Eye Protective Selection Is Important In The Workplace

Summary:
Personal protective equipment for the eyes and face is designed to prevent or lessen the severity of injuries to workers. The employer must assess the workplace and determine if hazards that require the use of eye and/or face protection are present or are likely to be present before assigning a certain type of personal protective equipment to workers.

Personal protective equipment for the eyes and face is designed to prevent or lessen the severity of injuries to workers. The employer must assess the workplace and determine if hazards that require the use of eye and/or face protection are present or are likely to be present before assigning a certain type of personal protective equipment to workers. 

A hazard assessment should determine the risk of exposure to eye and face hazards, including those which may be encountered in an emergency. Employers should be aware of the possibility of multiple and simultaneous hazard exposures and be prepared to protect against the highest level of each hazard. 

Hazards can fall into five categories:  

Impact (Flying objects such as large chips, fragments, particles, sand, and dirt.  Produced by chipping, grinding, machining, masonry work, wood working, sawing, drilling, chiseling, powered fastening, riveting, and sanding.)

Heat (Anything emitting extreme heat.  Produced by furnace operations, pouring, casting, hot dipping, and welding.)

Chemicals (Splash, fumes, vapors, and irritating mists. Produced by acid and chemical handling, degreasing, plating, and working with blood.)

Dust (Harmful Dust. Produced by woodworking, buffing, and general dusty conditions.)

Optical Radiation (Radiant energy, glare, and intense light Produced by welding, torch-cutting, brazing, soldering, and laser work.)

The majority of impact injuries result from flying or falling objects, or sparks striking the eye. Most of these objects are smaller than a pin head and can cause serious injury such as punctures, abrasions, and contusions.  

While working in a hazardous area where the worker is exposed to flying objects, fragments, and particles, primary protective devices such as safety spectacles with side shields or goggles must be worn. Secondary protective devices such as face shields are required in conjunction with primary protective devices during severe exposure to impact hazards. Personal protective equipment examples are:

Spectacles - Primary protectors intended to shield the eyes from a variety of impact hazards.

Goggles - Primary protectors intended to shield the eyes against flying fragments, objects, large chips, and particles.

Face Shields - Secondary protectors intended to protect the entire face against exposure to impact hazards.

Heat injuries may occur to the eye and face when workers are exposed to high temperatures, splashes of molten metal, or hot sparks. Protect your eyes from heat when workplace operations involve pouring, casting, hot dipping, furnace operations, and other similar activities. Burns to eye and face tissue are the main concern when working with heat hazards. 

Working with heat hazards requires eye protection such as goggles or safety spectacles with special-purpose lenses and side shields. However, many heat hazard exposures require the use of a face shield in addition to safety spectacles or goggles. When selecting PPE, consider the source and intensity of the heat and the type of splashes that may occur in the workplace. Personal protective equipment examples are:

Spectacles - Primary protectors intended to shield the eyes from a variety of heat hazards.

Goggles - Primary protectors intended to shield the eyes against a variety of heat hazards.

Face Shields - Secondary protectors intended to shield the entire face against exposure to high temperatures, splash from molten metal, and hot sparks.