What NR-6 covers
NR-6 applies to organisations purchasing PPE, workers using it and manufacturers and importers. It covers approval, marketing, supply and use. Equipment must fall within the individual protection categories addressed by the standard’s annex; an accessory marketed as a safety product does not automatically qualify. The general categories are explained in the personal protective equipment entry. Brazilian approval requirements should not be confused with certification arrangements used in other jurisdictions.
What the approval certificate means
The Certificado de Aprovação, or CA, identifies Brazilian PPE approval. It connects a product with its manufacturer or importer and the protection for which it has been approved. The certificate alone does not establish that a particular size fits, that two items work together or that they control a specific exposure. Administrative validity of a CA and the service life specified for an individual item are also different questions.
Selection comes before purchasing
The organisation considers the activity, assessed hazards, required effectiveness, applicable requirements, individual suitability and compatibility with other equipment. Selection must be recorded and may form part of, or be referenced in, the PGR. NR-6 provides for participation by the SESMT where present and consultation with users and the CIPA or designated person. Availability or the lowest price cannot answer these selection questions on their own.
Supply and care
The employer supplies suitable PPE free of charge and in working condition. Issue records may use forms, books or electronic systems that can generate reports. Employer duties also include guidance, training, requiring use and the relevant cleaning and maintenance arrangements. Workers use equipment for its intended purpose, look after it and report loss, damage or changes that make it unsuitable. These responsibilities complement rather than cancel each other.
A practical check
When purchasing switches to a different safety-glasses model, the approval is checked and prevention staff assess compatibility with the respirator used for the task. Wearers check fit and comfort; selection, supply records and instructions are updated. Keeping the previous model’s issue record does not show that the replacement was assessed. Where corrective vision is needed, selection must accommodate it without transferring the cost to the employee.
Limits of an issue record
A signature confirms supply; it does not prove correct use or remove the need to control hazards at source. Review selection, availability, instruction and actual work together. NR-6 operates within Brazil’s preventive hierarchy: PPE is not a reason to abandon necessary collective protective measures.
