China SAWS Issues Administrative Provisions on Labor Protection Equipment

On Dec 29^th 2015, the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) of China issued the Administrative Provisions on Labor Protection Equipment. The new provisions will replace the former Provisions on the Supervision and Administration of Labor Protection Equipment which was repealed on Jul 1^st 2015.

The new Provisions divide labor protection equipment in to 10 categories, which are:

1. Head protection equipment protecting the head from physical, chemical and biological hazards.

2. Respiration protection equipment protection the respiratory system from air pollutants and lack of oxygen.

3. Eye and face protection equipment protecting the eye and face from physical and chemical hazards.

4. Hearing protection equipment protecting the ear from noise, water and cold.

5. Hand protection equipment protecting the hand from physical, chemical and biological hazards.

6. Foot protection equipment protecting the foot from physical and chemical hazards.

7. Body protection equipment protecting the body from physical, chemical and biological hazards.

8. Skin protection equipment protecting the skin from physical, chemical, biological hazards and other factors that causes skin diseases.

9. Protection equipment protecting the employee from falling from the height.

10. Other protection equipment protecting against other hazards.

The provisions stipulate that when there exist carcinogenic substances at work places and the concentrations of the substances exceed 50% of the occupational exposure limit (Permissible Concentration – Time Weighted Average (PC-TWA) of Maximum Allowed Concentration (MAC)), the employer should equip the employees with corresponding protection equipment. There are 14 carcinogenic substances and their concentration limits are specified: