Eye and Face Protection • Regulation 29 CFR 1926.102
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Thousands of people are blinded each year from work-related eye injuries that could have been prevented with the proper selection and use of eye and face protection. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 38,390 eye-related injury or illness cases that resulted in at least one day away from work from 2021-2022.1 The direct and indirect cost of an occupational vision loss incident can be upwards of $160,000 according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Safety Pays Estimator.2
Enforcement from October 2022 through September 2023::
Citations | Inspections | Penalty | Industry Classification |
2,049 | 2,048 | $7,507,349 | Total for All Industries |
2,019 | 2,019 | $7,423,954 | 23 / Construction |
8 | 8 | $19,910 | 56 / Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services |
7 | 7 | $20,404 | 42 / Wholesale Trade |
4 | 4 | $16,640 | 53 / Real Estate and Rental and Leasing |
3 | 3 | $8,751 | 33 / Manufacturing (part 3 of 3) |
2 | 2 | $2,544 | 54 / Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services |
2 | 1 | $5,743 | 22 / Utilities |
1 | 1 | $4,688 | 32 / Manufacturing (part 2 of 3) |
1 | 1 | $3,108 | 48 / Transportation and Warehousing (1 of 2) |
1 | 1 | $1,607 | 11 / Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting |
ABOUT THE STANDARD
Personal protective equipment (PPE) for the eyes and face is designed to prevent or lessen the severity of injuries to workers when engineering or administrative controls are not feasible or effective in reducing these exposures to acceptable levels.
OSHA requires employers to ensure the safety of all employees in the work environment. Eye and face protection must be provided, whenever necessary, to protect against chemical, environmental, radiological or mechanical irritants and hazards.
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.
The employer shall ensure that 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.
The employer shall ensure that 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.
Eye protection 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.
BEST PRACTICES FOR EYE AND FACE PROTECTION
According to the National Institutes of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), the following steps can be taken to prevent eye injuries.3
- Identify eye hazards before work begins and wear the correct eye protection for those hazards.
- Wear safety glasses marked with “Z87+” on the frame or lenses, as an indicator of impact protection.
- Use vented goggles for dust, such as cement dust, and non-vented goggles for chemicals.
- Use face shields with safety glasses or goggles for protection from flying objects or chemical splashes.
- When welding, use a welding helmet or goggles with the correct lens shade for the job (shade 10–14 for arc welding; 4–8 for gas welding; and 3–6 for torch brazing).
- Helpers and bystanders also need UV protection.
- Take care of your eye protection and replace it when damaged.
- Do not rub your eyes if injured by small particles such as wood, cement or drywall dust, or chemicals. Use the eyewash station. Rinse with clean water for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
- Get medical help for cuts, punctures, and objects in the eyes such as metal slivers, rebounding nails or wood shavings. Do not wash out your eyes or try to remove objects yourself.
KEEPING WORKERS SAFE
There are four things employers and workers can do to prevent eye injuries, according to the American Optometric Association.4
- Know the eye safety dangers in the workplace.
- Eliminate hazards before starting work by using machine guards, work screens or other engineering controls.
- Use proper eye protection.
- Keep safety eyewear in good condition and have it replaced if it becomes damaged. WMHS
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