UK-based research and technology centre SATRA has raised its profile in the world of standards development for safety footwear.

Peter Doughty, who has been a safety footwear test specialist at the centre for more than ten years, has become the convenor for a key European committee, Vertical Group (VG) 10, which is part of a network of committees intended to help implement the European PPE Directive for personal protective equipment.

Each VG promotes communication and co-ordination between the various test institutes and certification bodies of Europe to seek to reduce inconsistencies that can occur, particularly where product standards include ambiguities.

The solutions recommended by each group are then fed to the European standards committee so that future revisions to various product standards can take these additional views into account.

"The whole process is about agreeing a common interpretation for any test procedure that is unclear. Basically we are trying to help make the European playing field more level," said Mr Doughty.

His new role involves arranging dates and venues for group meetings and convening them, compiling reports and setting agendas on the key issues of footwear safety.