SCF Arizona - Safety Tip

OSHA addresses eye and face protection in specific standards for general industry and for construction fields.
In general, OSHA standards require that employers provide the kinds of protection, whether it is safety goggles or complete face shield, to ensure safety from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.
OSHA also requires that all eye and face personal protection equipment be marked in a manner that the manufacturer can be identified easily.
For full-face protection, face shields are the best choice. They protect the worker from splashes, heat, flying particles and other hazards, while allowing for plenty of ventilation.
Face shields are recommended especially for welding, riveting and activities that involve extreme heat. But remember, face shields won’t protect the eyes, so they must be used in combination with safety glasses or goggles. And some face shields are designed specially to be fitted with hard hats.
As far as protecting the eyes, never rely on regular glasses as a way to protect them.
Workers in areas where there is a lot of airborne dust or grit, flying particles or splashing chemicals, need to choose protective eyewear best suited for the job.

Here are some tips provided by the American National Standards Institute:
• Glasses with impact resistant lenses that have side shields provide adequate protection for most types of work.
• Flexible-fitting or cushion-fitting goggles fit easily over prescription glasses and provide front and side protection.
• Special purpose eyewear, such as chemical or chipping goggles, provides maximum protection from fumes and flying debris.
• Full face shields may be worn in addition to protective eyewear for maximum facial protection.
For more on eye safety, watch the Eye Safety video on SCF Arizona’s website (www.scfaz.com) under Safety Net.
You also can order eye safety posters and informational brochures on the SCF Arizona website.
If you would like more information on workplace safety please contact your SCF Association Coordinator.


SCF Arizona - Safety Tip OSHA addresses eye and face protection in specific standards for general industry and for construction fields. In general, OSHA standards require that employers provide the kinds of protection, whether it is safety goggles or complete face shield, to ensure safety from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation. OSHA also requires that all eye and face personal protection equipment be marked in a manner that the manufacturer can be identified easily. For full-face protection, face shields are the best choice. They protect the worker from splashes, heat, flying particles and other hazards, while allowing for plenty of ventilation. Face shields are recommended especially for welding, riveting and activities that involve extreme heat. But remember, face shields won’t protect the eyes, so they must be used in combination with safety glasses or goggles. And some face shields are designed specially to be fitted with hard hats. As far as protecting the eyes, never rely on regular glasses as a way to protect them. Workers in areas where there is a lot of airborne dust or grit, flying particles or splashing chemicals, need to choose protective eyewear best suited for the job. Here are some tips provided by the American National Standards Institute: • Glasses with impact resistant lenses that have side shields provide adequate protection for most types of work. • Flexible-fitting or cushion-fitting goggles fit easily over prescription glasses and provide front and side protection. • Special purpose eyewear, such as chemical or chipping goggles, provides maximum protection from fumes and flying debris. • Full face shields may be worn in addition to protective eyewear for maximum facial protection. For more on eye safety, watch the Eye Safety video on SCF Arizona’s website (www.scfaz.com) under Safety Net. You also can order eye safety posters and informational brochures on the SCF Arizona website. If you would like more information on workplace safety please contact your SCF Association Coordinator.
The Pulse - October 2010