Open HSME menu
Subscribe Login

Home / Articles and Press Releases / Press Release / Staying Covid-Safe

CATEGORIES

  • Latest Issue
  • Above The Neck Protection
  • Chemical Protection
  • Confined Space
  • Construction
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Energy, Oil, and Mining Industries
  • Eye Protection
  • Fall Protection
  • Gas Detection
  • Hand Protection
  • Hazardous and Explosive Atmospheres
  • Health and Safety Awareness
  • Hearing Protection
  • Heat
  • Lighting and ATEX
  • Noise Monitoring
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Safety Footwear
  • Safety Technology
  • Safety Training
  • Slips, Trips, and Falls
  • Wellbeing at work
  • Working at Height
  • Working rights

MORE

  • Press Release
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Magazines

COMPANY

  • About
  • Advertising
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Open HSME menu
Subscribe

Home / Articles and Press Releases / Press Release / Staying Covid-Safe

CATEGORIES

  • Latest Issue
  • Above The Neck Protection
  • Chemical Protection
  • Confined Space
  • Construction
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Energy, Oil, and Mining Industries
  • Eye Protection
  • Fall Protection
  • Gas Detection
  • Hand Protection
  • Hazardous and Explosive Atmospheres
  • Health and Safety Awareness
  • Hearing Protection
  • Heat
  • Lighting and ATEX
  • Noise Monitoring
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Safety Footwear
  • Safety Technology
  • Safety Training
  • Slips, Trips, and Falls
  • Wellbeing at work
  • Working at Height
  • Working rights

MORE

  • Press Release
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Magazines

COMPANY

  • About
  • Advertising
  • Newsletter
  • Contact

CATEGORIES

  • Safety Signage
  • Heat and Flame
  • Article
  • Press Release
  • Air Pollution
  • Above The Neck Protection
  • Chemical Protection
  • Confined Space
  • Construction
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Energy, Oil, and Mining Industries
  • Eye Protection
  • Fall Protection
  • Gas Detection
  • Hand Protection
  • Hazardous and Explosive Atmospheres
  • Health and Safety Awareness
  • Hearing Protection
  • Heat
  • Lighting and ATEX
  • Noise Monitoring
  • Offshore Platform Safety
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Regulations & Legislations
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Safety Footwear
  • Safety Technology
  • Safety Training
  • Slips, Trips, and Falls
  • Wellbeing at work
  • Working at Height
  • Working rights

Press Release

Staying Covid-Safe

By Nathan Shipley

| Read Bio

Published: January 19th, 2021

Share this article

Nathan Shipley PPE Group Certification Manager at BSI explores the role of PPE and face coverings in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings have been a hot topic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only with frontline healthcare specialists, but also with professionals in the testing industry who have been working tirelessly to enable certified PPE to be placed on the market.

What is PPE and how does it help?

PPE is anything that is worn or held by a person to protect them from injury or infection and encompasses hundreds of products that stretch from head to toe, from protective clothing, helmets, hearing and respiratory protection to body armour and boots.

However, in the context of COVID-19, PPE relates to items that many key workers, like NHS staff, are wearing to help stop the spread of COVID-19. These items include:

  • Face masks
  • Medical gloves
  • Protective clothing
  • Eye protection

To keep people safe and to reduce health risks, PPE has to comply with all the requirements of the PPE Regulation and carry the CE marking to be sold legally in the EU.

PPE Regulation

To ensure PPE is fully compliant, products have to be certified to the requirements of the Regulation. This can be done through testing the product to a published harmonised standard or to a technical specification that meets the health and safety requirements of the regulation.#

Harmonised standards are listed in the Official Journal which is held on the European Commission website and is a ‘live document’ therefore updated on a regular basis.

A harmonised standard is a European standard developed by a recognised European Standards Organization: CEN, CENELEC or ETSI, created following a request from the European Commission. Non-harmonised standards comply with directives, but nonharmonised standards do not automatically comply with the essential requirements of the directives.

CE marking

Specifiers and purchasers of PPE can derive a measure of reassurance about the quality and safety of products from the presence of the ‘CE’ marking.

When it comes to distributing PPE in the European Union (EU), all products that fall under the European Regulation must carry the CE marking. This is a legal requirement and means that manufacturers are allowed to do business in all 28 EU member states. For instance, once a CE approval has been issued in the UK the product can be sold across Europe – from Portugal right through to Greece.

If a product bears the CE marking, it has been assessed against the essential safety performance criteria as specified in the EU Regulation. This mark also acts as the manufacturer’s confirmation that the product adheres to the specific requirements of all the Directives that apply to it and that it can be sold legally in the EU.

Previously the PPE Directive focused only on manufacturers placing products onto the market, but the PPE Regulation means the whole supply chain is involved. This means importers, distributors or anyone involved in the supply and distribution chain should take appropriate measures to ensure that PPE meets standard requirements and that they make available on the market only products which comply with the Regulation, and keep relevant documents for at least 10 years.

