Safety Eyewear Defined

Safety eyewear is defined as any face or eye covering designed to protect the
wearer’s eyes from contact with flying objects, hazardous liquids, gases, or other
materials that may be hazardous to the eye.  This eyewear is designed to resist
impact and shattering when struck by flying objects or hazardous materials.  Safety
eyewear may include glasses, goggles, respirators, gas masks and face shields with
or without a prescription lens component.

Some examples of professions where safety eyewear should be routinely considered
include carpenters, electricians, machinists, mechanics, plumbers, sheet metal
workers, sanders, grinding machine operators, welders, chemical handlers, and
laser device/machine operators.

When evaluating the type of eye protection, the supervisor and employee should
consider the following:

– The ability of the safety eyewear to protect against specific workplace
hazards.
– The safety eyewear should fit properly and be comfortable to wear.
– The safety eyewear must provide unrestricted vision and movement.
– The safety eyewear should be durable and cleanable.
– The safety eyewear should not interfere with or restrict the function of any other PPE the employee wears.