The Personal Protective Equipment Directives (89/686/CEE) and (93/68/CEE) have been enacted by the European Community to ensure harmonisation of regulations regarding testing of all PPE sold within the community. All gloves of intermediate and complex design must now be tested independently to ascertain their performance and ensure their safety. They must, if they meet these standards, carry a CE Mark on the gloves or their packaging when it is not practical.
CE Category I
Minimal risk. Category
1 gloves are suitable for minimal risk environment such as temperature below
50C, gardening and other light works.
CE Category II
Intermediate risk. Category 2 protective gloves are designed and tested for reversible risks such as mechanical risks and chemical risks. All products are must be validated and type certified by an approved body to conduct relevant standard tests.
CE Category III
Serious risk.
Category 3 gloves are designed for, tested, and checked for irreversible risks
such as toxic and corrosive chemical handling. All products are also must be
validated and certified by an approved body. This category includes chemical
gloves and heat protection gloves.
