Protective equipment is one of the few consumables where buying the wrong item has nothing to do with price or delivery. A glove that looks the same as last month’s may have been tested to a different standard, or to none. A safety shoe that fits may carry a marking from an edition that a customer’s auditor no longer accepts. And eyewear is in the middle of a change of standard in Europe, which an old purchase order may not reflect.
This guide covers how to specify gloves, safety shoes and eyewear by standard and edition, what to check on the product and its documents, and how the market where the PPE is used changes what you need. Where PPE fits in a factory’s overall consumables list is covered in MRO supply for factories in Vietnam.
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Specify by hazard, standard and edition, not by description
Each PPE line on the item list should name the hazard it protects against, the standard and edition it is tested to, and the performance levels the task needs. “Cut-resistant glove” or “steel-toe shoe” is not a specification.
A PPE line on the item list needs more fields than most consumables:
| Field | Example | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Task and hazard | Handling sheet metal edges; grinding; forklift area | Decides which standard applies |
| Standard and edition | EN 388:2016+A1:2018; ISO 20345:2021 | Editions change test methods and markings |
| Required performance levels | The level per test the risk assessment calls for | Two gloves to the same standard can differ widely |
| Size range | Glove sizes, shoe sizes | Fit is part of protection |
| Maker and model code | As printed on the product | Ties the line to one tested product |
| Documents required | Declaration of conformity, certificate, user information | What an auditor or customer will ask for |
| Market of use | Vietnam; EU; another country | Decides which legal rules apply |
The standards below are the ones most commonly written on purchase orders for these three product groups. They are not the only ones, and specialised hazards such as chemicals, heat, electrical work or welding have their own standards.
Gloves: EN 388 for mechanical risk, EN ISO 21420 for the basics
A work glove for mechanical hazards is usually specified to EN 388:2016+A1:2018, which covers abrasion, blade cut, tear, puncture and, where applicable, impact. General requirements such as sizing, marking and harmlessness come from EN ISO 21420:2020, which replaced EN 420.
EN 388:2016+A1:2018, Protective gloves against mechanical risks, sets requirements, test methods, marking and information for gloves protecting against abrasion, blade cut, tear, puncture and, if applicable, impact. Its own scope says it is used together with the general glove standard.
That general standard is now EN ISO 21420:2020, Protective gloves — General requirements and test methods. It covers design and construction, harmlessness, comfort and efficiency, and the marking and information the manufacturer must supply. It does not test protective performance, so it is never used alone. In the Swedish national catalogue it replaces the earlier EN 420, and an amendment, EN ISO 21420:2020/A1:2024, has since been published.
What this means for buying:
- Read the performance levels, not just the standard number. The EN 388 marking gives a result for each mechanical test. Your risk assessment should state which levels the task needs.
- Compare like with like. Compare gloves only when they are tested to the same edition of EN 388, and record that edition on the item list.
- Ask for the user information. The maker’s information sheet, required by the general standard, states what the glove is and is not for.
Makers whose gloves buyers commonly specify include Ansell, Showa and Honeywell, among many others. These are examples of brands buyers ask for by model code. Naming them does not imply any relationship with, or authorisation from, these makers.
Safety shoes: ISO 20345:2021 and its European adoption
General-purpose safety footwear is specified to ISO 20345:2021, adopted in Europe as EN ISO 20345:2022, which sets basic requirements plus optional ones marked on the shoe. Record the edition, because the 2021 edition changed several markings from the 2011 edition.
ISO 20345:2021, Personal protective equipment — Safety footwear, specifies basic and additional (optional) requirements for safety footwear for general purposes. It excludes high-visibility requirements and specialised hazards, which are covered by job-specific standards. It replaced ISO 20345:2011, and an amendment, ISO 20345:2021/Amd 1:2024, has been published.
In Europe the standard is adopted as EN ISO 20345:2022, which superseded EN ISO 20345:2011. Stock made to the older edition can still be in circulation. If your customer or auditor requires the current edition, say so on the purchase order.
For the item list:
- the standard and edition the shoe is certified to;
- the category and additional properties marked on the shoe, as required by the task;
- the toe cap and midsole material, where the task or a metal detector matters;
- the sole properties required for your floor, for example slip, oil or heat;
- size range and width.
Makers whose safety shoes buyers commonly specify include Uvex, Honeywell and Midori Anzen, among others. Again, these are examples only.
💬 Want PPE matched to the standard and edition your auditor asks for? We source gloves, shoes and eyewear by model code and check the marking and documents on each line. See MRO and factory consumables.
Eyewear: EN 166 is withdrawn, ISO 16321 is the replacement
For safety glasses and goggles, EN 166 is listed as withdrawn by national standards bodies such as Sweden’s SIS and replaced by EN ISO 16321-1:2022 and EN ISO 16321-3:2022. Products and certificates to EN 166 are still in the market, so check which standard your market and customer accept before you order.
ISO 16321-1:2021, Eye and face protection for occupational use — Part 1: General requirements, covers eye and face protectors against hazards such as impact from flying particles, optical radiation, dusts and splashing liquids. Welding protectors and mesh protectors have additional requirements in Parts 2 and 3. It excludes protectors such as sun-only eyewear and sports eyewear, which have their own standards.
In the Swedish national catalogue, SS-EN 166 is listed as withdrawn and replaced by SS-EN ISO 16321-1:2022 and SS-EN ISO 16321-3:2022. Eyewear marked to EN 166 is still found in stock and on older purchase orders.
