An EU inspection has revealed quality issues in personal protective equipment, with a high percentage of non-compliant products. This inspection has led to significant conclusions.

Safety shoes, an essential element in workplace safety, have been found to be a weak point when they fail their functionality. When these products fail, they can cause injuries, work-related time loss, business disintegration, and loss of trust in the protective gear. A European sample survey funded by the EU has examined 83 models of safety footwear for protection and has identified that the majority (82%) have not met the EU safety and formal requirements.

The main areas of failure have been: weak static properties and resistance to impact and penetration. Additionally, there have been identified deficiencies in formal and documentary aspects: missing, uncertain or non-conformant to usage instructions; missing or incorrect levels of protection or declaration of conformity EU; and non-applicable or indestructible CE marks. The supervisory authorities (AMAs) have trivialized 24 models from development on the market, 15 economic operators received warnings and fines, and 4 models recalled. In addition, some online marketplaces were informed to remove the concerned products from their platforms. Sixty models have already been brought into compliance as a result of this inspection. In one case, an economic operator was fined EUR 7,000 for shoes that did not have the described protective characteristics in the promotion. The economic operator was informed to remove the product from his website. The AMAs have examined 83 plans in 8 countries: Cyprus, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland. 65% of the products were purchased online and 35% in physical stores. When combined with test results and documentary checks, 82% of the products are non-compliant. Some discoveries highlight production consistency issues. Some shoes may pass certification as prototypes but the available models on the market fail.

For end-users, the warning is clear: ensure that the level of protection is conformant to the risks of work, read the usage instructions and verify that the products carry the CE mark. Additionally, be wary of vague or exaggerated claims in advertising and check Safety Gate to verify if the product has not been identified as dangerous or recalled. The results highlight why European shoe sellers of safety equipment should guarantee compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protection against danger.

Economic operators can face the annulment of the product, recalls, fines, and legal suspensions. They must ensure that signs, instructions, and information on safety are complete, accurate, and available in the necessary languages. The product must identify and provide details of a responsible economic operator in UE/EEA. The proof took place under the Regulation (EU) 2025.