3.3.1 Eye Protection Selection
All protective eye and face devices must comply with ANSI Z87.1, "American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices," and be marked to identify the manufacturer. When selecting eye protection, be aware that different types of eyewear provide different levels of protection depending on the hazard.
Prescription Safety Eyewear
OSHA regulations require that personnel who wear prescription lenses while engaged in operations involving eye hazards must wear eye protection that incorporates the prescription into its design or wear eye protection that can be worn over prescription lenses (e.g., goggles or face shields) without disturbing the proper position of either the prescription or protective lenses. Prescription safety eyewear must meet ANSI Z87.1 requirements.
Safety Glasses
Safety glasses provide protection from moderate impact and flying particles associated with activities such as grinding, sawing, scaling, handling broken glass, and minor chemical splashes. Side protection is required where there is a hazard from flying objects. Safety glasses are available in prescription form for individuals requiring corrective lenses.
Safety glasses alone do not provide adequate protection for operations involving significant chemical splash potential, such as pouring, mixing, or transferring hazardous chemicals. In these situations, splash goggles must be used.
Splash Goggles
Splash goggles provide protection against chemical splash hazards, including work with concentrated corrosives and bulk chemical transfer. Goggles are available with clear or tinted lenses, anti-fog coatings, and vented or non-vented frames.
Goggles designed for woodworking or dust protection are not appropriate for chemical use. These can often be identified by numerous small openings in the facepiece, which may allow liquids to enter. Ensure that goggles are specifically rated for chemical splash protection.
Welder's/Chipper's Goggles
Welder’s goggles provide protection from sparks, scaling, splashing metal, and harmful light radiation. Lenses are impact resistant and available in graduated shades. Chippers’/grinders’ goggles provide protection from flying particles and incorporate impact-resistant lenses with protective cover plates.
Face Shields
Face shields provide additional protection to the eyes and face when used in combination with safety glasses or splash goggles. They consist of adjustable headgear and a clear or tinted visor or, in some cases, a mesh screen.
Face shields must not be used alone and are not a substitute for primary eye protection. They should always be worn in conjunction with safety glasses or goggles. Mesh face shields are not appropriate for protection against chemical hazards.
Welding Shields
Welding shields are similar to face shields but provide additional protection from infrared and radiant light, flying sparks, metal splatter, and slag during welding, cutting, and related operations.
Equipment fitted with appropriate filter lenses must be used to protect against optical radiation. Tinted or shaded lenses are not equivalent to filter lenses unless specifically marked as such.
LASER Eye Protection
A single type of eyewear does not provide protection against all laser hazards. The required eye protection depends on the wavelength and energy of the laser source. For assistance in selecting appropriate laser eye protection, contact the Laser Safety Officer at EHS at askEHS@cornell.edu. See the LASER Hazards section for additional information.