The European Commission guidance

On 13 March 2020 the European Commission issued recommendation 2020/403 to increase the amount of PPE that could be used by healthcare professionals in the fight against COVID-19. The European Commission encouraged Notified Bodies to process applications for CE marking swiftly and to consider non-harmonised standards for certification to enable more product be placed on the market in the EU more quickly.

The European Commission’s published recommendation also covered conformity assessment and market surveillance procedures for PPE. This includes face masks, gloves, protective coveralls and eyewear protection.

“the European Commission encouraged Notified Bodies to process applications for CE marking swiftly to enable more product be placed on the market”

Conformity assessments and market surveillance

To ensure compliant products can be placed on the market as quickly as possible, BSI is also supporting manufacturers with conformity assessments and market surveillance procedures within the context of COVID-19 with experts available to discuss the options for clients and other manufacturers.

Fake certificates

During the COVID-19 pandemic, BSI was notified that a number of manufacturers were selling medical face masks – and other PPE for healthcare applications – claiming conformity by using false certificates.

We recommend that prior to purchasing any form of safety equipment supported by a certificate appearing to be issued by BSI, you verify to ensure that such certificate is genuine. BSI can only advise on false certificates that appear to have been issued by the organisation, but potentially other certification/notified bodies and approved test houses may also be affected.

Purchasers of any form of safety equipment supported by a certificate that appears to be issued by BSI should verify that the document is genuine using the certificate or license number and the Verifeye database on BSI’s website prior to purchase.

BSI has notified the relevant regulators and law enforcement agencies about the false certificates that have been brought to its attention.

A global perspective

Different regions throughout the world have their own local certification processes for PPE. For example, the
UAE has ESMA certification which BSI is a certification body for, with Australasia, the USA and Canada all having their own product specifications and regulatory needs. Therefore, a potential exporter should be aware of any local requirements before shipping PPE to that region.

The UAE’s ESMA is very similar to the PPE Regulation in that it splits PPE into three different categories: Category I, II and III. There are two different certification modules to choose from, which are as follows:

  • EQM involving a factory assessment and report review and is valid for three years
    “as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we may see the development of standards specifically for PPE for healthcare workers as well as the general public”
  • ECAS which involves a report review and is valid for one year Benchmark certification is a BSI PPE certification scheme managed out of our Australian office and covers market access into Australasia. As with ESMA, a lot of the factory assessment activities can be run with CE and ESMA audits.

Most regions have their own standards for products, but as we are seeing a wider growth of ISO specifications, these are becoming more commonly adopted for European specifications.

“as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we may see the development of standards specifically for PPE for healthcare workers as well as the general public”

Looking ahead

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we may see the development of standards specifically for PPE for healthcare workers as well as the general public.
In France and Germany there are standards being produced for barrier type masks for people to wear in public, so it may not be too long before these are standardised across several countries.

In the continual fight against the COVID19 pandemic, we are currently using standards that are designed to protect against different risks and hazards associated with different industries and applying them to healthcare situations. As the need for PPE amongst healthcare workers continues to take prominence, we will be seeing this as a factor in standards writing in the future.

One thing that has become apparent is that governments are looking to produce PPE domestically to be less reliant on imports which in some cases have been shown to be vulnerable to both quality and sustainability. Therefore, we might see more domestic manufacturing and perhaps more non-PPE manufactures making PPE as part of their portfolio as is the case with fashion designers including Burberry and Barbour.
BSI hosted a webinar to provide information to organisations wishing to support the efforts in placing more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on the market. The webinar is now available to watch – visit the BSI website for further information.

Face coverings

Another big topic during the COVID-19 pandemic has been face coverings, as they increasingly become part of our everyday lives. This is because wearing a face covering may reduce the spread of coronavirus droplets in enclosed public spaces (shops, supermarkets, shopping centres etc), helping to protect others.
“the performance and design of facemarks may differ significantly, which is why BSI recently launched a Kitemark™ for Face Coverings”

The wearing of face coverings is currently at its highest level since the new rules were enforced in the UK. In fact, a survey by the Office for National Statistics has revealed that almost all adults (96%) who had left their homes the week of 7 August 2020 said they had worn a face covering to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) – an increase from 84% the previous week and 71% the week before that.

Face coverings differ to PPE because they are not assessed to the same regulatory requirements as PPE or Medical Device requirements. Therefore, face coverings are not considered PPE because they are intended to protect those in close proximity to the wearer, not the wearer themselves.

Whilst a vast number of face coverings are already available on the market, their performance and design may differ significantly, which is why BSI recently launched a Kitemark™ for Face Coverings to boost consumer confidence.

The new Kitemark assesses face coverings to a technical specification that requires 70% particle filtration and breathability tests to ensure consumer comfort whilst reducing the risk of spreading infection. On top of breathability and filtering, the new Kitemark provides independent approval of the quality of the fitting, and the instructions provided to the wearer to minimise the chances of transmission.

