Anyone who starts work on a Danish construction site (byggeplads) — employee, subcontractor or worker posted from abroad — is expected to arrive with the right personal protective equipment, in Danish personlige værnemidler. The legal basis is the Danish Working Environment Authority's (Arbejdstilsynet) Executive Order no. 1706 of 15 December 2010 on the use of personal protective equipment (Bekendtgørelse om brug af personlige værnemidler, amended in 2013, 2022 and 2024). On top of that, the main contractor's site rules set the concrete minimum, and they are usually stricter than the law. This guide lists what is typically required and which EU standard marking to look for.
What the Danish rules say
PPE is the last line of defence: risks should first be removed with collective measures. If the work cannot be done fully safely in another way, it may only be done with PPE (§3). The employer must:
- supply the PPE (§6) and pay for its purchase, maintenance and cleaning — the equipment remains the employer's property;
- make sure it is used from the start of the work and throughout (§4);
- signpost the areas where PPE is required (§9).
Employees must use the PPE they are given (§12). All PPE must be CE-marked under Regulation (EU) 2016/425, and the user instructions must be in Danish.
Minimum kit on a Danish site
| Item |
Typical requirement |
Standard |
| Safety helmet (sikkerhedshjelm) |
Expected on building sites; large contractors require it for everyone on site |
EN 397 |
| Hi-vis clothing (synlighedsbeklædning) |
Most main contractors require at least class 2 |
EN ISO 20471 |
| Safety shoes (sikkerhedssko) |
Toe cap and puncture-resistant sole: S3, S5 or S1P |
EN ISO 20345 |
| Eye protection |
For dust, flying particles and splashes; large contractors such as NCC require them for everyone |
EN 166 |
| Gloves |
Suitable for the task, e.g. cut-resistant for sheet metal |
EN 388 |
| Hearing protection |
When noise is high, per the risk assessment |
EN 352 |
| Respiratory protection |
For dusty work, with the right filter, per the risk assessment |
EN 149 |
Helmet: sikkerhedshjelm on the byggeplads
Arbejdstilsynet has refused applications for dispensation from helmet use on building sites, and large contractors — NCC, for example, since 2015 — require a helmet and safety glasses for everyone on their sites. Choose an EN 397 industrial helmet, and in practice expect a fastened chin strap for work at height and on lifts. In winter, use a thin helmet liner instead of a thick hat. More in our guide EN 397 vs EN 12492 helmets.
Safety shoes: sikkerhedssko krav
Arbejdstilsynet's construction guidance ("Beskyt jer med personlige værnemidler") says safety shoes are needed when objects can fall on the foot, and they must have a puncture-resistant sole if there is a risk of stepping on sharp objects. On a building site both risks are almost always present, so most contractors expect S3 boots (S1P/S1PS only for dry indoor work if the site rules allow). See S1P vs S3 vs S3S.
Hi-vis: synlighedsbeklædning klasse 2
The executive order does not name a single hi-vis class; the class follows the site's risk assessment and the main contractor's rules. Class 2 under EN ISO 20471 is the usual minimum where vehicles and machinery move. Class 2 means at least 0.50 m² of fluorescent and 0.13 m² of reflective material; class 3 means 0.80 m² and 0.20 m². A class 2 jacket and class 2 trousers can together be certified class 3 if the manufacturer states it. Rail work is separate: Banedanmark has its own rules for reflective clothing (reflekstøj), safety footwear and helmets. Details in hi-vis classes explained.
No national site ID card
Unlike Sweden (ID06), Norway (HMS-kort) or Finland (photo ID card with tax number), Denmark has no national construction-site ID card. Some main contractors use their own access cards or registration, so ask what the site requires before the first day.
Who pays for the equipment?
The employer supplies and pays for the PPE its employees need (§6), and also for maintenance and cleaning. Self-employed workers and small subcontractors buy their own — which is why many crews order complete kits per worker before a project starts. Companies buying for crews can read about 0% VAT with reverse charge.
Typical mistakes at the site entrance
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S1 instead of S3. S1 shoes have no puncture-resistant sole, which Arbejdstilsynet's guidance calls for where sharp objects lie around.
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Hi-vis only on the vest (refleksvest). A vest over a dark winter jacket does not always satisfy contractors that expect hi-vis outerwear.
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No Danish user instructions. PPE must be CE-marked and come with instructions in Danish.
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Old helmet. Helmets age in UV light. Check the manufacture date and the manufacturer's replacement interval.
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Assuming "no ID card" means open access. Contractors may still require their own access card or registration.
Rules in other Nordic countries
Working across borders? Compare PPE on Finnish construction sites, Swedish construction sites and Norwegian construction sites, or see all four side by side in Nordic construction-site PPE rules compared.
Put together the kit
Browse safety helmets, hi-vis workwear, S3 safety boots, safety glasses and work gloves, or use the ready workwear kits to order a full set per worker. For the meaning of each marking see EU workwear standards explained.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Always check the main contractor's site rules before the first day on site.
