Eye and Face Protection in Construction

Flying particles, molten metal, chemical splashes, and intense light from welding or lasers can injure the eyes and face. OSHA's construction standard for eye and face protection tells you when employees must use protection, what the protective devices have to meet, and how to choose protection against radiant energy. It is a short standard with three paragraphs: general requirements, criteria, and radiant energy.

Who it applies to

Section 1926.102 is part of 29 CFR Part 1926, Safety and Health Regulations for Construction, in Subpart E (Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment). The section has no scope paragraph or list of exclusions of its own. Its duties are tied to exposure:

• The general duty covers "each affected employee" who is exposed to the eye or face hazards the standard lists (1926.102(a)(1)).
• The laser rule covers employees "whose occupation or assignment requires exposure to laser beams" (1926.102(c)(2)(i)).

What the standard requires

Use protection when the listed hazards are present

You must ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from any of the following (1926.102(a)(1)):

• Flying particles
• Molten metal
• Liquid chemicals
• Acids or caustic liquids
• Chemical gases or vapors
• Potentially injurious light radiation

Side protection

When there is a hazard from flying objects, you must ensure that each affected employee uses eye protection that provides side protection. Detachable side protectors, such as clip-on or slide-on side shields, are acceptable if they meet the pertinent requirements of the section (1926.102(a)(2)).

Prescription lenses

For each affected employee who wears prescription lenses while doing work that involves eye hazards, you must ensure the employee wears one of two things (1926.102(a)(3)):

• Eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design, or
• Eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of the prescription lenses or the protective lenses.

Marking and minimum requirements for protectors

Eye and face PPE must be distinctly marked to facilitate identification of the manufacturer (1926.102(a)(4)).

Protectors must also meet these minimum requirements (1926.102(a)(5)(i) through (vi)):

• Provide adequate protection against the particular hazards for which they are designed
• Be reasonably comfortable when worn under the designated conditions
• Fit snugly and not unduly interfere with the movements of the wearer
• Be durable
• Be capable of being disinfected
• Be easily cleanable

Criteria: the consensus standards

Protective eye and face protection devices must comply with any of these consensus standards (1926.102(b)(1)(i) through (iii)):

• ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010
• ANSI Z87.1-2003
• ANSI Z87.1-1989 (R-1998)

There is one alternative. Devices that you demonstrate are at least as effective as devices built to one of those consensus standards will be deemed to be in compliance (1926.102(b)(2)). The text assigns that demonstration to the employer: it covers devices "that the employer demonstrates" are at least as effective.

Welding filter lenses

Table E-1 in the standard, "Filter Lens Shade Numbers for Protection Against Radiant Energy," lists welding, cutting, brazing, and soldering operations with a shade number for each. Table E-1 must be used as a guide for selecting the proper shade numbers of filter lenses or plates used in welding. Shades more dense than those listed may be used to suit the individual's needs (1926.102(c)(1)).

Check the table in the regulation itself for the shade that matches the operation.

Laser protection

Employees whose occupation or assignment requires exposure to laser beams must be furnished suitable laser safety goggles. The goggles must protect for the specific wavelength of the laser and be of optical density (O.D.) adequate for the energy involved (1926.102(c)(2)(i)).

Table E-2, "Selecting Laser Safety Glass," lists the maximum power or energy density for which adequate protection is afforded by glasses of optical densities from 5 through 8 (1926.102(c)(2)(i)).

All protective goggles must bear a label identifying (1926.102(c)(2)(ii)(A) through (C)):

• The laser wavelengths for which use is intended
• The optical density of those wavelengths
• The visible light transmission

Training

Section 1926.102 does not contain a training requirement of its own. A separate construction standard requires you to instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and in the regulations applicable to his work environment, to control or eliminate hazards or other exposure to illness or injury (1926.21(b)(2)).

Written programs and records

Section 1926.102 does not require a written program, a certification, or any record. What it does require is on the equipment itself: the manufacturer marking (1926.102(a)(4)) and the laser goggle label (1926.102(c)(2)(ii)).

Easy-to-miss requirements

• In-between laser output levels. When a laser's output level falls between lines in Table E-2, the higher optical density is required (1926.102(c)(2)(i)).
• Clip-on side shields have to qualify. Detachable side protectors are acceptable only when they meet the pertinent requirements of the section (1926.102(a)(2)).
• Only three ANSI editions are named. A device that does not comply with one of them is deemed to be in compliance only if you demonstrate it is at least as effective as a device constructed in accordance with one of them (1926.102(b)(1) and (b)(2)).
• Who pays. Under the general PPE standard for construction, PPE used to comply with Part 1926 must be provided at no cost to employees, with listed exceptions (1926.95(d)(1)). One exception: you are not required to pay for non-specialty prescription safety eyewear, provided you permit it to be worn off the job site (1926.95(d)(2)). You are also not required to pay for ordinary sunglasses used solely for protection from weather (1926.95(d)(4)(ii)).
• Employee-owned equipment. Where employees provide their own protective equipment, you are responsible to assure its adequacy, including proper maintenance and sanitation (1926.95(b)).

Related guides

• PPE hazard assessment
• Hot work
• Hazard communication

Source

This guide is based on the text of 29 CFR 1926.102 as published on osha.gov. The regulation itself always controls. States that run their own OSHA-approved State Plans may have additional or stricter rules.