A number of EU directives on health and safety provisions specifically deal with the use of protective equipment aimed at reducing employee exposure to hazards. These include:

• Council Directive 89/655/EEC concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work (as amended by Council Directive 95/63/EC)
• Council Directive 89/656/EEC of 30 November 1989 on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace;
• Council Directive 90/269/EEC of 29 May 1990 on the minimum health and safety requirements for the manual handling of loads where there is a risk particularly of back injury to workers.
• Council Directive 90/270/EEC of 29 May 1990 on the minimum safety and health requirements for work with display screen equipment.

See also: dangerous substances; dangerous workplaces; health and safety; occupational accidents and diseases; risk assessment.