Personal Protective Equipment is defined as “any device or means designed to be worn or carried by a person to protect them against one or more risks to their health or their security”.

This very wide definition encompasses protective equipment used for work and for sport and leisure.

The regulations define three categories of PPE according to the gravity of the risks they are designed to protect the user from:

Category 1 - “Minor” risks – small mechanical shocks, sunlight...

Category 2 - “Intermediate” risks - These include, for example, sports helmets, crampons, protective vests...

Category 3 - “Grave or mortal” risks – Equipment such as breathing apparatus, and protection against falls from a height : ropes, harness, karabiners...