Eye Protective Policy

Eye protective policy requires that appropriate eye protection be provided

to and worn by employees that are exposed to eye hazards.

The minimum acceptable form of eye protection is safety glasses that meet

the requirements specified in the most recent ANSI Z87.1-2010 standard.

It is the responsibility of supervisors and teaching lab coordinators to

ensure employees and students wear appropriate eyewear when necessary.

Eye Protective Lenses / Prescription Glasses

EH&S does not recommend that contact lenses be worn in the laboratory

without proper eye protection for the following reasons:

@ They can create a visual problem if suddenly displaced.

@ Contact lenses are difficult to remove should chemicals get into the eyes

and they tend to prevent the removal of contaminants by natural eye fluids.

@ Soft contact lenses present special hazards.

They discolor when they come into contact with many laboratory chemicals

and can absorb chemicals and chemical vapors, causing extensive corneal

damage before the wearer is aware of the problem.

Normal prescription glasses do not provide adequate protection from injury to the eyes and do not meet ANSI standards.

View the Safety Glasses Prescription Program Safety Instruction for instructions on how to participate in the program.

Types of Eye Protective Equipment

Non-safety Eye glasses

Includes any glasses without impact resistance lenses and safety design features.

Lenses insert into frame from the face (eye) side to minimize the thickness

of the frame viewed by others or lenses attach to frame with minimal anchoring mechanisms.

Because of these features to enhance the cosmetic appearance, on impact,

the lens may disengage from the frame and move toward eye causing injury.

The lens is less impact resistant and may fragment on impact causing eye injuries.

Impact resistant safety glasses with side shields

Lenses insert into frame from the outside with a solid rim on the inner side of frame smaller than the lens.

Design may include the lens and frame as one piece.

On impact with a flying object, the lens will not disengage toward eye.

The material of the lens meets impact resistant standards with built in or

add-on clear side shield that guard against impact of flying objects entering from the side of the face.

Marked as meeting ANSI Z87.1 standards.

Prescription lens safety glasses with side shields

Same as above with corrective prescription lenses.

Add-on side shields

Add-on clear side shield that guard against impact of flying objects entering from the side of the face.

Marked as meeting ANSI Z87.1 standards.

Visitor glasses

Impact-resistant safety glasses designed to fit over non-safety glasses.

Marked as meeting ANSI Z87.1 standards.

Vented goggles

Frame makes full contact with the face at all points.

Vents in frame allow perspiration to vent reducing fogging.

The material of the lens meets impact resistant standards.

Marked as meeting ANSI Z87.1 standards.

Non-vented goggles

Frame makes full contact with the face at all points.

No vents in frame prevent entry of hazardous vapors, mists, fumes or aerosols.

The material of the lens meets impact resistant standards.

Marked as meeting ANSI Z87.1 standards.

Face shield

Face shield has impact resistant crown and window for protection from flying particles.

Marked as meeting ANSI Z87.1 standards.

Full-face respirator

Face piece makes full contact with the face at all points.

No vents in face piece prevent entry of hazardous vapors, mists, fumes or aerosols.

The material of the lens meets impact resistant standards.

Marked as meeting ANSI Z87.1 standards.

Acceptable for uses requiring safety glasses, face shield, and non-vented or vented goggles.

Biohazard face masks

Shield provides droplet barrier for added security against bloodborne pathogens.

Provides protection from biohazard splashes as well as both inhaled and exhaled microorganisms.

Filters particulate matter at greater than 95% efficiency.

Welding helmet

Provides multiple types of protection (eye and face protection).

Acceptable for uses requiring safety glasses or face shield.

Combo hard hat and face shield respirator

Provides multiple types of protection (head, respiratory, and face protection).

Acceptable for uses requiring safety glasses or face shield.

Electrical Flash

Safety glasses and goggles provide lesser protection, but in low risk tasks

they may be justified if the task involves substantial physical work in combination with good visual requirements.

Eye protection (safety glasses or goggles) is worn under face shields or hoods.

Hazards to Consider for Selection of Eye Protective Equipment

& Impact – flying fragments, objects, chips, particles, sand, dirt, etc.

& Heat – hot sparks, splash from molten metals, and high temperature exposure.

& Chemicals – splashes and irritating mists.

& Dust – woodworking, buffing, general dusty conditions.

& Light and/or Radiation (i.e. welding) – optical radiation, poor vision.

Selection of Eye Protective Equipment

Safety eyewear should be selected according to:

& The identified eye injury hazard(s).

& Performance of the eyewear versus applicable ANSI standards.

& Availability.

& Employee preference among available choices.

The following chart suggests recommended Eye/Face Personal Protective

Equipment (PPE) based on common workplace activities and hazards:

Notes

& Faceshields and welding shields must be worn in combination with safety glasses or goggles.

& Safety glasses that provide side protection must be worn when working if

there is a potential for objects to fly in workers’ eyes and face or when

working with biological, chemical, or radioactive materials.

& Welding goggles, shields, or helmets should be equipped with a shade

that provides the appropriate level of protection as referenced in the OSHA

Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy Table.

& Lasers: Due to the variety of wavelengths emitted by lasers, no set of

eyewear can offer the user complete protection unless it is opaque.

It is the responsibility of each laser user to be informed via SOPs and

supervisors of the relevant laser wavelengths in use and the corresponding

protection offered by the eyewear.

Consult the Laser Safety Manual for more information.

Comfort and Fit of Eye Protective Equipment

& Protective eyewear should fit well;

& safety glasses and goggles should fit with the bridge properly supported

on your nose and the center of the lens in front of your eye with the frame

being as close to the face as possible.

& Ensure goggles and glasses do not interfere with the seal of a tight-fitting respirator.

Maintenance/Storage of Eye Protective Equipment

& Before each use, eye and face protection equipment should be inspected for damage (i.e. cracks, severe scratches, distortion).

& If deficiencies are noted, the equipment should be cleaned, repaired or replaced before use.

& Eye and face protection devices that have been subject to an impact should not be used and are required to be discarded.

& When one protector is being used by more than one person,

it is recommended that it be cleaned and disinfected prior to use by another person.

& Disinfect eyewear if it was contaminated by a hazardous chemical.

& Store clean eyewear in a closed container protected from dust, moisture or damage.

Additional Resources

& OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I Appendix B.

& OSHA 29 CFR 1910.133.

& ANSI Z87.1-2010 – Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection.