510 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 1-8

Sections

5-8. General Requirements.

Eye and Face Protection

Must meet ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 requirements and have a "Z87" logo.
Must be marked to identify the manufacturer.
When required, must protect those needing corrective lenses with prescription safety glasses, protective glasses with side shields, or goggles.

Hearing Protection and Noise Control

Conduct noise evaluations and measurements regularly and when noise issues are suspected.
Use calibrated noise measuring instruments and follow specific guidelines for continuous and impact noise.
Implement control measures for noise levels exceeding limits, including engineering, administrative controls, and PPE.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

5-7. What is required to meet standards set by ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 for eye and face protection?

White color scheme on equipment

Certification of compliance date

Display of a visible "Z87" logo

Product SDS number labeling

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EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 5-8 (c.–d.).

5-8. General Requirements. (c.–d.).

c.  Eye and Face Protection.  Eye and/or face protection is required when there is a potential for eye and/or face injury (see table 5-1).  (5-8.c)

(1)  Eye and face protection must meet the requirements of ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 and bear a legible and permanent "Z87" logo to indicate compliance with the standard.

(2)  Eye and face protection must be distinctly marked to identify manufacturer. (3)  When eye protection is required, protect those whose vision requires the use
    of corrective lenses, whether via the use of contact lenses or eyeglasses, by one of the following:

(a)  Prescription safety glasses providing optical correction and equivalent protection.

(b)  Protective glasses with side shields designed to fit over corrective lenses without disturbing the adjustment of the glasses.

(d)  Goggles that incorporate corrective lenses mounted behind the protective lenses.

(4)  Personnel who are considered blind in one eye and are working in other than administrative functions must always wear safety glasses with side shields.

(5)  Operations involving the handling of harmful materials (for example, acids, caustics, hot liquids, creosoted materials) and operations where protection from gases, fumes, and liquids is necessary require the wearing of goggles with cups of soft pliable rubber and suitable face shields, masks, or hoods that cover the head and neck, and other protective clothing appropriate to the hazards involved.

(6)  Wear ANSI Z80.3 compliant glare-resistant glasses with an ultraviolet A-region (UVA) and ultraviolet B-region (UVB) 99% filtration when conditions require protection against glare. When conditions so warrant, polarized lenses must also be considered. Tinted or automatically darkening lenses should not be worn when work tasks require the employee to pass often from brightly to dimly lighted areas.  For welding, cutting, brazing and soldering operations see table 5-2 for required shades.

d.  Hearing Protection and Noise Control.  Hearing protection is required when occupational exposure limits (OELs) are exceeded and engineering and/or administrative exposure controls are either infeasible or unable to reduce exposure levels to an acceptable level, or when required by regulation.  (5-8.d)

(1)  Conduct a noise evaluation and take noise measurements initially and regularly during work, or whenever there is difficulty in communicating at distances less than 3 feet (0.9 m) apart, upon worker complaint of excessive noise, or whenever hazardous noise levels are suspected.  Personnel who perform noise evaluations must be trained according to ER 385-1-89 (USACE only).  (See para 5-3.b)

(2)  Noise Measurement Instruments.  When conducting noise measurements, adhere to the following:

(a)  For continuous (steady-state) noise and impact (impulse) noise, set the instrument according to table 5-3.

(b)  Use noise dosimeters that can measure the employee's entire work shift for full-shift sampling.

(3)  Employee Exposure.  To assess employee exposures to noise, contractors must follow the ACGIH TLV continuous noise exposure standards in table 5-4, whereas USACE must follow ER 385-1-89.

(a)  For impact (impulse) noise, personnel exposures must not exceed 140 dBC
        without effective hearing protection devices.

(b)  For continuous (steady-state) noise, personnel exposures must not exceed 85 dBA without effective hearing protection devices.

(c)  When the daily noise exposure is composed of two or more periods of noise exposure of different levels, the combined effects must be considered.  See ACGIH TLVs and BEIs for additional information.

(4)  When hazardous noise and/or exposure to ototoxic chemicals is known or expected, develop a HCP according to paragraph 5-7.a.

(5)  Control Measures.  When personnel are exposed to noise levels exceeding the limits identified in paragraph 5-8.d(3), control measures must be implemented according to the following.  Identify necessary control measures for work activities in applicable AHAs. (See para 5-6)

(a)  Engineering controls are the most effective of controlling exposures to excessive noise in the workplace.  Implement when possible.  These controls may include lubrication, isolation, damping, baffles, or other methods.

(b)  Administrative Controls.

(b-1)  Post all noise-hazardous areas and equipment to indicate the presence of hazardous noise levels and the requirement for hearing protection.  If noise hazards impact personnel working in adjacent areas, notify the individuals in the adjacent areas of the noise values and offer hearing protection.

(b-2)  If noise exposure to employees cannot be reduced to below the required standard, operating time limits may be imposed.

(c-1)  Hearing protection devices must  provide for the attenuation of noise to acceptable levels (that is, 85 dBA for continuous (steady-state) noise).  If necessary to hear audible warnings, hearing protection devices should not attenuate noise levels below an individual’s hearing threshold (that is, approximately 20-30 dBA).

(c-2)  Double hearing protection (that is, the combination of earplugs with earmuffs) is required whenever employees are exposed to continuous noise greater than 103 dBA and up to 108 dBA.  Double hearing protection may not attenuate the noise sufficiently at steady- state noise levels greater than 108 dBA. Therefore, more control measures (for example, limiting individual exposure time) are required.

(c-3)  Determine the attenuation of the specific hearing protection, except custom ear mold hearing protection, using the NIOSH de-rating scheme.  See NIOSH 98-126 and OSHA Technical Manual, Health Hazards, Section III: Chapter 5 Noise for estimating the de-rating of hearing protection.

(c-4)  Ear insert devices, to include disposable, pre-formed, or custom-molded earplugs, must be fitted to the exposed individual by an individual trained in such fitting and able to recognize the difference between a good and poor fit.  Plain cotton is not an acceptable hearing protection device.

(c-5)  An earplug carrying case must be provided to exposed employees when feasible.

(c-6)  Employees required to wear hearing protection must be trained according to paragraph 5-3.b.