3.9. Radiation protection

PPE designed to prevent acute or chronic eye damage from sources of non-ionising radiation must be capable of absorbing or reflecting the majority of the energy radiated in the harmful wavelengths without unduly affecting the transmission of the innocuous part of the visible spectrum, the perception of contrasts and the ability to distinguish colours where required by the foreseeable conditions of use. To that end, eye protective equipment must be designed and manufactured so as to possess, for each harmful wavelength, a spectral transmission factor such that the radiant-energy illumination density capable of reaching the user's eye through the filter is minimised and under no circumstances exceeds the maximum permissible exposure value. PPE designed to protect the skin against non-ionising radiation must be capable of absorbing or reflecting the majority of the energy radiated in the harmful wavelengths. Furthermore, the glasses must not deteriorate or lose their properties as a result of the effects of radiation emitted under the foreseeable conditions of use and all marketed specimens must bear the protection-factor number corresponding to the spectral distribution curve of their transmission factor. Glasses suitable for radiation sources of the same type must be classified in the ascending order of their protection factors and the manufacturer's instructions must indicate, in particular, how to select the appropriate PPE taking into account the relevant conditions of use such as the distance from the source and the spectral distribution of the energy radiated at that distance. The relevant protection factor number must be marked on all specimens of filtering eye protective equipment by the manufacturer. PPE constituent materials and other components designed to protect all or a part of the body against radioactive dust, gases, liquids or mixtures thereof must be chosen or designed and incorporated so as to ensure that this equipment effectively prevents the penetration of the contaminants under the foreseeable conditions of use. Depending on the nature or condition of these contaminants, the necessary leak-tightness can be provided by the impermeability of the protective integument and/or by any other appropriate means, such as ventilation and pressurisation systems designed to prevent the back-scattering of these contaminants. Any decontamination measures to which PPE is subject must not prejudice its possible reuse during the foreseeable useful life of those types of equipment. PPE intended to provide complete user protection against external irradiation or, failing this, adequate attenuation thereof, must be designed to counter only weak electron (e.g. beta) or weak photon (e.g. X, gamma) radiation. The constituent materials and other components of these types of PPE must be chosen or designed and incorporated so as to provide the degree of user protection required by the foreseeable conditions of use without leading to an increase in exposure time as a result of the impedance of user gestures, posture or movement (see point 1.3.2). PPE must bear a mark indicating the type and equivalent thickness of the constituent material(s) suitable for the foreseeable conditions of use.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-01 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.