New Arco Tests Reveal Several UK Distributors Are STILL Selling Substandard CE Marked Products

Two years on from raising concerns that some safety footwear with EC type approval and CE marking is not fit for purpose Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, has found further evidence of CE marked PPE products failing to meet required standards. 

New testing undertaken by Arco has highlighted that not only are several CE marked safety footwear models continuing to fail standard safety tests, but samples of leather gloves have also been found to be non-compliant, raising concerns that the issue could extend across several types of PPE. The latest findings reinforce the message that CE markings cannot currently be fully relied upon as a guarantee that PPE is fit for purpose and it is essential employers closely scrutinise their supply chains to keep workers safe.

Following Arco’s tests on non-metallic safety footwear in 2015, in which several footwear samples failed safety testing despite being CE marked, further market surveillance undertaken in March 2017 found a number of safety footwear products are continuing to fail standard safety tests [i]according to EN ISO 20345: 2011. It has also been revealed that one of the brands of footwear recently tested has failed tests on a number of previous occasions and that the manufacturer is aware of these failures.

In addition, during the 2017 tests, a random sampling of a leather glove supplied by one distributor was found to contain illegal levels of Azo dyes, these are restricted substances of very high concern under REACH, which is both carcinogenic and mutagenic[ii].

With a growing body of evidence to suggest substandard PPE is common in UK workplaces and beyond, Arco believes it is time for change and action. While discussions are taking place with Trading Standards and organisations such as the BSIF, Arco believes reputable suppliers and customers must lead the way by demanding proof that necessary standards are being met.

This is especially important given that some of the suppliers of substandard products came from distributors who market themselves as leaders in PPE, safety and quality, meaning in many cases employers are being falsely assured that the products they are buying are meeting necessary standards. Consequently, it can be extremely difficult for those buying PPE to identify true product compliance. To help employers feel confident that the PPE they are buying is fit for purpose, Arco urges they take the following three steps:

  • Ask suppliers for a declaration of conformity showing original certification for the PPE.
  • Ask suppliers to define their process for sample testing to ensure safety products continue to meet the required standards.
  • Ask suppliers to define their process of quality assurance to ensure products are being manufactured as originally certified.

For further information on Arco’s own product assurance and fully accredited testing laboratory, please visit: www.arco.co.uk/productassurance.