Eye and Face Protection
Employers must provide adequate eye and face protection to employees who are exposed to hazards on a worksite.
Eye Safety
Eye and Face Hazards
Various eye and face hazards in the workplace require the use of protective devices.
Some common hazards include:
- Impact hazards: Flying objects, particles, or debris can cause eye injuries or facial damage. Common sources include grinding, drilling, chipping, and woodworking operations.
- Chemical hazards: Exposure to harmful chemicals, such as acids, caustics, and solvents, can cause eye and skin irritation or burns. Chemical splashes and vapors are common hazards in laboratories, manufacturing, and cleaning processes.
- Optical radiation hazards: Intense light sources, such as lasers, welding arcs, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, can cause eye damage, burns, or temporary vision impairment. Workers in welding, cutting, and brazing operations or those working with lasers are exposed to such hazards.
- Heat hazards: High temperatures, molten metal splashes, and steam can cause burns to the eyes and face. Foundries, glass manufacturing, and some cooking processes expose workers to these hazards.
- Dust and particulate hazards: Dust, small particles, and airborne contaminants can irritate or injure the eyes. Sanding, grinding, and woodworking operations, as well as certain agricultural activities, are potential sources of dust hazards.
- Biological hazards: Exposure to infectious materials, such as bloodborne pathogens or bacteria, can pose risks to the eyes and face. Workers in healthcare, research laboratories, and waste management may encounter these hazards.
Protective Devices
Below is a list of OSHA-required eye and face protection devices designed to protect workers from a wide range of hazards.
- Face shields: Full-face coverage, eight-inch minimum. These protect against chemical splashes, but do not protect adequately against projectiles.
- Welding helmets: Welding helmets protect workers from harmful UV and IR radiation, sparks, and spatter generated during welding operations. They come with a flip-up visor or an auto-darkening lens that adjusts to the light intensity.
- Splash hoods: These protect against chemical splashes; however, they do not protect adequately against projectiles.
- Safety glasses: These protect eyes against large particles and projectiles. They must be approved for use under the ANSI Z87.1 standards and they must have been tested to provide sufficient protection hazards to eyes.
- Laser safety glasses: These glasses protect workers from hazardous laser radiation by filtering specific wavelengths of light.
- Goggles: Depending on their construction, goggles can protect against vaporized chemicals, splashes, large particles, and projectiles (if constructed with impact-resistant lenses).
- Sweat bands: These prevent sweat-induced eye irritation and vision impairment.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-7. Which PPE protects against chemical splashes, but not projectiles?
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