Eye Protection Training

Refresher
March 2010

AMEC Earth & Environmental – Internal Distribution Only

 Eye Injuries 2009

 1 OSHA-recordable injury (dust), 2 first

aid incidents (dust, tree branch) and
several near miss incidents (formalin
vapor, rebar) potentially affected
employee’s eyes
 PPE use reduced injuries.
Example Controls Required
 Ensure 100% use of eye protection at
all times where hazards identified
 Evaluate and implement appropriate
eye/face protection from liquid
chemicals, molten liquids, blowing dust
or particles
 AEE Safety Flash
Safety Goggles vs. Safety Glasses

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Recent Incident 2010

 Cutting PVC pipe soil cores with skill saw, using a face shield for
protection, when a small piece of PVC bounced under the shield and
struck employee in the eye. No safety glasses or goggles were used
under the face shield.
 Luckily the injury resulted in no long-term damage to an eye.

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Wearing the wrong kind of eye protection for the
job

 No safety goggles were used under the face

shield!
 Face shields are secondary protection and
shall be used only and always in
conjunction with primary protection.

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Primary and Secondary Eye Protection

 The ANSI Eye and Face Protection Standard (ANSI Z87.1) defines
primary protection, secondary protection and face shields. The
definitions for these categories are:
 Primary protection – A device that may be worn alone or in conjunction
with a secondary protector
 Secondary protection – A device that shall be worn only in conjunction
with a primary protector
 Face shield – A protective device commonly worn to shield the wearer's
face, in addition to the eyes, from certain hazards. Face shields are
secondary protection and shall be used only in conjunction with
primary protection

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This module will cover…

 The scope of the eye injury problem

 What contributes to eye injuries at work?

 What causes eye injuries at work?

 Where do injuries happen most often?

 How can eye injuries be prevented?

 How to comply with AEE rules

 What to do in emergency and how to maintain eye/face wash units

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What contributes to eye injuries at work?

Take a moment to think about possible eye hazards at your workplace.

A survey by the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of
about 1,000 minor eye injuries revealed how and why many on-the-job
accidents occur. Employees were either:
Not wearing eye protection. BLS reports that nearly three out of every five
workers injured were not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident.

OR

Wearing the wrong kind of eye protection for the job. About 40% of the injured
workers were wearing some form of inadequate eye protection when the
accident occurred and they were injured.

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What causes eye injuries at work?

Flying particles
BLS found that almost 70% of the accidents studied resulted
from flying or falling objects or sparks striking the eye. Injured
workers estimated that nearly three-fifths of the objects were
smaller than a pin head. Most of the particles were said to be
traveling faster than a hand-thrown object when the accident
occurred.
Contact with chemicals
Splashed liquids or flying chemical particles caused 20% of the
injuries.

Other accidents
Other accidents were caused by objects swinging from a fixed
or attached position, such as tree limbs, ropes, chains, or tools
that were pulled into the eye while the worker was using them.

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What causes eye injuries at AEE?

 Failure to wear proper eye/face protection at:

 Construction sites (wet concrete splashes, projectile particulates, dust)
 Environmental sites (tree branches, dust)
 Material labs (splashes with sulfur during concrete cylinder capping;
projectiles from hammering, cutting, etc.)
 Chemical labs (chemical use – potential)

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How can eye injuries be prevented?

Always wear effective eye protection.

To be effective, eye wear must be appropriate for
the hazard encountered and be properly fitted.

Better training and education.

BLS reported that most workers were hurt while doing their regular jobs.
Workers injured while not wearing protective eye wear most often said they
believed it was not required by the situation.
AEE provides eye protection at no cost to employees. SHEWeb, Corporate SHE
Department and SHE Coordinators are available to assist in selection of proper
PPE.

Maintenance.
Eye protection devices must be properly maintained.
Scratched and dirty devices reduce vision, cause glare, and may contribute to
accidents.

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Eye and Face Protection Selection Chart

Source Assessment of Hazard Protection

Flying fragments, objects, large chips, particles, Spectacles with side protection, goggles, face
IMPACT - chipping, grinding, machining, sand, dirt, etc. shields. For severe exposure, use face shields
drilling, chiseling, riveting, sanding
over primary eye protection

Hot sparks, splash from molten metals, high Goggles or safety spectacles with special-
HEAT and CHEMICAL or temperature exposure purpose lenses and side shields. Many heat
IMPACT – sulfur cupping and welding, hazard exposures require the use of a face shield
ignition ovens in addition to safety spectacles or goggles.

Splash, irritating mists Goggles - primary protectors intended to shield

CHEMICALS the eyes against liquid or chemical splash,
irritating mists, vapors, and fumes.
Face Shields - secondary protectors intended to
protect the entire face against exposure to
chemical hazards.

Harmful dust Goggles - primary protectors intended to protect

DUST Woodworking, buffing, and general the eyes against a variety of airborne particles
dusty conditions
and dust

Radiant energy, glare, and intense light When selecting filter lenses, begin with a shade
OPTICAL RADIATION welding, too dark to see the welding zone. Then try lighter
torch-cutting, brazing, soldering, and laser work
shades until one allows a sufficient view of the
welding zone without going below the minimum
protective shade.

