Eye Protection in the Workplace: What Is Required?

Manufacturing workers wear safety glasses to avoid injury

Protective eyewear can prevent a variety of hazards from causing eye-related injuries. Potential hazards include flying objects, abrasive materials, and bright lights. Eye protection is especially important when workers must use heavy machinery or tools in the workplace.

The Cost of Ineffective Eye Protection

About 2,000 eye-related workplace injuries occur each day in the United States. Common injuries include:

  • Eye scraping
  • Penetration
  • Thermal burns
  • Chemical burns

In 2019, approximately 118,000 occupational eye-related injuries resulted in emergency room visits. According to data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, each occupational vision loss incident can cost more than $150,000. To prevent and mitigate the harm and cost burden of eye-related incidents, enterprises must meet certain standards for protective eyewear.

Regulations for Protective Eyewear in the Workplace

Per OSHA, workers must wear eye protection glasses when they face exposure to the following potential hazards:

  • Flying particles
  • Molten metal
  • Caustic liquids
  • Chemical gases
  • Harmful light radiation
  • Blood or body fluids

If these hazards exist, safety protective eyewear should conform to the American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices standards. These standards dictate the appropriate types of glasses, high-impact eyewear, face shields and required shade numbers for certain workspaces.

Proper Selection of Protective Eyewear 

Different specifications exist for health care, general industry, maritime, and construction work areas. The type of required eye protection depends on the inherent hazards that exist in each workplace.

Side Shields

Protective eyewear must include side shields if a workplace has harmful particulates or flying objects. Workers at construction worksites often use shields.

Goggles

If workers handle harmful chemicals, they must wear goggle versions of eyewear.

Shade Level 

If workers perform welding or handle lasers and fiber optics, proper protective gear may include tinted safety glasses, goggles, face shields, and/or helmets that are specifically designed for these purposes.

Industrial eyewear that conforms to ANSI Z87 standards typically has a Z87 stamp. Eyewear with Z87+ markings can withstand high impact.

Safety experts believe that the correct eyewear can prevent 90% of eye-related injuries. Employers should perform routine assessments to ensure that they have created the best safety program for their workplaces. Assessments should include the following:

  • Workspace risk evaluation for hazards
  • Proper eye protection selection for hazards 
  • Eyewear rating assessment
  • Employee training for correct use and wear
  • Reminder signage for eyewear 
  • Cautionary signage for areas with hazards

These basic protocols can vastly improve the safety environment of a workplace. Employers should update their safety programs to ensure that they remain compliant with updated ANSI standards.

Eye Protection Signage for Occupational Safety Protocols

ComplianceSigns.com carries a large selection of eye safety signs to help improve workplace safety. Options include bilingual signs in OSHA, ANSI and other formats. All are available in a variety of sizes and materials, and are proudly made in the USA.