The CE mark: what it means and what to ask for

The CE mark: what it means and what to ask for

You are buying a machine, a power tool or personal protective equipment. There is a CE mark on the label. The question we get most often during inspections: does that mean the product is safe?

What the CE mark means and what it does not

The CE marking is a declaration by the manufacturer that the product meets the requirements of the European regulations that apply to it. The rules for using it are set by Regulation (EC) No 765/2008.

It is not a quality certificate, nor a sign that someone independently tested the product. For a large share of products the manufacturer assesses conformity itself. An independent test house comes into play only where the regulation requires it, for example for some machines and protective equipment, and in that case the CE mark is accompanied by the four-digit number of a notified body.

So the CE mark says the manufacturer vouches for conformity. It does not say that anyone verified it.

The China Export myth

A story circulates online that there is a Chinese mark called China Export that looks like CE, only with the letters closer together. It is not true. No such mark is registered and no certification scheme of that name exists.

What does exist is something more mundane and, in safety terms, worse: a CE mark placed on a product that does not meet the requirements. Sometimes it is drawn incorrectly because the manufacturer copied it and did not keep the prescribed proportions, in other words out of carelessness. Sometimes it is there deliberately, even though no conformity assessment stands behind it.

That is why it is not worth judging a product by how far apart the letters are. Judge it by the documents.

What to ask for when buying

For a machine, a tool or protective equipment going into service, ask for the EU declaration of conformity with identification of the product, the regulations and standards applied, and the signature of the manufacturer or its authorised representative.

Along with that, instructions for use in the national language. Without instructions in Slovak you cannot properly train an employee, and an inspection will hold it against you.

For personal protective equipment, also check the category, the marking of the relevant standard and the shelf life. For category III equipment the CE mark is usually accompanied by the number of a notified body.

The address of the manufacturer or of the importer into the European Union must be traceable. If there is nobody on the packaging who is responsible for the product in the Union, that is a warning sign.

Why this concerns an employer

The employer bears the responsibility for the employee working with safe equipment. If an injury happens on a machine with no declaration of conformity and no instructions, the argument that it was a bargain from the internet will not stand.

During an inspection of work equipment, besides the documents, the guards, the emergency stop, the marking of controls and whether anyone has modified the machine are also examined.

We can go through it with you

Checks of work equipment, risk assessment and operator training are part of occupational safety. If you are unsure about a specific machine or a delivery of protective equipment, get in touch.