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709 Personal Protective Equipment
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OSHA Standard

General Requirements

Employees must use appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.

Download OSHA's PPE Guidelines.

The employer must make sure that every affected employee uses eye protection that provides side protection when there is a hazard from flying objects. Detachable side protectors (e.g. clip-on or slide-on side shields) meeting the pertinent requirements of the PPE standard are acceptable.

Each employee who needs prescription glasses must either wear eye protection designed with their prescription or wear protective eyewear that fits over their prescription glasses without shifting the position of either the prescription or protective lenses.

Employees using equipment with filter lenses must ensure the lenses have a shade number suitable for the type of work they are doing, to protect against harmful light radiation.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

3-5. What is the PPE eye protection requirement if employees are exposed to flying objects?