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32 MARCH 2017 COATINGSPROMAG.COM Safety Watch A ccording to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Labor, there are more than 10,000 eye injuries in North America every day. Approximately 2,000 of these injuries require medical treatment and 3–5 days off work. Additionally, many people are shocked to learn that 63 percent of all eye injuries happen away from work — at home and during recre- ational activities. It is estimated that using the correct eye protection could lessen the severity or even prevent 90 percent of eye injuries. So why are people not using proper eye protection? W hen asked about eye injuries, the most common responses are: "I never thought it would happen to me." "I didn't think I needed safety eyewear at the time." "My company doesn't offer well-fit- ting, stylish, and comfortable eyewear." "I have no choice in the eyewear issued." "Proper lenses for the environment in which I work are not available." "My glasses fog up." "My company does not offer lanyards to keep the eyewear close when needed." "My boss is not wearing safety eyewear." "My company has no safety eyewear policy." "Policies for safety eyewear are not enforced." OSHA Requirements General personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements are addressed in Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.132 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): "Protective equipment including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhala- tion, or physical contact." Per 29 CFR 1910.133: • Employers must ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or poten- tially injurious light radiation. • Employers must ensure that each affected employee uses eye protec- tion that provides side protection when there is a hazard from flying objects. • Employers must ensure that each affected employee who wears prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards wears eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design, or wears eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of the prescription lenses or the protective lenses. • Employers must ensure that each affected employee uses equipment with filter lenses that have a shade number appropriate for the work being performed for protection from injurious light radiation. Safety Eyewear Standards On September 9, 2009, OSHA issued a Final Rule that revised the PPE requirements for eye and face protec- tive devices, head protection, and foot protection. e Final Rule incorpo- rated the latest versions of national consensus and industry standards. Additionally, OSHA also announced its use of Direct Final Rule to ensure that when standards change, the law is automatically updated. erefore, employers must comply with this Final Rule by using and provid- ing for employees eyewear that is constructed in accordance with any of the last three standards: American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Z87.1-2003, -2010, and -2015, American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices. (NOTE: Even though Direct Final Rule applies, the process to actually incorporate ANSI/ISEA By Kurt Daems, Founder & CEO of Edge Eyewear Safety for Eyes and Face: ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 User Guide