PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR POLICY FOR NONACADEMIC AREAS
The use of protective eyewear by University employees engaged in any activity where the threat of injury to the eye from chemicals, light, flying debris or any other hazard that may occur is mandatory. Examples of such activities include, but are not limited to, those listed below.
- Welding, chipping, grinding, pruning
- Use of chisels and gouges
- Pouring or spraying of chemical products
- Use of air tools
- Working Overhead (i.e., installing/removing ceiling tiles)
- Driving vehicles with no windshield
- Use of power equipment such as:
- table saw
- radial arm saw
- circular saw
- drill and drill press
- router
- planer
- joiner
- sand blaster
- lathe
- weed whacker
- lawn mower
- snow blower
- sander
Realizing it is impossible to list every instance where protective eyewear is necessary, it is the University’s position that employees should exercise good judgment and take a very conservative approach to eye safety. In other words, when in doubt, wear eye protection.
It will be the responsibility of each department to ensure its employees have the protective eyewear necessary to perform their jobs in a safe manner. In general, this means safety glasses must conform to the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) standard Z87.1-2003. This standard covers all areas of eyewear safety including impact, chemical, light, etc. Eyewear must be approved for the task to be performed. Regular prescription glasses do not meet this standard and are not to be worn unless goggles which do conform to the standard are worn over top of the prescription glasses. If multiple hazards are present, eyewear must be worn which protects against all potential hazards. EOHS will be happy to assist you in making this decision based on the ANSI standard if you are in doubt.
The ultimate responsibility for wearing appropriate protective eyewear rests with each individual employee. It will be the responsibility of the immediate supervisor to provide the proper protective eyewear, enforce this policy and take appropriate corrective action if it is discovered that an employee is not wearing the proper protection.
Any questions regarding the need or use of protective eyewear should be directed to the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety.