Winter offers beautiful scenery but also a higher risk of injury. Icy pavements and slippery roads increase the likelihood of falling, and when moving on frozen bodies of water, the risk of ice breaking underfoot becomes significant. Appropriate personal protective equipment helps you prepare for these situations in advance.
Anti-slip devices are designed to reduce the risk of slipping on icy and snowy surfaces. The most typical hazard is losing balance and falling. Testing focuses on factors such as grip, fit, durability and the overall safety of the product. The goal is to ensure that the device performs reliably in the intended conditions and helps prevent falls.
Ice picks are intended for emergency situations where a person has fallen through the ice. In such an event, the risks include severe injury and hypothermia. Ice picks are designed to enable quick and effective self-rescue from the water. Testing focuses on reliability, structural strength and usability in cold and stressful conditions. They are safety devices that must function dependably in rare but serious life threatening situations.
Anti-slip devices and ice picks fall under the scope of the EU Personal Protective Equipment Regulation (EU) 2016/425. This means that placing them on the market requires certification by a notified body as well as CE marking. These protective devices are designed to minimize risks associated with winter conditions and must meet the Regulation’s essential health and safety requirements. Personal protective equipment must always be suitable for its intended purpose and must protect against the specific risk it has been designed for.
A notified body assesses conformity based on the manufacturer’s technical documentation and test results. Reliable evaluation and testing ensure that products entering the market meet all requirements and that users can make safe choices for winter conditions.
Always ensure that the personal protective equipment includes:
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