Personal protective equipment (PBMs)are defined bythe Regulation as products intended to be worn or held by a person as protection against one or more hazards that may pose a threat to his health or safety.
The PBM Regulation does not apply to:
- protective equipment designed for armed forces or law enforcement;
- protective equipment for self-defence against attackers;
- protective equipment designed for private use against weather conditions that are not of an extreme nature;
- protective equipment for exclusive use on seagoing vessels or aircraft;
- helmets and visors for users of two- or three-wheel motorcycles.
PPE must comply with essential safety requirements and must bear the CE mark in accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation. The applicable requirements vary depending on the risks against which PPE is intended to protect the user, and are divided into three categories:
- Category I (includes only minimal risks);
- Category II ( all other risks than stated in categories I and III) ;
- Category III (includes only the risks that may cause very serious consequences such as death or irreversible health damage).