Practical points:
- say on the item list which standard you require: EN 166 stock, EN ISO 16321, or either;
- for welding, specify the protector and filter by the welding part of the standard, not by the general part alone;
- for prescription safety eyewear, the standard covers corrective lenses, but sourcing them is a separate process.
Makers whose safety eyewear buyers often specify include 3M, Uvex and Honeywell, named here as examples only.
The market of use decides the legal rule
A standard says how PPE is tested; the law of the country where the PPE is used says what is required. In the EU that law is Regulation (EU) 2016/425. In Vietnam, the current list of high-risk PPE is set by a 2026 circular of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Elsewhere, confirm the current national rules before you rely on any one marking.
| Market | Legal framework | What it means for buying |
|---|---|---|
| European Union | Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment | PPE must meet the essential health and safety requirements; harmonised standards give a presumption of conformity; CE marking after the required conformity assessment |
| Vietnam | Circular 16/2026/TT-BNV of the Ministry of Home Affairs (list of medium- and high-risk products) | Safety helmets, respiratory protection, insulating gloves, safety and insulating footwear, fall protection and heat- and flame-resistant clothing are listed as high-risk, each against a national technical regulation (QCVN), with certification-based conformity declaration and state quality inspection on import |
| Other markets | National labour-safety and product-conformity rules | Confirm the current national rule and any required marking with the authority or your safety adviser |
| Customer or group standard | Your customer’s or parent company’s PPE policy | Often names standards and editions; follow it on the item list |
The European Commission describes Regulation (EU) 2016/425, adopted on 9 March 2016, as covering PPE used against risks at work, at home and in leisure. CE marking is evidence of compliance with the applicable EU legislation and may only be affixed after the prescribed conformity assessment, and only notified bodies may issue certificates for products covered by harmonised legislation. Voluntary certificates are not a recognised means of proving compliance.
The Vietnamese circular took effect on signature and repealed the earlier Circular 01/2021/TT-BLĐTBXH of the former labour ministry, so a supplier quoting that older list is out of date. General work gloves for mechanical risk and safety eyewear do not appear by name in its high-risk list; confirm any line against the list by its HS code rather than assume either way. The list and the QCVN it cites can change, so check the current text before an import.
If your factory supplies an EU customer, its audit may ask for PPE meeting EU rules even though the factory is in Vietnam. That is a customer requirement rather than Vietnamese law, and it should be written on the item list as such.
Documents and receiving checks
On receipt, check that the marking on the product matches the standard, edition and levels on the item list, and keep the declaration of conformity and user information for each model on file.
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Marking on product | Standard number, edition where shown, performance levels or categories, size, maker and model |
| Documents | Declaration of conformity or certificate as your market requires; maker’s user information |
| Consistency | Same model code and marking as the approved sample |
| Packaging | Maker’s original packaging, intact, with lot or date codes |
| Counterfeit signs | Marking that is blurred, inconsistent with the documents, or missing the maker’s name |
PPE is copied, including markings and certificates. The channel checks that apply to bearings apply here too, and are set out in avoiding counterfeit bearings and industrial parts. If you also buy workwear and uniforms, that is a sewn-product project with its own specification route, covered in workwear and uniform manufacturing in Vietnam.
💬 Need gloves, safety shoes and eyewear on one regular order, with documents on file for each model? Send us your PPE list and market of use. Contact us about factory consumables.
Frequently asked questions
1. Which standard should cut-resistant gloves be tested to?
For mechanical hazards, gloves are commonly tested to EN 388:2016+A1:2018, used together with the general glove standard EN ISO 21420:2020. Specify the performance levels your risk assessment requires, not only the standard number.
2. Is EN 420 still the general standard for gloves?
It has been replaced by EN ISO 21420:2020 in European national catalogues, and an amendment was published in 2024. Older gloves may still carry EN 420 in their documents.
3. Which safety footwear standard applies now?
ISO 20345:2021, adopted in Europe as EN ISO 20345:2022. It replaced the 2011 edition. Specify the edition on the purchase order if your auditor or customer requires it.
4. Can I still buy safety glasses marked EN 166?
EN 166 has been withdrawn and replaced by EN ISO 16321-1 and EN ISO 16321-3. Eyewear marked to EN 166 is still sold. Check which standard your market and customer accept and write it on the item list.
5. Does a factory in Vietnam need CE-marked PPE?
CE marking is an EU requirement under Regulation (EU) 2016/425. For use in Vietnam, the rule is Vietnamese: Circular 16/2026/TT-BNV lists high-risk PPE such as safety footwear and insulating gloves, each against a Vietnamese technical regulation. Some customers require EU-standard PPE in their suppliers’ factories as a customer requirement.
Checked on 27 October 2026. Standards are cited by title and edition as listed by national standards bodies and ISO. Confirm the current national rule in the country where the PPE is used before you rely on any one marking.
Sources: EN 388:2016+A1:2018, Protective gloves against mechanical risks (SIS listing SS-EN 388:2016+A1:2018). EN ISO 21420:2020 and A1:2024, Protective gloves — General requirements and test methods (SIS). ISO 20345:2021 and Amd 1:2024, Personal protective equipment — Safety footwear (SIS; iso.org). EN ISO 20345:2022 (BSI). ISO 16321-1:2021, Eye and face protection for occupational use — Part 1 (iso.org). SS-EN 166 withdrawn and replaced by SS-EN ISO 16321-1:2022 and SS-EN ISO 16321-3:2022 (SIS). Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment, as described on the European Commission’s personal protective equipment page. Circular 16/2026/TT-BNV, Article 7 and the annex list (signed text on the Vietnamese Government portal, datafiles.chinhphu.vn).