Specifically, it tests that products meet a minimum requirement in terms of:

  • A basic level of protection against the transmission of infected droplets
  • The manufacture, design and performance of the covering Other criteria that are assessed include whether:
  • The head harness is designed to be put on or taken off easily
  • It achieves 70% particle filtration when tested using the sodium chloride test method
  • The wearer can breathe through the material to a certain resistance level
  • It can be adjusted to fit different head shapes and sizes
  • It has clear instructions for use/fitting
  • Can withstand a minimum of five washing cycles (if a client’s product isn’t single use)

There is an overwhelming choice of face coverings available in the market. The challenge is knowing which claims they make are valid and whether they provide a basic level of protection to others. Face coverings that are independently assessed to schemes such as the Kitemark will allow consumers to make an informed decision and choose products they can trust.

“the performance and design of facemarks may differ significantly, which is why BSI recently launched a Kitemark™ for Face Coverings”

As we continue to pull together as a country to combat the impact of COVID-19, it is important that we all take appropriate measures to protect one another. Whilst a face covering can never provide the same level of personal protection as a PPE or medical grade face mask, it is neither necessary nor appropriate for such products to be diverted to general consumer use. Providing consumers with confidence that their face covering provides some level of protection for those around them will help reduce the spread of the virus whilst we emerge from lockdown.

Share this article

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nathan Shipley

Author
Nathan Shipley is PPE Group Certification Manager at BSI. He is an experienced Certification Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the information services industry. Skilled in CE marking, Quality Management, Quality Assurance, ISO 9000, and Root Cause Analysis. Strong operations professional with a BSc (Hons) focused in Manufacturing Systems & Business from University of Hertfordshire.

About BSI
BSI enables people and organisations to perform better. We share knowledge, innovation and best practice to make excellence a habit – all over the world, every day.
Our purpose is to inspire trust for a more resilient world. Our solutions and services improve performance and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. At BSI, our mission is to share knowledge, innovation and best practice to help people and organisations make excellence a habit. This is underpinned by our role as the national standards body and through our prestigious Royal Charter.
For more than a century we have been challenging mediocrity and complacency to help embed excellence into the way people and products work. That means showing businesses how to improve performance, reduce risk and achieve sustainable growth. As a global leader in helping organisations improve, our clients range from high profile brands to small, local companies in 193 countries worldwide.
BSI is the business improvement company that enables organisations to turn standards of best practice into habits of excellence. For over a century BSI has championed what good looks like and driven best practice in organisations around the world. Working with 84,000 clients across 195 countries, it is a truly international business with skills and experience across a number of sectors including aerospace, automotive, built environment, food, and healthcare. Through its expertise in Standards Development and Knowledge Solutions, Assurance, Regulatory Services and Consulting Services, BSI improves business performance to help clients grow sustainably, manage risk and ultimately be more resilient and trusted.
To learn more, please visit: www.bsigroup.com

POPULAR POSTS BY Nathan Shipley

Press Release

Staying Covid-Safe

Get email updates

Sign up for the HSME newsletter

Keep up-to-date through the power of email with the region's only industrial health and safety magazine - delivering the latest news and products to satisfy all your occupational safety needs.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

FEATURED ARTICLES

Advertisement

SOCIAL MEDIA

HSME on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/HSMEMagazine/

Advertisement

SOCIAL MEDIA

HSME on Twitter

hsmemagazine HSME Magazine @hsmemagazine ·
1 Feb

isafe MOBILE announces the immediate availability of the world’s first 5G smartphone for ATEX and IECEx zone 1/21.

The IS540.1 is available immediately, find out more today: https://www.hsmemagazine.com/press-release/is540-1-available-now/

#hsmemagazine #isafeMOBILE #ATEX #IECEx

Reply on Twitter 1620747838971088898 Retweet on Twitter 1620747838971088898 Like on Twitter 1620747838971088898 2 Twitter 1620747838971088898

Advertisement

SUBSCRIBE

Stay up to date with our newsletter

Keep up-to-date through the power of email with the region’s only industrial health and safety magazine – delivering the latest news and products to satisfy all your occupational safety needs.

 

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Subscribe

SUBSCRIBE TO HSME MAGAZINE

5 reasons to subscribe to our digital and print package

  • Stay up to date from anywhere in the world, with instant access to the latest issue straight from your phone, tablet or laptop.
  • Trust that you’re getting the best content from our range of internationally accredited authors.
  • Get full access to our archives and see how occupational safety has evolved with us over the years.
  • Enjoy our monthly newsletter curated with up-to-the-minute news and a selection of editor’s top picks.
  • Hot off the press and straight to your door – look forward to your own glossy copy of HSME, delivered five times a year
Subscribe View Subscription levels

STAY SAFE & INFORMED

Subscribe to the best health & safety articles, news, products and regulations

Find out more

Stay up to date with our newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

ABOUT

  • About HSME
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

YOUR ACCOUNT

Sign In Register Account Subscribe to HSME

RESOURCES

Request Media Pack

CONNECT

ACCREDITATIONS

Copyright Bay Publishing 2023. All Rights reserved.

Designed & Built by:
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT