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Employees can be exposed to a large number of hazards that pose danger to their eyes and face. OSHA requires employers to ensure that employees have appropriate eye or face protection if they are exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, potentially infected material, or potentially harmful light radiation.
Based on preliminary data from Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021, OSHA listed Eye and Face Protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.102), has having 1,462 violations. OSHA ranked it #8 in the list of top ten most frequently cited standards.
Scope
The construction eye and face protection standard applies to employers with workers exposed to those hazards.
Regulatory citations
- 29 CFR 1926.102 — Eye and face protection.
Key definitions
- ANSI Z87.1: An American National Standard that provides specification for testing, selecting, maintaining, and designing eye and face protection. OSHA accepts eye/face protection meeting one of three editions of ANSI Z87.1 (2010, 2003, and 1989-Rev1998).
- Face shields: Secondary protectors intended to protect the entire face against exposure to impact hazards.
- Safety spectacles: Primary protectors intended to shield the eyes from a variety of impact hazards.
- Safety goggles: Primary protectors intended to shield the eyes against flying fragments, objects, large chips, and particles.
- Side shields: provide angular protection from impact hazards in addition to frontal protection.
Summary of requirements
Employers must:
- Select eye/face protection suitable to the hazard (e.g., impact, heat, chemicals, dust, radiation) that meets one of three editions of ANSI Z87.1 (2010, 2003, and 1989-Rev1998).
- Ensure employees use 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) are acceptable.
- Provide eye/face protection at no cost to the employee, with the exception of non-specialty prescription safety eyewear — provided it is allowed to be worn off the job.
- Ensure employees who require corrective lenses either use goggles/spectacles over their regular glasses or use safety spectacles/goggles that incorporate the employee’s prescription.
- Train employees on how to use, care for, and inspect their eye/face protection.