EU adds hairdresser gloves and a new rainwear standard
Hairdressers finally get their own glove standard, EN ISO 24232 replaces EN 343 for rainwear – and why this matters more than it sounds.
The Briefing
Every Monday: what changed in PPE standards, regulation and products around the world – in plain English, with the source linked, for the people who buy PPE.
No. 1 · Week of 27 October
8 stories
Powered respirators: one more year for the 1998 standards
Not enough test labs can run the new SF6 leakage test, so the EU has moved the deadline by a year.
If you missed it in June: new helmet and glove baselines
The industrial helmet standard now has two types – and Type 2 comes with a mandatory chin strap and side-impact testing.
Reminder: EN 166 is on its way out
New safety eyewear is certified to EN ISO 16321 – heavier impact tests, new head forms and new markings. What it means for the stock you already have.
New US hard hat standard: what the “+” means
The first revision since 2014 adds optional chin-strap and side-impact tests – the same direction Europe took with EN 397:2025.
Washington State: “PPE must fit” proposed for construction
Comments close on 23 November. "One size fits all" is running out of road in US construction.
OSHA still deciding on respirator medical evaluations
Dropping medical checks for N95 users is still only a proposal – nothing has changed yet.
Ergodyne ProFlex gloves with back-of-hand impact protection
Rated ANSI A6 cut – which is not the same as an EN 388 rating. How to compare US and European glove markings.
The PPEQuest Briefing summarises public sources in our own words. Always check the original source and your risk assessment before making a decision. Seen something we missed? Write to hello@ppequest.com.