or reduce hazards at the source.
- Organisational protective measures: Measures such as training, instruction and organisational regulations that help to avoid or minimise risks.
- Personal protective measures: PPE is only used if technical and organisational measures are not sufficient. This includes all individual protective measures worn by employees.
What criteria applies to the selection of PPE?
If the risk assessment shows that PPE must be used, the specific requirements for the PPE must be defined in order to ensure the best possible protection. The equipment selected must not cause any additional hazards. For example, wearing protective gloves on drilling or turning machines is not permitted as there is a risk of the gloves being pulled in. The following experts should be consulted when selecting the correct personal protective equipment:
Occupational safety specialists: These experts know the specific hazards in the workplace and the corresponding protective measures.
Company doctor: Company doctors must take health aspects into account and ensure that PPE meets ergonomic requirements.
Works council or staff council: These bodies represent the interests of employees and can have a say in the selection of PPE.
Safety officers: They have specialised knowledge of the safety requirements in the company and can make valuable contributions.
Affected employees: They can contribute their experience and feedback on the comfort and practicability of PPE during wearing tests.
What categories of personal protective equipment are there?
The directive for Personal Protective Equipment classifies PPE into three categories:
PPE category I (low risks): This PPE protects against minor risks, the effect of which can be assessed by the user. Examples are simple protective gloves or sunglasses.
PPE category II (Medium risks): This includes PPE that does not fall into categories I or III. Examples include safety helmets, protective footwear and hearing protection.
PPE category III (High risks): This category includes complex PPE that protects against high risks such as fatal hazards or irreversible damage to health. Examples include respiratory protective equipment and fall protection.
Further requirements for PPE
Personal Protective Equipment must meet the ergonomic requirements and health needs of employees. It should be adaptable to the wearer to ensure maximum protection and comfort. In principle, PPE is intended for use by one person only. If shared use is necessary, for example in the case of harnesses, the employer must ensure that there are no health or hygiene concerns.
What is not a part of the PPE?
Not all protective equipment or work clothing counts as PPE. The following equipment is excluded:
Work clothing and uniforms: These are not specifically designed to protect the health and safety of employees.
Equipment for emergency and rescue services: These are subject to other regulations and standards.
Protective equipment for the military, civil defence, civil protection and police: These are designed for specific areas of use and are not intended for general working environments.
Traffic protective clothing: This falls under traffic regulations.
Sports equipment: This is not intended for occupational health and safety.
