Selection Chart Guidelines for Eye and Face Protection
Some occupations (not a complete list) for which eye protection should be routinely considered include: carpenters, electricians, machinists, mechanics and repairers, millwrights, plumbers and pipe fitters, sheet metal workers and tinsmiths, assemblers, sanders, grinding machine operators, lathe and milling machine operators, sawyers, welders, laborers, chemical process operators and handlers, and timber cutting and logging workers.
The following chart provides general guidance for the proper selection of eye and face protection to protect against hazards associated with the listed hazard "source" operations.
Eye and Face Protection Selection Chart
| Source | Assessment of Hazard | Protection |
|---|---|---|
| IMPACT - Chipping, grinding, machining, drilling, chiseling, riveting, sanding, etc. | Flying fragments, objects, large chips, particles, sand, dirt, etc. | Spectacles with side protection, goggles, face shields. For severe exposure, use face shield over primary eye protection. |
| HEAT - Furnace operations, pouring, casting, hot dipping, and welding. | Hot sparks Splash from molten metals High temperature exposure |
Face shields, goggles, spectacles with side protection. For severe exposure use face shield Face shields, reflective face shields Screen face shields, reflective face shields |
| CHEMICALS - Acid and chemicals handling | Splash Irritating mists |
Goggles, eyecup, and cover types. For severe exposure, use face shield over primary eye protection. Special-purpose goggles |
| DUST - Woodworking, buffing, general dusty conditions | Nuisance dust | Goggles, eyecup and cover types. |
| LIGHT and/or RADIATION Welding - electric arc Welding - gas Cutting, torch brazing, torch soldering Glare |
Optical radiation Optical radiation Optical radiation Poor vision |
Welding helmets or welding shields. Typical shades: 10-14 Welding goggles or welding face shield. Typical shades: gas welding 4-8, cutting 3-6, brazing 3-4 Spectacles or welding face shield. Typical shades: 1.5-3 Spectacles with shaded or special-purpose lenses, as suitable. |
Notes to Eye and Face Protection Selection Chart:
(1) Care should be taken to recognize the possibility of multiple and simultaneous exposure to a variety of hazards. Adequate protection against the highest
level of each of the hazards should be provided. Protective devices do not provide unlimited protection.
(2) Operations involving heat may also involve light radiation. As required by the standard, protection from both hazards must be provided.
(3) Face shields should only be worn over primary eye protection (spectacles or goggles).
(4) As required by the standard, filter lenses must meet the requirements for shade designations in 1910.133(a)(5). Tinted and shaded lenses are not filter
lenses unless they are marked or identified as such.
(5) As required by the standard, persons whose vision requires the use of prescription (Rx) lenses must wear either protective devices fitted with prescription
(Rx) lenses or protective devices designed to be worn over regular prescription (Rx) eyewear.
(6) Wearers of contact lenses must also wear appropriate eye and face protection devices in a hazardous environment. It should be recognized that dusty and/or
chemical environments may represent an additional hazard to contact lens wearers.
(7) Caution should be exercised in the use of metal frame protective devices in electrical hazard areas.
(8) Atmospheric conditions and the restricted ventilation of the protector can cause lenses to fog. Frequent cleansing may be necessary.
(9) Welding helmets or face shields should be used only over primary eye protection (spectacles or goggles).
(10) Non-side shield spectacles are available for frontal protection only, but are not acceptable eye protection for the sources and operations listed for
"impact."
(11) Ventilation should be adequate, but well protected from splash entry. Eye and face protection should be designed and used so that it provides both adequate
ventilation and protects the wearer from splash entry.
(12) Protection from light radiation is directly related to filter lens density. See note (4). Select the darkest shade that allows task performance.