What Is 89/686/EEC?
89/686/EEC is the reference number of a European directive concerning personal protective equipment (PPE). Adopted in 1989, Council Directive 89/686/EEC set out requirements for the design, manufacture and placing on the market of PPE intended to protect people from health and safety risks.
The directive is now a historical reference rather than the main EU legislation governing PPE. It was replaced by Regulation (EU) 2016/425, which has applied since 21 April 2018.
What counted as personal protective equipment?
Under the directive, PPE generally meant equipment designed to be worn or held by a person to protect them against one or more risks to their health or safety. Examples included safety helmets, protective gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, safety footwear and respiratory equipment.
The rules also covered certain interchangeable components and systems placed on the market with PPE. They did not apply to every product that might offer some protection: the directive included exclusions, such as equipment designed for use by the armed forces or for certain sporting activities.
How did the directive classify PPE?
Directive 89/686/EEC grouped PPE into three categories according to the seriousness of the risks it was intended to address:
- Category I: PPE protecting against minimal risks, where the user could identify the danger in time. Examples included superficial mechanical injury and contact with mild cleaning materials.
- Category II: PPE covering risks that did not fall into Category I or Category III. Many common forms of workplace PPE were included in this category.
- Category III: PPE protecting against risks that could cause death or irreversible harm, such as exposure to dangerous substances, extreme temperatures or falls from a height.
The category affected the conformity assessment procedures that manufacturers had to follow before placing PPE on the market. The more serious the risk, the more rigorous the required assessment and ongoing production controls.
CE marking and conformity assessment
The directive established a framework for assessing whether PPE met essential health and safety requirements. Depending on the product category, this could involve technical documentation, testing by a notified body and checks on production quality. Compliant products could bear the CE marking, accompanied by the relevant documentation and user information.
CE marking was not, by itself, a general guarantee that a product was suitable for every task. Employers and users still needed to select PPE appropriate to the hazards, ensure it fitted correctly, and maintain and use it in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
What replaced 89/686/EEC?
Regulation (EU) 2016/425 replaced Directive 89/686/EEC from 21 April 2018. The regulation introduced a directly applicable EU framework and updated some definitions, responsibilities and conformity assessment requirements. It retained the broad three-category approach to PPE risks, while setting out more detailed rules for manufacturers, importers and distributors.
Products already placed on the market under the directive could be subject to transitional provisions. The applicable requirements therefore depend on when and where a product was placed on the market, as well as its intended use.
Does 89/686/EEC still apply in the UK?
For current UK requirements, it is important to distinguish the old directive from the rules that apply today. Great Britain and Northern Ireland have different arrangements for product regulation, and requirements can change. Depending on the market and circumstances, manufacturers may need to consider CE marking, UKCA marking, or rules specific to Northern Ireland.
Businesses placing PPE on the UK market should check current official guidance and the relevant legislation for their product and location. A reference to “89/686/EEC” on older documentation may identify the regulatory framework under which a product was originally assessed; it does not, on its own, establish that the product meets current requirements.
In summary
89/686/EEC was the European directive that established an earlier framework for the safety and conformity assessment of personal protective equipment. It was replaced in the EU by Regulation (EU) 2016/425, and current UK obligations should be checked separately. For manufacturers, suppliers and employers, the key practical steps remain to identify the risks, choose suitable PPE and verify the requirements that apply in the relevant market.
89/686/EEC: Five Key Tips on PPE Compliance and Current UK Requirements
- 89/686/EEC was the former EU Personal Protective Equipment Directive.
- It was replaced by Regulation (EU) 2016/425 from 21 April 2018.
- Check current UK rules before placing PPE on the market.
- Confirm the PPE’s risk category and required conformity assessment.
- Keep the declaration of conformity and user instructions with the product.
89/686/EEC was the former EU Personal Protective Equipment Directive.
89/686/EEC was the former EU Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Directive, setting out requirements for the design, manufacture and sale of protective equipment intended to safeguard people from health and safety risks. It has since been replaced by Regulation (EU) 2016/425, so it is now mainly relevant when interpreting older product documentation or certificates.
It was replaced by Regulation (EU) 2016/425 from 21 April 2018.
Directive 89/686/EEC was replaced by Regulation (EU) 2016/425 from 21 April 2018. The regulation updated the rules for personal protective equipment (PPE), including requirements for manufacturers and other businesses placing PPE on the market. As a result, 89/686/EEC is now a historical reference; anyone checking current compliance should consult the legislation and guidance that apply to the relevant market.
Check current UK rules before placing PPE on the market.
Before placing personal protective equipment (PPE) on the UK market, check the current rules for the part of the UK where it will be sold. Directive 89/686/EEC has been superseded, and requirements may differ between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including which conformity markings and assessment procedures apply. Consult up-to-date official guidance and make sure the product meets the relevant requirements before offering it for sale.
Confirm the PPE’s risk category and required conformity assessment.
Before relying on PPE marked under 89/686/EEC, check its risk category and the conformity assessment required for that category. The directive divided PPE into three categories, from equipment protecting against minimal risks (Category I) to equipment designed for risks that could cause death or irreversible harm (Category III); the assessment and level of oversight differed accordingly. Review the product’s documentation and intended use, and confirm which current rules apply in the relevant market, as 89/686/EEC has been replaced by newer legislation.
Keep the declaration of conformity and user instructions with the product.
Keep the declaration of conformity and user instructions with the product so users and inspectors can readily check what protection it provides, how it should be fitted and maintained, and which standards it meets. For PPE originally assessed under Directive 89/686/EEC, retain its accompanying documents and check that they remain appropriate for the product and the market where it is being supplied; current requirements may differ.