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Select PPE

 Please use the table on the previous slide to select the PPE for the
task, resulting in an eye injury, described in the beginning of this
module

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Answer

 Skill saw generates dust along with flying fragments/chips.

 The most appropriate choice is to use safety goggles under the face
shield

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Description and Use of Eye/Face Protectors

Glasses
Protective eyeglasses are made with
 safety frames
 tempered glass or plastic lenses
 temples and side shields
They provide eye protection from moderate
impact and particles encountered in job
tasks such as:
 carpentry
 woodworking
 grinding,
 scaling, etc.

Safety glasses are also available in

prescription form for those persons who
need corrective lenses.

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Description and Use of Eye/Face Protectors

Goggles
Vinyl framed goggles of soft pliable body
design provide adequate eye protection from many
hazards.
These goggles are available with
 clear or tinted lenses
 perforated, port vented, or non-vented frames.
Single lens goggles provide protection similar
to spectacles and may be worn in combination with
spectacles or corrective lenses to ensure
protection
along with proper vision.

Welders goggles provide protection from

sparking, scaling, or splashing metals and harmful
light rays. Lenses are impact resistant and are
available in graduated shades of filtration.

Chippers/Grinders goggles provide eye

protection from flying particles. The dual protective
eye cups house impact-resistant clear lenses with
individual cover.
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Description and Use of Eye/Face Protectors

Face Shields
These normally consist of an adjustable
headgear and face shield of tinted or transparent
acetate or polycarbonate materials, or wire
screen.

Face shields are available in various sizes,

tensile strength, impact/heat resistance, and light
ray filtering capacity.

Face shields will be used in operations when the

entire face needs protection and should be worn
to protect eyes and face against flying particles,
metal sparks, and chemical/biological splash.

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Description and Use of Eye/Face Protectors

 Never wear face shields, which provide secondary protection, without

primary eye protection (safety glasses or goggles). Wear safety
glasses or goggles under face shields to provide protection when the
shield is lifted. Primary protection helps prevent particles that get
under the shield from lodging in the eyes.

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Description and Use of Eye/Face Protectors

Welding Shields
These shield assemblies consist of vulcanized fiber or glass fiber
body, a ratchet/button type adjustable headgear or cap attachment,
and a filter and cover plate holder.

These shields will be provided to protect workers’ eyes and face from
infrared or radiant light burns, flying sparks, metal spatter and slag
chips encountered during welding, brazing, soldering, resistance
welding, bare or shielded electric arc welding and oxyacetylene
welding and cutting operations.

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AMEC Rules on Eye Protection

Employees are required to use the

necessary PPE on the job.

PPE must be kept in safe and good

condition.

Managers must make sure that employees

use appropriate eye and face protection.

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Keep PPE in safe and good condition

Make sure all PPE is safe for the work to be performed. It must:
 Be durable.
 Fit snugly.
 Not interfere with the employee’s movements.

Make sure that PPE is used and maintained

in a clean and reliable condition.

Defective equipment MUST NOT be used.

Make sure that if employees provide their own PPE, it is adequate for
the workplace hazards and maintained in a clean and reliable
condition.

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Make sure our employees use appropriate
eye and face protection

Make sure that employees exposed to hazards that could

injure their eyes and/or face use appropriate protection.
Examples of these hazards include:
 Flying particles.
 Molten sulfur.
 Liquid chemicals; acids or caustic liquids.
 Chemical gases or vapors.
 Any light that could injure the eyes such as lasers,
ultraviolet, or infrared light.
 Objects that puncture.

Make sure employees exposed to hazards

from flying objects have eye protection with
side protection, such as safety glasses with
clip-on or slide-on side shields.

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Make sure our employees use appropriate
eye and face protection

o Make sure eye protection for employees who wear

prescription lenses:
o Incorporates the prescription into the design of the
eye protection; or
o Is large enough to be worn over the prescription
lenses without disturbing them.
o Workers who need to wear eye protection for long durations
and require prescription lenses should be provided protective
prescription safety glasses with side shields.

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AEE Requirements - Reminder

 Wearing eye protective equipment is mandatory for AEE employees and subs

working in locations where there is a risk of receiving eye injuries, such as punctures,
abrasions, contusions, or burns as a result of contact with flying particles, hazardous
substances, projections, or injurious non-ionizing radiation that are inherent in the
work or environment.
 Employees working with or in proximity to molten sulfur in AEE material
labs are required to wear safety goggles under a face shield.
 AEE employees in the labs are required to wear safety glasses. No entry to the
lab shall be allowed to employees or visitors not wearing safety glasses.
 Employees who are not comfortable with the existing eye and face protection
equipment should contact the local SHE coordinator or Unit Manager for assistance
in searching for and obtaining equipment that fits. The Corporate SHE Department is
available at any time to assist in selecting the appropriate eye/face protective
equipment for particular tasks.
 Eye/face protection should not be removed until the employee is out of regulated area
or task is completed and the risk of an injury is absolutely eliminated.
 Failure to wear proper PPE including proper eye/face protection is a ground for
a disciplinary action.
 The requirement to wear eye/face protective equipment is the most basic safety
requirement that should never be violated at AEE.

