Eye and Face Protection, Construction • Regulation 29 CFR 1926.102

Eye injuries in the workplace are very common. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that every day about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment.¹ However, safety experts and eye doctors believe the right eye protection can lessen the severity or even prevent 90% of these eye injuries. Each year, the absence of proper eye and face protection in the workplace leads to thousands of preventable injuries that significantly impact workers’ health and quality of life. Workers may be exposed to flying debris, chemical splashes and other hazards. Without adequate personal protective equipment, they are at risk of sustaining serious injuries, including permanent vision loss and facial disfigurement.

The incidents not only affect individuals, they affect productivity, affect workers compensation costs and pose legal liabilities for employers. Failing to prioritize protective measures may diminish employee morale and create a disincentive for potential new hires. Investing in appropriate eye and face protection promotes a culture of safety in the workplace.

ABOUT THE STANDARD

OSHA standard 1926.102 requires workers to use eye and face protection whenever there is a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment.² Personal protective eyewear, such as goggles, face shields, safety glasses or full-face respirators must be used when an eye hazard exists. The necessary eye protection depends upon the type of hazard, the circumstances of exposure, other protective equipment used and individual vision needs. Per the standard, the employer shall ensure that:

• Each affected employee uses 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.
• Each 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 this section are acceptable.
• Each affected employee who wears prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards wears eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design, or wears eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of the prescription lenses or the protective lenses.
• Eye and face PPE shall be distinctly marked to facilitate identification of the manufacturer.

Protectors shall meet the following minimum requirements:

• They shall provide adequate protection against the particular hazards for which they are designed
• They shall be reasonably comfortable when worn under the designated conditions
• They shall fit snugly and shall not unduly interfere with the movements of the wearer
• They shall be durable
• They shall be capable of being disinfected
• They shall be easily cleanable

Protective eye and face protection devices must comply with any of the following consensus standards:

• 1926.102(b)(1)(i)
• ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010, Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices, incorporated by reference in § 1926.6
• 1926.102(b)(1)(ii)
• ANSI Z87.1-2003, Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices, incorporated by reference in § 1926.6; or 1926.102(b)(1)(iii)
• ANSI Z87.1-1989 (R-1998), Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection, incorporated by reference in § 1926.6; 1926.102(b)(2)

Protective eye and face protection devices that the employer demonstrates are at least as effective as protective eye and face protection devices that are constructed in accordance with one of the above consensus standards will be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.

• 1926.102(c) – Protection against radiant energy
• 1926.102(c)(1) – Selection of shade numbers for welding filter. Table E-1 shall be used as a guide for the selection of the proper shade numbers of filter lenses or plates used in welding. Shades more dense than those listed may be used to suit the individual’s needs.³

BEST PRACTICES FOR EYE AND FACE PROTECTION

The type of safety eye protection that should be worn depends upon the specific types of hazards in the workplace:

• If workers are in an area that has particles, flying objects or dust, they must at least wear safety glasses with side protection (side shields). Side shields placed on your conventional (dress) glasses do not provide enough protection to meet the OSHA requirement for many work environments.
• Those who work with chemicals must wear goggles.
• Tasks performed near hazardous radiation (welding, lasers or fiber optics) require special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields or helmets.

Employers should:

• Conduct an assessment of potential eye hazards in the workplace
• Mitigate those hazards to the extent possible using work screens, machine guards and other controls
• Provide appropriate safety eyewear and require employees to wear it
• Do regular checks of the safety eyewear to ensure that it is in good condition, and replace it if it becomes worn or damaged WMHS

RESOURCES

Protect Your Eyes at Work: https://tinyurl.com/bddcmkec

Eye Protection Construction Toolbox Talk from NIOSH: https://tinyurl.com/3kypft43