DOE/EH-0174 --- Issue No. 91-02 --- 03/91

Prevent Eye Injuries:
Select and Use Appropriate Eye Protection

BACKGROUND

In the past 2 years, workers at DOE facilities have reported over 500 eye injuries. Some of these injuries, such as irritations caused by airborne dust particles, were minor. Some, such as the corneal abrasion that occurred when a flying insect entered a worker's eye, were unavoidable. However, a review of facility injury reports indicates that well over 200 of these injuries (and the more than 300 lost work days that resulted from them) could have been prevented if workers had selected and used the correct type of eye protection.

COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS REDUCES RISK OF INJURY

The first step in preventing eye injuries to DOE workers is to ensure that the eye protection requirements outlined in DOE Order 5480.4 are met at all DOE facilities. The Order requires the use of protective eye and face equipment "when there is reasonable probability that injury can be prevented by its use." The requirements of DOE Order 5480.4 are consistent with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, as contained in Title 29, Part 1910.133, of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Briefly stated, OSHA requires that "employees shall use [eye] protectors" that are "suitable for the work to be performed." Both DOE Order 5480.4 and OSHA require eye protection equipment to meet minimum requirements. Specifically, the various types of eye protection equipment "shall provide adequate protection against the particular hazards for which they are designed."

SELECTING PROPER EYE PROTECTORS

Wearing eye protection is an important safety precaution; however, carefully selecting the correct type of protection for the job is equally important. Eye injuries reported by DOE employees vary widely, depending on the source of injury. Many reported eye injuries resulted from metal particles or other foreign bodies that entered or became embedded in the eye during grinding and drilling operations. Welding processes led to injuries such as flashburns, which were caused when unprotected eyes were exposed to electrical arcing. Chemicals that were accidentally sprayed or splashed into eyes were another prime cause of eye irritation or injury. In addition, a growing number of eye injuries among DOE workers have been traced to the accidental reflection of a laser beam into the eye.

Although no protective device provides unlimited protection, the eye protection selection chart from American National Standard Institute (ANSI) Standard Z87.1-1989, which is shown as Figure 1, outlines the types of protectors recommended for specific operations. Meeting this ANSI standard for "design, construction, testing, and use of devices for eye and face protection," is an OSHA requirement. As can be seen from Figure 1, only 4 of the 12 types of eye protection recommended for use during impact operations (e.g., chipping, grinding, sanding, etc.) are also suggested when workers are engaged in chemical handling activities, and none of these protectors is acceptable for welding-type operations. There is even more diversity among the types of available eye protectors when choosing the correct protection for various welding, cutting, and soldering activities.

LASER SAFETY

If eyes are not protected adequately when working with laser beams, severe damage can occur. The correct choice of lens density and color is based on the wavelength and power of the specific laser being used. Plastic goggles, for example, should not be worn by workers who might be exposed to direct laser beams or reflections. To ensure adequate protection, these workers should wear filter safety-glass goggles. In January 1986, a severe retinal burn from a laser beam was the subject of an Office of Environment, Safety and Health (ES&H) Serious Accident bulletin (Issue No. 11, January 1986). The beam melted a hole in the worker's laboratory-approved plastic laser safety goggles. Investigators determined that this injury would not have occurred had the worker been wearing filter-glass eye protection. Testing indicated that safety glasses made of KG-3 filter glass provided better protection for those working in laboratories where there are high-peak power and high-average power (repetitively pulsed or continuous wave) lasers.

In general, laser eye protection should be selected on the basis of how well it will protect the eye against the maximum exposure anticipated. At the same time, the greatest amount of light possible should be allowed to enter the eye to ensure proper sight. Figure 2, taken from the "Guide for the Selection of Laser Eye Protection," shows five types of commercially available eye protectors.

The booklet also provides step-by-step guidance for selecting the correct eye protection for various laser operations and is available from the Laser Institute of America, 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 130, Orlando, FL 32826 (Phone: 407-380-1553).

ANSI Standard Z136.1-1986, "Safe Use of Lasers," also provides guidance on choosing the correct protective eyewear when working with lasers. All DOE laser users should comply with the guidance provided in ANSI Z-136.1, and questions centered on this standard are used during radiation protection appraisals.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Wearing the correct type of eye protection is an essential element of on-the-job eye safety. The following recommendations provide guidance for minimizing eye injuries at DOE facilities.

• Perform worksite hazard analyses to determine what eye hazards exist and what type of eye safety equipment will provide the right protection.

• Post safety procedures that clearly identify the appropriate eye protection in work areas where such protection is required.

• Provide prejob instruction for those workers whose tasks require eye protection, and schedule hands-on training in the use and selection of appropriate eye protectors on a regular basis.

• Ensure that no one, including top-level managers, public officials, or other visitors to the work site, is exempt from wearing eye protection in areas where it is required.

• Use eye protection in conjunction with, not as a replacement for, machine guards, engineering controls, etc.

• Ensure that eye protection fits properly (i.e., firmly and comfortably, without restricting vision).

• Wear eye protection even if prescription eyewear is worn. Although most plastic lenses of eyeglasses are impact-resistant (by Federal regulation), they are not meant for use in hazardous situations. (Contact lens wearers should use the same type of eye protection as those who do not wear prescription eyeglasses.)

Laser-specific Recommendations

• Select eye protectors on the basis of the exact narrow waveband being transmitted by the laser, choosing the correct lens color and density for that specific waveband.

• Select eye protectors that best afford the protection required to protect the eye against the maximum exposure anticipated for a particular wavelength and viewing duration.

• Use administrative controls to ensure that eye protectors are worn and that any other hazards (e. g., reduced visual capacity of the wearer) are controlled.

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