Personal Protective Equipment at Work: The Last Line of Defense
Personal protective equipment is the last level in the hierarchy of controls, after elimination, substitution, engineering controls and administrative controls. The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) stresses that PPE is effective only when used correctly and consistently, and should not be relied on alone when other effective controls are available.
Current standards
| Equipment | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial safety helmets | EN 397:2025 | Replaces the 2012 edition; many products are still certified to the previous edition |
| Safety footwear | EN ISO 20345:2022 | Replaced the 2011 edition |
| High-visibility clothing | EN ISO 20471:2013+A1:2016 | The latest available edition |
Conformity in Saudi Arabia
Personal protective equipment and clothing are covered by a dedicated SASO technical regulation and need a certificate of conformity from a SASO-accepted body; a self-declaration is not enough. Medical and military equipment are excluded.
Practical steps now
- Start with a risk assessment, and use PPE to complement engineering and administrative controls, not to replace them.
- Check that each item’s certificate names the current edition of the standard and that it is registered on SABER.
- Train workers in correct use, and inspect equipment and replace damaged items regularly.
See also our ISO 45001 occupational safety guide.
Need PPE for your site? AZEIDK supplies CoverGuard personal protective equipment among our products, alongside safety solutions for industrial and commercial facilities. Contact the AZEIDK team