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 WORK ENVIRONMENT
Ecological and
Similar Field
• MINIMUM PPE (SHADED), HAZWOPER and Material Laboratory
Projects
APPROPRIATE TYPE Similarly (task-specific
Construction Chemical Laboratory (wetland
Classified PPE to be listed
delineation,
Projects in JSAs)
biological
survey, etc)

Should always be
available
• Eye Protection Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory
Use: Risk
assessment
Should always be Should always be Should always be Should always be Should always be
• Gloves and Hearing available available available available available
Protection Use: Risk Use: Risk Use: Risk Use: Risk Use: Risk
assessment assessment assessment assessment assessment
• Steel-Toe Safety Boots
Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory  
With Ankle Support  
• Sturdy Outdoor Footwear;
Ankle Support       Mandatory
Recommended  

• Footwear       Risk Assessment  

• High Visibility Vest Mandatory Mandatory     Mandatory

Should always be Should always be
available available
• Hard Hat Mandatory Mandatory
Use: Risk Use: Risk
assessment   assessment
• Level D, C, B, or A as
  Mandatory
specified in the HASP      
• Laboratory Coverall or
Mandatory When
Accepted Long Sleeved      
Operating
Clothing  
Mandatory When
• Laboratory Coverall      
Operating  
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Emergency Eye/Face Wash

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Introduction:

 All laboratory and project employees must be familiar with the location and use of eye
wash and safety showers even if they do not work directly with toxic or corrosive
chemicals.

 Why? You may be called upon to aid a colleague who has had an exposure.

 The distance from the location of the exposed individual to the safety device should not
exceed 15 seconds walking distance. The path to the safety shower or eye wash must
be unobstructed.

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Introduction:

 The path to the eye wash or safety shower cannot involve opening a door unless:
 There is always another employee present that can open the door.
 The exposed employee can exit the room without having to manually manipulate a
door knob (i.e. push bar).

 The location of all eye washes and safety showers must be clearly marked with a
highly visible sign. The area around the safety shower and eye wash must be well lit.

 The temperature of the water delivered should be between 60 o and 95o F.

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Examples Of Emergency Equipment

Eye Washes
A device used to irrigate and
flush both the face and the
eyes.

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Examples Of Emergency Equipment

Combination units

Interconnected
assembly of emergency
equipment (eye wash
and safety shower)
supplied by a single
source of flushing fluid.

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Using An Eye Wash Station
During An Emergency:

 Hold eyelids open using the thumb and index finger to help ensure that
effective rinsing has occurred behind the eyelid.

 It is normal to close eyes tightly when splashed, but this will prevent water or
eye solution from rinsing and washing the chemical out. Eyelids must be held
open.

 Practice of this procedure is encouraged to help familiarize potential users

with the feel of rinsing. It will also make it easier for the user to react both
promptly and properly to an emergency situation.

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Sample Eyewash Water Flow

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Eye/Face Washing Procedures:

 Always wash from the outside edges of the eyes to the inside; this will help to
avoid washing the chemicals back into the eyes or into an unaffected eye.

 Water or eye solution should NOT be directly aimed onto the eyeball, but
aimed at the base of the nose.

 Velocity of the stream of water must be such that injury to the eye is avoided.

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Procedure Continued:

 Flush eyes and eyelids with water or eye solution for a minimum of 15 minutes. “Roll”
eyes around to ensure full rinsing.

 Contact lenses must be removed as soon as possible to ensure that chemicals are not
trapped behind the lenses and then the eyes can be completely rinsed of any harmful
chemicals.

 Medical attention should be sought immediately! Ideally another person in the lab
should make contact with responders or dial 911. The sooner medical attention can be
given, the chances of not sustaining permanent damage or blindness is greatly
improved.

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 In cases of an exposure, the initial first aid treatment is to flush
affected area with water for a minimum of 15 minutes.

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Prevention of Accidents:

 Always wear required personal protective equipment (PPE)!

 Eye/Face PPE’s include: safety glasses, goggles and face-shields

 Know the chemicals that you are working with. Read the Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS) and ask questions.

 Know the location of the eye wash and safety shower.

 Know how to operate the safety equipment, you may need to use it yourself or assist
others.

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Eye/Face Wash Maintenance Requirements

 The nozzles must be covered to prevent contamination and covers must

automatically open when the unit is activated

• Eye wash units should be activated weekly to verify operation and to flush
lines for 3 minutes

• Self-contained units should be activated in accordance with the

manufacturer’s directions

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Eye injuries are 100% preventable!
Please concentrate your efforts on preventing eye injuries in 2010!

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