PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
In extreme weather conditions, poor visibility, or hazardous influences such as heat, flying sparks, and high voltage, ordinary workwear quickly reaches its limits. In certain hazard areas, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be used. At KÜBLER, it goes without saying that PPE is comfortable, convenient, and well-designed despite extreme application areas.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING IS NOT THE SAME AS PROTECTIVE CLOTHING.
The safety of employees comes first. Therefore, it must first be defined what protective clothing is needed for. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (ArbSchG §§3, 4), employers are legally obliged to carry out a risk assessment for each workplace. Based on this analysis, the safety officer prepares an overview of which personal protective equipment is required for which workplace and to what extent, and what hazards this protective clothing must protect against.
Then we come into play: according to the above-defined specifications regarding which protective standard the clothing must meet, we can recommend the right clothing.
IMPORTANT SAFETY STANDARDS AT A GLANCE:
EN ISO 15797 INDUSTRIAL WASHING AND FINISHING PROCEDURES FOR TESTING WORKWEAR
The standard simulates the effects of industrial washing of workwear using described procedures. There are 8 different washing procedures of the washer-extractor type. For drying, tumble drying or tunnel cabinet finishing are provided. It is technically not possible to replicate an industrial washing process in a laboratory setup. The standard only provides an approach in a medium-sized test facility to enable assessment. To conclusively evaluate the compatibility of the product and washing process, the standard points out that the respective workwear should be tested with the actual industrial washing equipment and the procedures intended for use.
IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT PPE.
Personal protective equipment is divided into 3 categories.
CATEGORY I
CATEGORY II
CATEGORY III
SUBSEQUENT FINISHING OF PROTECTIVE CLOTHING.
When subsequently finishing protective clothing, e.g. with logos, emblems, embroidery, or reflective strips, special caution is required. The use of unsuitable materials can reduce or even eliminate the protective effect of the clothing. The type examination (certification of PPE) of the clothing may become void. Therefore, all modifications and accessories must be checked for their impact on the protective functions before implementation or attachment.
FINISHING OF PPE CATEGORY III
This may only be carried out by the manufacturer for PPE of category III, as any change to the type must be reported to the testing institute that issued the type examination. The change is examined there and recorded in the type examination certificate. Subsequently, the manufacturer can grant approval for the change or carry it out.
FINISHING OF PPE CATEGORY II
For PPE of category II, the decision whether a modification may be made – with strict consideration of the standard requirements regarding protective functions – can be made without the testing institute.
To avoid any risk, protective clothing should only be finished by the manufacturer. In case of doubt, the design concept must give way to the protection and safety of the wearer of the clothing.
WHAT IS A TYPE TEST CERTIFICATE?
A type test certificate is the documentation with detailed test reports for a certified product. It is also referred to as a certificate. The product designation, the material used, and the protection standards are recorded here. The validity of this certificate has been limited to 5 years since 2010.
THIS IS WHAT THE CARE LABEL TELLS YOU.
There are special requirements for the care label in PPE. It must not only include the manufacturer with address, the product article number, and the material composition, but also additional information regarding the protection standards:
THE STANDARDS MUST BE INDICATED WITH PICTOGRAMS AND CLASSES.
- The "CE" mark indicates that it is a certified garment. The 4-digit number attached in the case of PPE category III is the number of the responsible testing institute.
- An "i" indicates that the garment comes with an information brochure containing important instructions.
- Size information is represented with a figurine.
SAFELY SECURE.
