AFRICA Q-HSE DEPARTMENT

LIST OF EC STANDARDS FOR PPE

Document N°: HSE-WI-0007 Rev 04

If no local regulations are available, the PPE must comply with recognised manufacturing standards, such as EC
standards.
Once identified, the Personal Protective Equipment must at least correspond to the following criteria:

1. WORKING CLOTHES
For traditional working clothes, give priority to overalls instead of 2 pieces clothes.
They must be made of 80% cotton.

2. CLOTHES TO PROTECT AGAINST RAIN

Reference standard: EN343

3. PROTECTIVE CLOTHES FOR WELDING

Reference standard: EN470

4. HIGH VISIBILITY CLOTHES

Reference standard: EN471
This standard specifies the required characteristics for clothes which are intended to visually signal the user's
presence so that they can be detected and seen in unsafe conditions, under all lighting conditions, whether by day
or night, including headlights.

5. HELMETS
Reference standard: EN397
For work at heights, the helmet must be provided with an additional strap so that it will correctly stand in place
around the head without falling
The helmet must be approved and certified by the manufacture (manufacturing date and expiry date).

6. GLOVES
Reference standard EN 420
The EC marking indicates conformity with a particular European standard and is represented on the glove or the
packaging.
 Part of the EC mark represents a pictogram which helps identifying the standard which relates to a specific
glove.
 Gloves may also carry the EC mark for EN 374, EN 388, EN 407 and EN 511.
Gloves must be selected according to the materials to handle (sharp, pointed or toxic objects).
Particular types of gloves must be adapted to the task: leather, rubber, long or short.
Additional standards:
EN 388 standard: Hands protection against mechanical dangers
A 4-digit level is specified, with:
 1st digit: Resistance to abrasion 0 to 4:
 2nd digit: Resistance to cutting by blade 0 to 5:
 3rd digit: Resistance to tearing 0 to 4:
 4th digit: Resistance to perforation 0 to 4:
EN 374 standard: hands protection against chemical and micro-organic products
This standard includes the notion of penetration and permeability as defined below:
 Penetration rate: resistance to penetration by micro-organisms through porous materials, seals, pin holes
or other imperfections in the glove
 Permeability: Protection against chemical dangers (permeability), class 1 to 6
 AFRICA Q-HSE DEPARTMENT
LIST OF EC STANDARDS FOR PPE
Document N°: HSE-WI-0007 Rev 04

EN 407 standard: Hands protection against thermal dangers

This standard is composed of a 6-digit performance level with:
 1st digit resistance to flammability (0 to 4)
 2nd digit resistance to heat by contact (0 to 4)
 3rd digit resistance to convection heat (0 to 4)
 4th digit resistance to radiating heat (0 to 4)
 5th digit resistance to low level projections of fusion metal
 6th digit resistance to high level projections of fusion metal

7. SAFETY SHOES
Reference standard EN345-1: safety shoes (200 joules toe)
Shoes and boots must have two protection areas: the toe with a protective steel shell and the base of the foot with
a metal sole covering the full shoe. The sole will be non-slip as preference.

8. PROTECTIVE GOGGLES
Reference standard EN166: basic conditions
The goggles must be designed so that they cover the eyes and the sides of the eyes.
To enable the glasses to be held more securely, a cord will be attached to the arms of the goggles.
Additional standards for eye protection
EN169 – Filter for welding
EN170 – Filter for UV
EN171 – Filter for IR
EN172 – Solar filters for industrial use

9. CHEMICAL PROTECTION CLOTHES

Reference standard EN369
Chemical protection clothes are classified according to 6 categories or types:
 Type 6 – limited waterproof against splashes and drops
 Type 5 – waterproof to dust particles
 Type 4 – waterproof to aerosols and sprays
 Type 3 – waterproof to liquids
 Type 2 – limited waterproof to gases
 Type 1 – waterproof to gases

10. CHEMICAL GLOVES

Reference standard EN374
 Nitrile gloves (green) with mechanical resistance to acids and bases.
 Viton gloves (black) with increased chemical resistance.
 Cryogenic gloves protecting against cold and neutral bodies (nitrogen, freons, etc.)
 PDF1 Foulon powder gloves absorbing chemical materials left accidentally on the skin.

11. FILTERING MASKS AND CARTRIDGES

Reference standards EN136-EN140
Disposable masks must only be used for dust. There are 3 types of filters, to use according to the dust type: are
defined per class associated with a colour which defines the product family for which it offers protection. This
classification is as follows:
 AFRICA Q-HSE DEPARTMENT
LIST OF EC STANDARDS FOR PPE
Document N°: HSE-WI-0007 Rev 04

 FFP1, to protect from large particles

 FFP2, to protect from medium particles
 FFP3, to protect from small particles
As regards to cartridge masks, they must be used to protect from chemical materials or frogs. Cartridges are
defined per class, associated to a colour which defines the family of materials for which they protect. The
classification is as follows:
 Class A, brown: Organic gases and vapours, with a boiling point above 65°C, solvents, hydrocarbons
 Class B, grey: Inorganic gases and vapours, acids, cyanhydric, nitrogen and halogen and derivatives,
hydrogen, arsenic, phosphorous, sulphur
 Class E, yellow: Acid, sulphurous gases, chlorhydric acid (acid gases)
 Class K, green: Ammoniac
 Class CO, black: Carbon monoxide
 Class P, white: dusts
 Class NO, blue: Chlorine, nitrous vapours

12. EARING PROTECTIONS

Earing protection must be worn from 80 dB for “constant” noise and 135 dB for “maximum” noise
Reference standards:
EN 352-1: head band
EN 352-2: ear plugs
EN 352-3: head band fitted on helmet

13. HARNESS
Reference standard EN361
Additional standards
EN362-Connectors
A connector may be a snap or hook.
EN 354-Leashes.
A leash may be made from rope, synthetic fibres, metal cable, straps or chains.
Max length 2 m.