Eye Protection Session Objectives You will be able

Eye Protection

Session Objectives You will be able to: • Identify potential eye hazards • Prevent eye injuries with protective eyewear • Use, maintain, and inspect proper protective eyewear • Use appropriate first aid for emergencies © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Eye Injury Statistics • Each day, more than 2, 000 workers suffer eye injuries • Annually, 62, 000 eye injuries result in lost workdays • Eye protection can reduce the number and severity of eye injuries in 90% of accidents © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Eye Hazards • Flying objects • Harmful dust particles • Chemical splashing or spraying • High-intensity heat or light • Welding, brazing, torch cutting • Direct or reflected sunlight © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Flying Object Hazards and Protection • Hazard—flying objects cause lens damage • Fragments, chips, particles, sand, dirt • Work processes • Chipping, grinding, masonry work • Eye protection • Glasses with side protection, goggles, or face shield for severe exposure © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Dust Hazards and Protection • Hazard—walking into floating particles causes irritation, redness, and abrasion • Wood dust, foam dust, soot • Work process • Woodworking, buffing, cleaning • Eye protection • Goggles for tight seal around the eyes © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Chemical Hazards and Protection • Hazard—splash, spray, or mist causes burning, pain, or blurriness • Acids, caustics, solvents • Work process • Handling or processing a chemical • Eye protection • Goggles • Face shield over goggles for severe exposure © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Heat Hazards and Protection • Hazard • Steam, hot liquid, hot air, or flame cause pain, eyelid burns, and blurred vision • Work process • Furnace operations, pouring or casting molten metals • Any high-temperature operations • Wear eye protection such as a screen or reflective face shield © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Welding Hazards and Protection • Hazard—Welder’s flash or flying sparks cause pain, extreme sensitivity, and burns • Work process • Walking unprotected near welding operation • Eye protection • Welder’s face shield • Sunglasses inadequate © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Sunlight Hazards and Protection • Hazard—direct or reflected sunlight • Retinal burn, blurred vision, pain • Work process • Working outside on any job, working near water • Eye protection • Sunglasses and hat © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Eye Hazards and Protection —Questions? • Any questions about potential workplace hazards to the eyes? • Questions about eye protection for specific work processes? © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Use Proper Protective Eyewear • 90% of occupational eye injuries could have been avoided with proper protective eyewear • Many injured workers believed protective eyewear was not necessary in their particular situation • Follow company rules for eye protection © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Eyewear Standards • Comply with ANSI Z 87. 1 • Eye protection equipment will be marked “Z 87” • Sunglasses or prescription glasses usually do not meet the standard © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Choosing Eye Protection • Fit the protection equipment to the person • Ensure high-quality equipment is used • Ensure good fit and comfort • Lens options © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Maintain Eyewear • Cleaning stations • Holders or cases • Issue new when necessary © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Routinely Inspect Eyewear • Inspect before each use • Check for and replace cracked lenses • Replace scratched lens • Check for loose frames and nose pieces • Fit test before each use © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Prescription Eyewear • Contact lenses may be worn with PPE if determined safe by a hazard evaluation • Prescription safety glasses are available • Overglasses or partial face shields serve as additional barriers © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Eyewash Stations • Chemical splashes require immediate first aid • 10 feet or 10 seconds from a work process with hazardous chemicals • Flush eyes for 15 minutes © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Use of Eyewear— Any Questions? • Any questions about the selection and use of eyewear? • Any questions about maintenance and inspection of eyewear? • Any questions about eye first aid? © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606

Key Things to Remember • Assess eye hazards • Select appropriate protective eyewear • Wear your eye protection • Don’t become an eye injury statistic © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0606