OSHA Standards

• Employers must follow the mandatory OSHA standards for selecting eye protection for employees. There are regulations for general workplace safety equipment, plus additional regulations for industries, maritime businesses and construction companies. These standards address hazards such as chemicals, flying particles, gases or radiation.
  
  

Training

• If a hazard assessment determines that employees need to wear eye protection, OSHA requires training for the employees. The training must cover the type of protective equipment to use, how to wear it properly and how to care for the equipment. The employee will have to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the training before he can work in the hazardous environment.
  
  

Eye Protection Criteria

• When choosing eye protective equipment, compliance with the related American National Standards Institute (ANSI) requirements is mandatory. The eye safety gear must be reasonably comfortable, durable, cleanable and able to be disinfected. The manufacturer information must be clearly marked and the accompanying documentation should confirm that the eye safety gear will protect the worker's eyes against the specific hazards he will face.
  
  

Fit

• Eye protection must properly fit the employee or it will not provide the intended protection. Someone with experience should do the fitting to ensure the proper positioning of the device and to ensure it will not fall off while the employee works. If splashing of chemicals or particles is possible, the eye safety equipment should create a seal around the eyes to prevent any access to the irritants.
  
  

Maintenance and Care

• Employers must keep safety equipment in working, sanitary condition. The company must replace any excessively pitted or scratched lenses or stretched-out headbands. Users should clean their equipment as often as needed to keep the lenses clear, and if the equipment is shared, each new user should disinfect it before use. Employers should provide proper storage containers to protect the equipment between uses.
  
  

Emergencies

• In case of an emergency, OSHA requires that employers place eyewash stations in areas where eye hazards exist. Employers also need to train employees in how to use the eyewash stations. Employees should be able to get to the eyewash stations even if their vision is impaired at the time.