Eye and face protection

The employer must provide eye or face protection whenever employees are exposed to hazards such as flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustics, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation. See the specific wording in 1915.153(a)(1).

• Provide PPE based on the actual hazards present, not just routine work descriptions.
• For intense radiant energy (e.g., welding arcs), use filter lenses and shaded helmets/goggles per 1915.153(a)(4).
• The OSHA Letter of Interpretation on shipyard eye and face protection clarifies that “potentially injurious light radiation” refers to intense sources like electric arcs, not ordinary sunlight: see Shipyard eye and face protection (Dec. 30, 2019).

Yes—when there is a hazard from flying objects the employer must ensure eye or face protection provides side protection, and detachable side protectors (such as clip-on or slide-on shields) that meet the section's requirements are acceptable. This requirement is stated in 1915.153(a)(2).

• Use side protection whenever the hazard could come from the sides (e.g., grinding, chipping, or flying debris).
• Detachable side shields must meet the same performance criteria required by the standard (see 1915.153(b)).

The employer must provide eye protection that incorporates the prescription into its design, unless suitable eye protection can be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the fit or position of either the protective device or the prescription lenses. This is required by 1915.153(a)(3).

• Options include prescription safety glasses, prescription inserts for goggles, or properly fitting over-the-glass (OTG) safety goggles that do not displace the wearer's eyewear.
• Ensure the chosen solution provides the same level of hazard protection (e.g., side shields, filter shades) that the task requires.

You must use filter lenses with a shade number at least equal to the minimum protective shade listed in Table I–1 for the specific welding, cutting, or brazing operation; choose a shade that blocks injurious radiant energy while still permitting adequate view of the work. See 1915.153(a)(4).

• The rule's Table I–1 lists minimum shades for processes (e.g., shielded metal arc welding, gas welding, plasma cutting) and for electrode sizes and arc currents.
• A practical tip from the table: start with a shade that is too dark to see the weld zone, then step down to the lightest shade that still provides protection and allows acceptable visibility.
• If goggles with filter lenses are used under a helmet with a lens, you may reduce the helmet lens shade so the combined shade values meet the table's minimum (see 1915.153(a)(4)).

No—ordinary sunlight is not the kind of "potentially injurious light radiation" referenced in 1915.153(a)(1); the phrase refers to intense radiant energy from operations like electric arc welding and gas torch cutting. See OSHA's Shipyard eye and face protection (Dec. 30, 2019) Letter of Interpretation.

• The LOI explains that while welding filters also shield UV and may incidentally reduce sunlight exposure, ordinary sunglasses are not designed to protect against welding arc radiation and do not meet welding-filter requirements.
• Employers still may provide sunglasses for general outdoor UV protection, but that is outside the specific "injurious light radiation" requirement in 1915.153(a)(1).

Protective eye and face devices must comply with one of the consensus standards listed in 1915.153(b)(1): ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010, ANSI Z87.1-2003, or ANSI Z87.1-1989 (R-1998), each incorporated by reference in 1915.5.

• Choosing PPE certified to these standards helps ensure the device meets impact, optical, and other protective criteria called for by the rule.
• If you use devices not constructed to those standards, 1915.153(b)(2) allows them only if the employer can demonstrate they are at least as effective.

Yes—an employer may use eye and face protection not constructed to the listed ANSI standards only if they can demonstrate the devices are at least as effective as those built to one of the listed consensus standards; this is stated in 1915.153(b)(2).

• The employer should document testing, certification, or technical data showing equivalent protective performance (impact, optical quality, side protection, filter shade, etc.).
• Keep records of the demonstration so you can show compliance during an inspection.

If filter lenses are used in goggles worn under a helmet that also has a lens, you may reduce the helmet lens shade so that the combined shade numbers of the two lenses equal the value shown in Table I–1; this allowance is in 1915.153(a)(4).

• For example, if Table I–1 requires shade 10 and the goggles are shade 8, the helmet lens may be shade 2 so the two add up to the required total (practical application should maintain adequate protection and visibility).
• Always ensure the combined filtering effect meets or exceeds the table's minimum for the specific operation.

For oxyfuel gas welding or cutting that produces a high yellow light, it is desirable to use a filter lens that absorbs the yellow (sodium) line in the visible spectrum; this recommendation is included in the discussion preceding 1915.153(b).

• Choosing a filter that reduces the yellow/sodium wavelengths can improve visual comfort and clarity for those specific torch operations.
• This is a performance-based recommendation to improve the worker's ability to see and remain protected during oxyfuel operations.

Not always—the employer must provide appropriate eye or face protection based on the hazard; whether goggles, safety spectacles, or a full face shield is required depends on the specific chemical, how it is used, and the exposure route, as stated in 1915.153(a)(1).

• Use goggles that seal against splashes for liquid chemical exposures; use face shields when there is potential for larger splashes or for full-face protection combined with other hazards.
• Consult chemical safety data sheets (SDS) and hazard assessments to select the correct device and ensure compatibility with other PPE (respirators, helmets, etc.).

