What the ordinance requires
If an employee wears several items of PPE at the same time, the employer must match them so that the protection each one gives is not impaired. That is section 2(3) of the German PPE Use Ordinance. Source: PSA-BV section 2 (German). Matching therefore belongs to the risk assessment, not just to purchasing.
Questions to ask when matching
| Combination | Questions to clarify |
|---|---|
| Gloves and hearing protection | Do the glove or cuff get in the way when putting on and taking off earmuffs or inserting earplugs? Is hand dexterity sufficient for that? Can earplugs be inserted with clean hands? |
| Gloves and respiratory protection | Can the mask be put on and checked safely while wearing the glove? Does the glove soil the mask when touched? Do employees change gloves before changing the mask? |
| Gloves and protective clothing | Does the cuff meet the sleeve, or is there a gap? Can liquid run down the sleeve into the glove? |
| Gloves and safety glasses | Does the hand stay mobile enough to put the glasses on safely? Soiled gloves should not touch the face. |
Gloves and hygiene when changing
Anyone inserting earplugs or putting on a mask touches the face and ear. Soiled or chemical-wetted gloves do not belong there. Thin disposable gloves such as HI561 and HI561S can be changed quickly, but are meant for single use only. The glove finder shows which gloves suit which task.
Hearing and respiratory protection from DS SafetyWear
Hi5 belongs to the brand family of DS SafetyWear Arbeitsschutzprodukte GmbH. The other areas of protection have brands of their own:
- Hearing protection: EarProtect with the DS SafetyWear hearing protection range (earprotect.eu).
- Respiratory protection: AirGuard Pro with the DS SafetyWear respiratory protection range (airguardpro.eu).
- Full range: DS SafetyWear B2B shop.
You can get samples of and advice on gloves through the enquiry form. The best way to check that a combination works is to try samples at the workplace.
This article offers guidance and is not legal advice. Which PPE is required at your workplace follows from the risk assessment.
