Eye and face protection requirements

Employers must ensure employees wear eye and/or face protection whenever the employee is exposed to an eye or face hazard. The rule is phrased as a clear duty for the employer to make sure appropriate protection is used under 1918.101(a)(1).

• Examples of eye/face hazards include flying particles, chemical splashes, intense light, or other workplace conditions that can injure the eyes or face.
• Select protection that matches the hazard and complies with the consensus standards listed in 1918.101(a)(1)(i).
• The employer is responsible for assessing hazards and enforcing use; employees must wear the PPE the employer requires.

Protective eye and face devices must comply with one of the ANSI standards listed in the rule: ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010, ANSI Z87.1-2003, or ANSI Z87.1-1989 (R-1998). These specific versions are identified in 1918.101(a)(1)(i).

• The three acceptable anchors are shown individually in the standard text: 1918.101(a)(1)(i)(A), 1918.101(a)(1)(i)(B), and 1918.101(a)(1)(i)(C).
• Using equipment certified to one of these editions makes compliance straightforward; when in doubt, match the device markings and documentation to these standards.

Yes — an employer may use devices that do not strictly follow the listed ANSI editions so long as the employer can demonstrate they are at least as effective as devices made to one of the listed consensus standards. This allowance is in 1918.101(a)(1)(ii).

• Practical ways to demonstrate equivalent protection include independent test reports, manufacturer certification, or lab data showing equal or better impact, splash, or optical protection compared to the cited ANSI edition.
• Keep documentation of the equivalency demonstration with your safety program so you can show regulators or safety staff why the device was chosen.
• Even when using equivalent devices, the employer still has the duty to ensure workers are protected from identified hazards per 1918.101(a).

Employees who wear corrective glasses must be provided eye protection that can be worn over their glasses or provided with prescription-ground safety lenses that give equivalent protection. This requirement is stated in 1918.101(a)(2).

• Over-the-glasses (OTG) goggles are commonly used and must fit comfortably over the worker's prescription glasses without gaps that would allow hazards to reach the eye.
• Prescription safety glasses (prescription-ground safety lenses) are acceptable if they provide the same level of protection as the required safety lens standard.
• Verify fit and protection for each worker and replace or adjust equipment when it does not properly protect the eyes.

Eye protection must be kept in good condition, which means it is clean, functional, free of defects (like deep scratches or broken parts), and provides the protection for which it was designed. The maintenance duty appears in 1918.101(b).

• Inspect PPE regularly for cracked frames, scratched or pitted lenses, loose fasteners, or worn headbands.
• Replace damaged or worn items immediately — scratched lenses that distort vision or reduce impact resistance should be discarded.
• Follow manufacturer cleaning and maintenance instructions and keep spares so workers are not tempted to use damaged eye protection.

Used eye protection must be cleaned and disinfected before it is issued to another employee. This cleaning requirement is stated in 1918.101(c).

• Cleaning should remove dirt and contaminants; disinfection should reduce biological hazards (sweat, skin oils, microbes) according to manufacturer guidance or common disinfectant practice.
• Use disinfectants that are compatible with the PPE materials and avoid cleaners that damage lenses or coatings.
• Consider assigning personal PPE to individuals when practical to reduce sharing and the need for frequent disinfection.

Yes — the employer has the responsibility to ensure each employee uses appropriate eye and/or face protection when exposed to hazards. That employer duty is explicit in 1918.101(a).

• The employer must assess hazards, select suitable PPE, provide it, train employees in proper use and care, and enforce its use.
• Employees should be trained on why the protection is needed, how to wear it correctly, and how to inspect and maintain it.

Yes — where a standard (like 1918.101) requires PPE, OSHA's employer-payment rule generally requires the employer to provide that PPE at no cost to the employee, subject to limited exceptions. OSHA explained these payment requirements in its interpretation on employee PPE payment methods, which applies to standards including parts of 1918 (Employee PPE payment methods, Nov. 13, 2014).

• The 2007 final rule requires employers to pay for most PPE they require employees to use; employers may retain ownership and require return of issued PPE on termination, and may use deposit systems if they do not result in a net cost to employees. See the OSHA interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2014-11-13 for details.
• Employers may not charge employees for normal wear and tear that arises from workplace use.
• Keep written policies on issuance, return, and replacement so employees and inspectors can see how costs are handled.

An employer should keep documentation that supports the claim the device is at least as effective — for example, independent test reports, manufacturer certification, lab comparison data, or technical specifications demonstrating equal or superior performance compared to the listed ANSI editions. This follows the allowance in 1918.101(a)(1)(ii).

• Include test reports that address the relevant hazards (impact resistance, splash protection, optical quality, etc.).
• Keep labeling, datasheets, and any third-party certification with the safety program so you can show equivalency during inspections.
• If relying on in-house testing, document methods, criteria, and personnel qualifications used to make the equivalency determination.

Yes — prescription-ground safety lenses may be substituted for over-the-glasses protection provided they give equivalent protection to the required eye protection. This substitution is allowed in 1918.101(a)(2).

• Prescription safety lenses must meet the same protective performance (impact, coverage, coatings) as non-prescription safety lenses called for by the hazard assessment.
• Employers should confirm with the supplier or eye-care professional that the prescription safety lenses provide the required level of protection for the specific hazard (e.g., impact, splash, optical density for welding).

Before issuing used eye protection to another employee, clean visible dirt then disinfect using a method and product compatible with the PPE materials; this requirement comes from 1918.101(c).

• Remove grit and debris with soap and water or manufacturer-recommended cleaner.
• Disinfect using an appropriate solution (for example, an EPA-registered disinfectant compatible with the lens coating) or alcohol wipe if manufacturer allows it.
• Rinse if required by the disinfectant instructions, dry thoroughly, and inspect for damage before reissuing.
• Keep records or procedures showing cleaning frequency and approved disinfectants in your PPE program.

Eye protection must be maintained in good condition, and deep scratches or damage that impair protection or vision should result in replacement rather than repair; this maintenance requirement is in 1918.101(b).

• Minor repairs that restore full protective performance and are consistent with manufacturer guidance may be acceptable, but any repair must leave the device meeting the protective standards listed in 1918.101(a)(1)(i) or shown equivalent under 1918.101(a)(1)(ii).
• If a scratch or other damage affects impact resistance or vision, replace the lens or device rather than rely on a temporary fix.

A face shield should be used whenever the hazard includes risks to the face as well as the eyes — for example, chemical splashes, molten metal, or flying debris that can injure the whole face — and when such protection is necessary to control exposure to an eye or face hazard under 1918.101(a)(1).

• Choose face shields that meet the applicable ANSI requirements cited in 1918.101(a)(1)(i) or documented equivalents under 1918.101(a)(1)(ii).
• Face shields are often used together with safety glasses or goggles for impact protection to the eyes while the shield protects the face from fluids and debris.
• Perform a hazard assessment to determine whether a shield, goggles, or both are required for the task.

Yes — the employer must report a work-related loss of an eye to OSHA within 24 hours, as explained in OSHA's interpretation that references the reporting regulation at 29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2). OSHA discussed this reporting requirement in its First aid and bleeding control interpretation, June 19, 2019.

• The interpretation states that a work-related loss of an eye is reportable to OSHA under the revised reporting rule and must be reported within the 24-hour window described in 29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2) (discussed in the LOI available at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2019-06-19).
• Employers should have procedures to report serious injuries promptly and to preserve facts and equipment for any investigation.