Standards news

The BSIF was pleased to learn that the EU Commission has published a mandate for CEN to develop a new standard to replace EN 353-1 [fall arrest products] which had its presumption of conformity withdrawn on safety grounds. The BSIF emphasises that many 353-1 products available in the market are safe and perform adequately.

• The recent decisions made in France have limited the availability of "comfortable" chemical protective clothing because the supply side has modified or withdrawn products made of micro-porous materials.

Whilst the EU commission declined the application by France for these product standards to be withdrawn, the matter has lead to uninformed speculation regarding the safety of these products. As far as the BSIF knows, there have been no accidents or injuries caused by these products.

When purchasing any PPE, it will always make sense for purchasers to check with their suppliers that products will perform in the situations where they are likely to be deployed.