New PPE Directive Up-date

As the lead association in the UK for the PPE Directive [PPED], the BSIF is now seeking comments from industry regarding the new PPED. All new or revised EU Directives are required to undergo a cost compliance review to evaluate the costs to government and industry of implementing the new legislation and the potential costs associated with nonimplementation.

From an industry perspective this is an ideal time for comments to be submitted. This process has now commenced and it is expected that the final report will be available in February next year, which should open the door to developing the final draft of the new PPED. Taking account of transition periods, the expectation is that the new PPED will be in place sometime during 2014 as originally scheduled.

The main adjustments being proposed at present are the dating of EU Type Examination Certificates to provide them with a five year life [at present that are valid indefinitely], the shifting of head protection and hearing protection into Category III [making them subject to quality assurance inspections] and passing to the EU Commission [rather than CEN] the judgements required when harmonising standards [which provides a "presumption of conformity"]. This latter should speed up the implementation of new standards but they will likely take just as long to draft and publish.