Differences between personal protective equipment and work clothing
What is the difference between personal protective equipment and work clothing? Is there any difference between personal protective equipment and work clothing?
The answer is, Yes, there is.
The personal protective equipment, which protects the health and physical integrity of employees against physical, chemical, and biological hazards in the workplace. They have protective capabilities defined by standards and norms.
A work clothes protects the employee's own clothing from increased seasonal wear and tear and contamination resulting from the activity, or replaces it.
The following are not considered personal protective equipment:
- ordinary work clothes and uniforms or formal wear that are not designed or tested to protect the safety and health of the employee;
- equipment used by ambulance services for rescue and patient transport;
- protective equipment worn or used by the Hungarian Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies, and the Parliamentary Guard (e.g., body shields, helmets, bulletproof vests);
- protective devices and equipment used in road transport (e.g., helmets, body protectors, seat belts);
- sports equipment and sports gear (e.g., running shoes, sports shoes);
- equipment and devices used for self-defense or deterrence ( pepper spray, batons, firearms);
- portable devices for detecting and signaling hazards and dangers (methane gas detector, CO detector).
The table below shows the difference between protective clothing and workwear. fundamental differences summarizes:
| protective clothing(personal protective equipment) | work clothes | |
| What is its purpose? | Provides protection for employees against certain workplace hazards and dangers. | Its protective function is not its main feature; it protects the employee's own clothing from wear and tear and dirt. |
| Is it mandatory to provide insurance? | Yes, if the protection of the employee cannot be achieved by other means (preventive technical or organizational measures). Its provision is required by law. The employer is required to specify this in writing. The need for personal protective equipment and its level of protection must be determined by a risk assessment. The preparation of a risk assessment is considered a health and safety activity.[Act 54; Act 56; 65/1999 (XII. 22.)Section 5 of the Ministry of Health Decree] | It is not mandatory; it is usually provided for in internal regulations or collective agreements. |
| Conformity assessmentobligated? | Yes, depending on the category, you must have the appropriate conformity assessment documents, such as: – EC declaration of conformity or EU declaration of conformity, CE marking – EC type certificate or EU type examination certificate – information sheet, etc.[Section 18(4); 2016/425/EUArticles 18-19 of the Regulation] | Not subject to conformity assessment. |
| Who has to pay andwhose propertyDoes it constitute? | The employer is obliged to provide personal protective equipment to the employee free of charge, but it remains the property of the employer.[Section 2(2) of the Act; 65/1999. (XII.22.) Section 4(5) of the Ministry of Health Decree] | Allowances are usually paid in accordance with internal regulations and collective agreements. Cost sharing is also possible and may be transferred to the employee's ownership. |
| When shouldensure? | If there's a risk, the employer has to make sure it's covered right away (even during probation).[Section 42(b); 65/1999 (XII. 22.)Section 3(1) of the Ministry of Health Decree] | It is usually granted in accordance with internal regulations and collective agreements. It may also be granted during probationary periods. |
| Is it mandatory to wear it? | Intended use, mandatory wearing.[Section 42(b); 65/1999 (XII. 22.)Section 8(1) of the Ministry of Health Decree] | Details regarding its wearing and use are generally laid down in internal regulations and collective agreements. |
| What happens if thedespite regulationsdo they wear? | Its use and wearing must be checked, and failure to wear it is punishable.[Section 2(2); Section 82(2)paragraph e); Section 82/D(1)(a)point] | Details regarding its wearing and use are generally laid down in internal regulations and collective agreements. |
| Can you refuse to work? | In connection with its use or wearing, work may be refused or prohibited, e.g. if the protective clothing cannot fulfill its protective function.[Section 60(1)(b) and Section 63 of the Act](1)-(2) paragraphs] | Details regarding its wearing and use are generally laid down in internal regulations and collective agreements. |
| Required for wearingparticipate in a medical examinationbuy? | Its use may be related to medical examinations, job requirements, personal suitability, or personal hygiene suitability.[65/1999 (XII. 22.) EüM Decree, Section 4Paragraph (3); 65/1999. (XII. 22.) EüMRegulation 5(2)(d)] | No medical examination is required for use. |
| Required for wearingparticipate in education? | Its use requires training and practice.[65/1999 (XII. 22.) EüM Decree, Section 4(6) | No training is required to use it. |
| How long can it be worn? | Can be used to lose defensive capabilities (no carry time).[65/1999 (XII. 22.) EüM Decree, Section 4(4)-(5) | There is a wear-out period, which is usually stipulated in internal regulations or collective agreements. After the wear-out period, the work clothes become the property of the employee. |
| Who should take care of theWashing, cleaning? | The employer is responsible for washing, cleaning, maintenance, and storage.[65/1999 (XII. 22.) EüM Decree, Section 4(5) | Details regarding washing and cleaning are usually specified in internal regulations and collective agreements. |
| Can it be taken away from work? | It cannot be taken away from the workplace without special permission. The employer may grant permission if the place of work changes and it is not possible to provide protective clothing in any other way, and if this does not conflict with public health regulations.[65/1999 (XII. 22.) EüM Decree, Section 8(2) | The details are usually laid down in internal regulations and collective agreements. |
| The worn-outclothing dangerousIs it considered waste? | Depending on its protective properties and level of contamination, it may be classified as hazardous waste.[65/1999 (XII. 22.) EüM Decree, Section 7] | If specified by separate legislation, it may be classified as hazardous waste. |
| Periodically, it is necessary toexamine? | Depending on the protective capacity (in the case of category 3), periodic inspection may be mandatory. Detailed information on this is provided in the personal protective equipment information sheet. | Its use is generally not subject to any review. |
Requirements for selecting and providing personal protective equipment
The employer has a legal obligation to set out the rules for providing personal protective equipment in writing. The rules must be based on the applicable legislation and standards in force.. On this Performing this task is considered a specialized occupational safety and health activity.
In order to prevent hazards and reduce their harmful effects in dangerous work processes and technologies, the personal protective equipment that provides protection against hazards must be specified, those employees must be provided for, employees for their intended use must be taught and personal protective equipment proper use must be required.
A The employer is obliged to ensure that protective equipment is fit for purpose, protective, in a satisfactory state of hygiene, and that it is cleaned, maintained, repaired and replaced as necessary.
The employee is obliged to use personal protective equipment in accordance with its intended purpose. use and what can be expected from him take care of cleaning.
Official inspections
The inspection by the occupational safety authority covers the rules for the provision of personal protective equipment, the use of personal protective equipment by employees, the suitability of personal protective equipment, and its protective capabilities. Violations of the rules relating to personal protective equipment may result in occupational safety fines.
Source: http://www.ommf.gov.hu
