Protection eye and face

Eye and face protective equipment is required by OSHA where there is a reasonable probability of preventing injury when such equipment is used. Employers should provide a type of protector suitable for work to be performed aud employees must use the protectors. These stipulations also apply to supervisors and management personnel, and should apply to visitors while they are in hazardous areas. 

Provide adequate protection against the particular hazards for which they are designed. (Side shields for protection are highly recommended.) 

Be reasonably comfortable when worn under the designated conditions. 

Fit snugly without interfering with the movonents or vision of the wearer. 

Every protector must be distinctly marked to facilitate identification of the manufacturer only. 

Workers must be provided eye protection whenever they are exposed to potential eye injuries during their work if work practices or engineering controls do not eliminate the risk of injury. Some causes of eye injuries include the following  

Dust and other flying particles, such as metal shavings or wool fibers. 

Acids and other caustic liquid chemicals that might splash. 

Blood and other potentially infectious body fluids that might splash, spray, or splatter. 

Intense light such as that created by welding arcs and lasers. 

When operating with hazardous chemicals, accidents often result in severe injuries to the eyes. Such damage, often irreversible, could be almost completely avoided by using protective devices. Chemicals are able to harm the eyes and the skin of the face in different ways  

Mechanical injuries are generated by foreign bodies (solid materials including particles), which can hit the eyes or the face and may be invasive. In the case of dust particles, their velocity is low, and therefore the result may be an injury of the eye due to irritation or inflammation caused by particles that become trapped between the lid and the eyeball. Larger particles affect face and eyes depending on size, shape, and velocity at impact 

For protection of the eyes and face against different types of detrimental effects caused by chemicals, the following protective equipment is used  

Eye- and face-protective equipment consists of one or two speciality glasses and the frame. The frame must fulfil several technical requirements, e.g, increased mechanical strength and stability to temperature. It has also to show chemical resistance. 

The material for the lens material must comply with the European standard EN 166 [6-55]. This standard defines minimum quality requirements for optical, thermal, and mechanical properties as well as UV light resistance. According to it, the lenses must be free of any material defects, like blisters, opacity, cords, or inclu- 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there are more than 85,000 eye injuries in the workplace each year. Of all the individuals that experience eye injuries at work, the BLS reports that only 10 percent were wearing eye protection. Studies also show that if employees are not accustomed to and trained to wear eye protection at work, it is more likely that off-the-job injuries to the eyes will continue to be a societal problem. A breakdown of injuries reveals this national problem. The United States Eye Injury Registry (USEIR) from December 1992 revealed the following data  

Experts state that 90 percent of all eye injuries are preventable. There are many jobs within a warehouse that require eye protection. If possible, employees should wear eye protection at all times for maximum protection. At the very least it is needed when  

Studies have shown that polycarbonate plastic lenses are significantly more shatter-resistant than other types. Glass and plastic lenses that were tested met federal standards for shatter resistance, but only polycarbonate did not break when struck with the kind of force generated during common incidents and injuries. Research showed that shattered lenses were possibly to blame for many eye injuries. 

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Personal eye-protection - Optical test methods. Partially superseded BS 2092 1987 Personal eye-protection - Non-optical test methods. Partially superseded BS 2092 1987 AMD 1 Personal protection - Equipment for eye and face protection during welding and allied processes (AMD 9902) dated January 1998. Superseded BS 1542 1982 AMD 3 Gas heated catering equipment. Safety requirements (AMD 10573J dated December 1999. Superseded BS 5314... 

The new standard amended 29 Code of Eederal Regulations (CER) to include general requirements (29 CER 1910.132), eye and face protection (29 CER 1910.133), head protection (29 CER 1910.135), and foot protection (29 CER 1910.136). A new regulation (29 CER 1910.138) applied to hand protection. These changes are significant because they mandated employers to conduct a hazard assessment of the workplace to decide if hazards in the operation required the use of PPE. 

Is PPE selected and used to meet the requirements of 29 CER Part 1910, Subpart I (eye and face protection, respiratory protection, occupational head protection, occupational foot protection, and electrical protection devices) ... 

Hydrogen peroxide can cause burns wear suitable protective clothing, including eye and face protection. Store in a cool place. 

Triphosgene is very toxic. Wear suitable gloves, and eye and face protection. Handle very carefully in a well-ventilated fume-hood. 

Congress intended tluit OSHA be enforced tlu ough specific standards ill an effort to achieve a safe and healthful working enviromnent. A general duty clause was added to attempt to cover those obvious situations tliat were admitted by all concerned but for which no specific standard existed. The OSHA standards are an extensive compilation of regulations, some tliat apply to all employers (such as eye and face protection) and some tliat apply to workers who engaged in a specific type of work (such as welding or crane operation). 

In this section, the characteristics of eye and face protection products useful for protection from chemicals and pesticides are discussed. Occupational Safety and Health Administration s (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.133 and American National Standard Institute s (ANSI) Z87.1 are used as references for this discussion. The regulation and the standard are useful consolidations of information and guidance on the subject area, although they may not be directly apph-cable to the agricultural setting. 

Compare the potential hazards with the performance capabilities of various eye and face protective equipment. 

For eye and face protection, suitable protection must be worn when there is a reasonable probabihty of preventing injury when dangerous equipment is used. This is also true for visitors and administrative staff if they are in the hazardous areas. 

A4.3.5.3.2 Provide advice on appropriate protective equipment for fire-fighters. For example, boots, overalls, gloves, eye and face protection and breathing apparatus. 

Wear rubber gloves and suitable eye and face protection. 

Considerable variety is available in the types, styles, and applications of eye and face protection. For the conditions which exist in most chemical storage facilities, where packaging remains sealed, eye protection will be dictated by the presence of physical hazards. Many warehouse operators require safety spectacles in warehouse and maintenance areas. Persons who wear prescription lenses should wear protective eyewear fitted with prescription lenses or protective devices worn over prescription eyewear. 

Fig. 6.16 Examples of eye- and face-protective devices (a) safety glasses with side shield, (b) goggles, (c) face shield.

Table 6.13 Selection of eye- and face-protective devices linked to the hazardous properties of chemicals (R-phrases).

Basically, we must not permit the cryogenic fluids and their vapors to contact any part of the body. The eyes and face are particularly vulnerable. Accordingly, all operations must be conducted with adequate eye and face protection. All personnel who work with low-temperature systems should wear safety glasses at all times. Further, where there is a possibility of face contact with cold vapors or liquid, a full face shield or perhaps a face shield and hood should be worn. Care must be taken not to permit rising vapors from lighter-than-air gases to enter the shield. As noted in the previous section, only inert hoods such as those made of Teflon or KelF should be worn to avoid skin contact with fluorine. 

Face shields—are the ultimate choice for eye and face protection. They protect the wearer s entire face from flying particulates and splashes. Face shields are secondary protectors only and must be worn with safety glasses or goggles, as stated in ANSI Z87.1. 

All employees who work in areas where there is a potential for injuiy to the eyes or face from fl3ring particles, molten metal, liquid I chemicals, acids or caustic hquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious hght radiation must use appropriate eye and face protection. 

Other Sources — ANSI Z87.1-2003, American National Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection. ... 

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