The European Directives

.Directive 89-686 of 21 December 1989 relating to the design of personal safety equipment sets out the conditions for releasing such equipment on the market and for its free circulation within the European community, as well as the main requirements that must be met by personal safety equipment to ensure the health and safety of users.

. Directive 89-656 of 30 September 1989 relating to the use of personal safety equipment only sets out the minimum prescriptions; the Member States of the European Union maintain the right to enact regulations that are stricter than the European provisions.

The Directive recalls the primary need to implement collective protection measures and work plans and states the duties of employers.

The Directives also define categories of personal safety equipment and their approval procedures:

CE1 category 1: minor risks (danger-free activity or activity having superficial effects)
CE2 category 2: routine risks (activity with some risk of danger)
CE3 category 3: major risks (activity presenting a risk of mortal danger or incapacitation)

category 1 : minor risks (danger-free activity or activity having superficial effects),

category 2 : routine risks (activity with some risk of danger),

category 3 : major risks (activity presenting a risk of mortal danger or incapacitation).

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