Safety standards which is the most suitable for your workwear?

In France and Europe, workwear (considered as personal protective equipment � ??PPE) are governed by laws and regulations. Many professions evolve in risky environments (thermal danger, heat, static electricity, aluminum splashes) which is why the standards ensure that the employee has professional clothing that complies with the regulations in force and is suitable for fight against the possible risks of his profession.

What safety standards for work clothes?

The EN 340 standard intervenes at the European level on the regulation of protective equipment. It is general in nature, i.e. it is the reference standard to which other more specific standards refer.

The EN 340 standard assesses for example:

• Ergonomics
• Behavior in the face of wear
• The interview
• Information presented to the user
• Sizes and dimensions

European regulations for protective clothing (PPE):

Protective equipment is designed to meet specific requirements related to its use.
Depending on its context, more specific standards assess the essential criteria of clothing.

The EN 471 standard: high visibility

The EN 471 standard certifies that clothing has reflective, fluorescent or reflective tape properties. This equipment makes it possible to warn of the presence of an individual, when visibility is poor. This is referred to as high-visibility clothing or signalling clothing. EN 471 standard clothing is divided into 3 classes, determined by the surface of fluorescent and retro-reflective material.

• Discover our range of high visibility clothing

The EN 342 standard:

The EN 342 standard specifies the degrees of resistance against cold. Garments meeting this standard are designed to be worn when working outdoors or in cold rooms at temperatures below -5�C. EN 342 standard clothing is classified by 2 criteria: air permeability and resistance to evaporation (breathability).

• Discover our range of clothing against the cold

The EN 343 standard:

The EN 343 standard governs clothing for protection against bad weather. Equipment that meets this standard has characteristics of impermeability to wind and rain. They are therefore designed to insulate you from the weather outdoors, but only at temperatures above -5�C.

• Discover our range of rain clothing

On Oxwork.com, also discover our standardized work gloves:

The family of work gloves is special since there are a large number of different standards for the protection of your hands. Here are the main ones:

• The EN 407 standard: heat-resistant work gloves
• The EN 511 standard: anti-cold work gloves
• The EN 388 standard: anti-cut work gloves
• The EN 374 standard: protective gloves against chemicals

To discover our entire range of work gloves.

In general, it is best to refer to the laws and regulations that specifically govern your job. In some sectors, it is the company that has the legal obligation to provide appropriate and standardized equipment to its employees.

To learn more about standards see our standards guide

If you are looking for a particular product, or if you have any doubts about a standard for one of our products, do not hesitate to contact one of our advisers!