The shipyard standard incorporates three versions of the ANSI Z87.1 standard: ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010, ANSI Z87.1-2003, and ANSI Z87.1-1989 (R-1998), listed in 1915.153(b)(1)(i)–(iii).

• Devices meeting any one of these editions are acceptable under the regulation.
• If a newer ANSI standard is used by an employer, document equivalence to ensure compliance under 1915.153(b)(2).

The employer should keep documentation showing the non-ANSI device's protective performance is at least equivalent to the referenced standards—such as independent test reports, engineering data, manufacturer certification, or third-party lab results—consistent with 1915.153(b)(2).

• Include details on impact resistance, optical quality, side protection, filter shade performance, and any relevant test methods.
• Maintain records so they are available for inspection to demonstrate compliance.

Employers generally must provide required PPE at no cost to employees; OSHA's policy on employer payment for PPE explains that employers are responsible for providing required PPE, with limited exceptions, and cautions against cost-shifting to employees (see the Letter of Interpretation on Employee PPE payment methods (Nov. 13, 2014)).

• If the employer retains ownership of the PPE, they may require return of the equipment or recover its cost if the employee fails to return it, provided this does not charge the employee for normal wear and tear (per the 2014 LOI).
• For specifics about payment rules and exceptions across Parts 1910/1915/etc., review the 2014 LOI: Employee PPE payment methods.

Yes—welding goggles and helmets with appropriate shaded filter lenses are required to protect workers from injurious radiant energy (including UV) produced by welding arcs, and the required minimum shade numbers are shown in Table I–1 of 1915.153(a)(4).

• The Shipyard eye and face protection LOI (Dec. 30, 2019) confirms that "potentially injurious light radiation" includes the intense radiation produced by welding and cutting operations and that PPE for these operations must meet Table I–1 requirements.
• Ordinary sunglasses are not a substitute for welding filters when welding/cutting hazards exist.

Employers should provide eye protection that covers the eyes and provides side protection to guard against flying particles—safety goggles or safety spectacles with side shields that meet the applicable ANSI standards in 1915.153(b)(1) are appropriate.

• Ensure goggles have a proper seal for fine particles (vents may be indirect or baffled to limit particle entry).
• Confirm the chosen eyewear's impact rating and that it does not interfere with other required PPE or worker vision.

Employers must select compatible PPE and ensure proper fit so that eye and respiratory protection can be worn together without compromising protection; this complies with the performance intent of 1915.153(a)(1) and the device criteria in 1915.153(b).

• Evaluate combinations during hazard assessments and provide models or styles that are tested for compatibility (e.g., full-face respirators may replace separate goggles and respirators when appropriate).
• Involve workers in fit checks and training so they understand how to don PPE properly without disturbing seals or visual protection.

Non-prescription safety glasses are allowed only if they provide the necessary hazard protection and the employee's vision needs are met; however, 1915.153(a)(3) requires that employees who wear prescription lenses during operations with eye hazards either wear protection that incorporates the prescription or wear protective devices that fit properly over their prescription lenses without disturbing them.

• Over-the-glass (OTG) goggles that do not displace prescription eyewear are acceptable where they provide required protection.
• If non-prescription safety glasses would not provide correct vision, supply prescription safety eyewear or inserts.

Table I–1 in 1915.153(a)(4) sets minimum protective shades for plasma arc cutting by light, medium, and heavy categories: light under 300 amps is shade 8; medium 300–400 amps is shade 9; heavy 400–800 amps is shade 10.

• Use the table's guidance as minimums; remember the rule-of-thumb in the table to start with a darker shade and then select the lightest shade that still protects while allowing adequate view of the work.

A competent person—defined under Part 1915—may recognize and evaluate exposures and specify necessary protections when there is no OSHA PEL; OSHA confirmed this in the Letter of Interpretation on Competent person requirements in shipyards (Apr. 18, 2016).

• The competent person must be capable of specifying protection and precautions (see that LOI referencing 29 CFR 1915.4(o) and the responsibilities in Part 1915).
• For eye and face hazards with uncommon chemicals or unlisted limits, the competent person should select PPE based on hazard evaluation, authoritative OELs, SDS guidance, and professional judgment.

Employers should provide filter lenses with at least the minimum protective shade specified in Table I–1 of 1915.153(a)(4): for gas welding, light (under 1/8 in) use shade 4; medium (1/8 to 1/2 in) use shade 5; heavy (over 1/2 in) use shade 6.

• Follow the table's rule-of-thumb to choose the lightest shade that still gives adequate protection and visibility.
• If the actual arc or flame is hidden by the workpiece, you may be able to use a lighter filter than shown in some cases (per the Table I–1 notes).

An employer may reduce the helmet lens shade when goggles with filter lenses are worn under the helmet, provided the sum of the shade numbers of the two lenses equals or exceeds the minimum value shown in Table I–1 of 1915.153(a)(4).

• Ensure combined protection meets the table's minimum for the operation; document the selection so it can be verified during inspections.
• Confirm the combination still allows sufficient visibility and does not compromise the seal or stability of either device.