UNDERSTANDING 'STANDARD'
December 1st 2007 Continuing our theme of attempting clarification of expressions regularly used that mean a variety of different things to different people, the BSIF is concentrating this month on the word ‘standard’.
How often do we hear self-styled safety specialists use the expression ‘you have got to do this or that in the workplace because the PPE standard requires it’, and how often, in such circumstances, do we get the reaction that the uninformed end-user contacts the supplier and repeats the expression. The solution appears to be complicated but is really very simple.
A standard is usually, by definition, voluntary. All it seeks to do is specify in as precise terms as possible (to avoid ambiguity) the technical requirements of a product, the protocols embodied within a code of practice or a summary of the requirement for a qualification, etc. It is very rare for a regulation to be termed a ‘standard’.
In PPE, the standard refers to the technicalspecification of the product, it does not (and cannot) refer to the PPE that ‘must be used’ (that is up to the organisation carrying out the risk assessment) and there is nothing to say that any item of PPE, which clearly does not comply to a Harmonised EN (standard), may not be traded, deployed or used, provided that it carries a genuine CE Mark.
So, if anyone uses the expression ‘you must do xyz because the PPE standard requires it’ we would suggest that you politely ask them to provide you with the relevant text within the PPE standard to which they are referring. More articles from British Safety Industry Federation: | 
