ESF Survey on user instructions

In line with the policy priorities in Europe (Green Deal and Digital Age) as well as current behaviour, for more and more products, user instructions are provided in digital format (e.g. through an internet link and/or QR code) instead of printed.

The European Safety Federation, as a trade organisation representing suppliers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), is working on good practice guidance for manufacturers when they provide digital user instructions. Therefore, we would like to hear the opinion of users of PPE based on a few questions.

The survey is anonymous, and we are not storing any personal information from respondents.

The survey is available in different European languages, please chose your preferred language before starting to answer.

The analysis of the results of the survey will be summarised in a report that will be publicly available.

We thank you in advance for your contribution to this short survey

Question Title

* 1. What is your role with respect to PPE?

I select PPE to purchase for the organization/company I’m working for.

I supervise or train workers who wear PPE.

I wear PPE myself in my professional life.

I wear PPE in my personal/private time (e.g. do-it-yourself / sports / …).

Question Title

* 2. Which PPE types do you use?

Respiratory protection

Hearing protection

Head protection

Eye / face protection

Protective clothing

Protective gloves

Protective footwear

Protection against fall from a height

If you want to give more detail about the type of PPE you use, please use the comment box

Question Title

* 3. Which form of user instructions for PPE do you currently receive with the PPE you purchase or use?

Printed

Digital (through link or QR code provided with the product)

Both (Digital and printed)

None

I don’t know

If you want to give more detail about the user instructions you receive, please use the comment box

Question Title

* 4. What do you do with user instructions ?

I read/consult them each time I use the PPE

I read them the first time I get a new PPE

I never read them but keep the instructions in case I would need them at later stage

I never read them and throw them away immediately

I don’t receive instructions with my PPE

Other – please specify

Question Title

* 5. If digital user instructions are provided, are you satisfied (format, the way to access them, additional information (e.g. audio-visual), …)

Yes

No opinion

Please explain

Question Title

* 6. If you use PPE for your job : in your company, how are you provided with printed user instructions?

Each time I get my PPE

The instruction for currently used PPE are available all the time in a place dedicated close to my workspace

Only at the beginning of using a given PPE to make me familiar with it

Other – please specify

Question Title

* 7. If a manufacturer provides digital user instructions, would you still need a printed copy?

Yes, for PPE I use in my professional life

Yes, for PPE I use in my private life

If yes, please explain why

Question Title

* 8. If you answered yes to the previous question, how would you expect to get the printed copy?

I am willing to print it myself.

I will request a printed copy from the supplier.

Don’t know (yet)

Question Title

* 9. If you receive digital user instructions, do you have access to them at the location where you will use the PPE ?

Yes, using mobile internet

Yes, using Wi-Fi or the company internet (e.g. intranet)

Yes, downloaded and thus also available offline

Yes, other, please specify (see box comments)

No, please explain (see box comments)

Other, please explain (see box comments)

Box comments

Question Title

* 10. If you are open to using digital user instructions, would you prefer to :

have them available one language at a time (e.g. select the language before access to the instructions)

have multiple languages per file (as is usually the case with printed instructions)

have a “quick starting guide” in printed format with the PPE with the most important information summarized

Other, please specify

Question Title

* 11. My country of residence (optional for statistical reasons only)

Question Title

* 12. I'm answering this survey as (optional for statistical reasons only)

working for a Small or Medium Enterprise / organisation

working for a Large Enterprise / organisation (more than 250 employees)

self-employed

private person

Other - please specify