NMSU: Eye and Face Protection

EYE and FACE PROTECTION

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. 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.

STANDARDS

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including eye and face equipment is required where there is a reasonable probability of injury that can be prevented by such equipment as identified by the hazard analysis completed for each job description (per 29 CFR 1910.132(d)).

In such cases, the employer must make conveniently available a type of protector suitable for the work to be performed, and employees must use such protectors. No unprotected person may knowingly be subjected to a hazardous environmental condition. Suitable eye protectors must be provided where machines or operations present the hazard of flying objects, glare, liquids, injurious radiation, or a combination of these hazards, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.133 (a)(1).

SELECT THE RIGHT PROTECTION FOR THE WORK (links to OSHA for more details)

Hazard Type	Hazard	Common related tasks
Impact (click for details)	Flying objects such as large chips, fragments, particles, sand, and dirt.	Chipping, grinding, machining, masonry work, wood working, sawing, drilling, riveting, sanding, etc.
Heat (click for details)	Anything emitting extreme heat.	Furnace operations, pouring, casting, hot dipping, welding, etc.
Chemicals (click for details)	Splash, fumes, vapors, and irritating mists.	Acid and chemical handling, degreasing, plating, and working with blood.
Dust (click for details)	Harmful dust.	Woodworking, buffing, and general dusty conditions.
Optical Radiation (click for details)	Radiant energy, glare, and intense light	Welding, torch -cutting, -brazing, -soldering, and laser work.

EYE PROTECTION AREAS

Eye protection areas mean essentially all operating facilities or laboratories, especially when activities are occurring that involve:

A. Corrosive or other chemically hazardous materials.

B. Hot molten metals.

C. Heat treatment, tempering or heating of flammable, solvents, corrosives or any other material above its relative flash point or above ambient room temperature, whichever is lower.

D. Gas or electric arc welding.

E. Machine shop operations.

F. Vacuum evaporation, use of cryogenic apparatus or any evacuated experimental system where an implosion hazard exists.

G. Chemical reactions, including high pressure reactors as well as reactions conducted in glass systems at any temperature or pressure.

H. Laser laboratories.

I. Plasma arc.

J. Any other activity or operation involving mechanical or manual work in any area that is potentially hazardous to the eye.

ACCEPTABLE EYE PROTECTION includes:

1. Industrial safety glasses with side shields.

2. Prescription glasses to ANSI standards with safety lenses and frames plus the addition of side shields. Prescription safety glasses may be purchased through Environmental Health and Safety.

3. Depending on the hazard, visitor eyeglasses with side shields may be acceptable for temporary use in hazardous areas. Visitor eyeglasses are available from any safety supplier or via Environmental Health and Safety.

4. When performing especially hazardous tasks, either standard safety goggles or full face shields, whichever are appropriate or both.

Conventional, vented vinyl lab goggles with polycarbonate window material of 0.060-inch minimum thickness are available from most safety supply company or via Environmental Health and Safety.

Faceshields are for protection of the worker's face only. Faceshields shall be used only with primary eye protection.

ANSI Z87.1-1989 Standard.

Eye protection devices, which shall include safety spectacles (with side shields), face shields or goggles, must comply with the American National Standards Institute ANSI Z87.1-1989 Standard. The approved devices will be stamped with Z87 on appropriate components.

All eye protection devices purchased through EH&S do meet these requirements. In the case of chemical goggles, only those with no-fog lenses shall be permitted.

For questions or concerns on safety glasses, goggles, face protection, or safety in general at NMSU, call EH&S at 575-646-3327. (http://safety.nmsu.edu)

Contact Information