The European Commission’s implementing decision 2024/2599 of October 2024 aims to raise occupational health and safety standards in the EU market by introducing updates to the standards set for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) products. The new decision focuses on technical requirements that enhance safety, durability and performance criteria for PPE products. In particular, the amendments to Annex I and Annex II introduce new standards for test methods and performance criteria for PPE products such as fall protection systems, filter respirators, work shoes, electrically insulated helmets and eye and face protection equipment.
Annex I defines the risk categories and testing requirements for products, while Annex II addresses health and safety requirements that improve the safety characteristics of PPE products. In this context, innovations such as strengthening the equipment used in durability testing of fall protection systems, raising standards for slip resistance of work shoes and improvements in the optical performance of eye protection equipment are noteworthy. For electrically insulated helmets, additional layers of protection and enhanced insulation features are mandatory to improve safety performance.
These updates ensure that occupational safety standards across the European Union are more accessible, enforceable and focused on providing high protection. These new regulations for both manufacturers and users to comply with safety requirements aim to improve quality and reliability in the PPE sector.
Full details of the decision can be found here.
