New european legislation on personal protecitve equipment

Sa？etak The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Directive 89/686/EEC is a fundamental segment of European legislation relating to nearly all PPE. It was implemented into the Croatian law as the Regulation on Placing the PPE on the Market. After more than 20 years in use, it needs to be brought in line with the current technologies and situation on the market, as well as with other new directives, i.e. with the New Legislative Framework of the EU. The proposed new document to replace the existing Directive is the Regulation on PPE, which will have direct and mandatory application in all EU member states. Some equipment types are moving from category II to category III (hearing protectors, life jackets, protection from cuts by hand-held chain saws, knife stabs, bullet wounds and high-pressure cutting). PPE for private protection from damp, water and heat will be covered by the Regulation. Validity of the certificates is restricted to maximum 5 years. Responsibilities and relationship between the manufacturers, authorized representatives, importers and distributors are changing, the activities of notified bodies will be harmonized, market control and traceability will be improved. The new Regulation on PPE will improve the level of occupational safety and health at work