When other controls are not enough, safety glasses, goggles, helmets, and face shields can protect employees from the hazards of flying fragments, large chips, hot sparks, and splashes, as well as objects, particles, sand, dirt, mists, dusts, and glare. The type of eye or face protection required depends on the hazard.
Prescription eyewear may be provided based on the work being done and the duration or frequency of exposure to the hazard. Over-The-Glasses protective eye wear is available for personnel who wear prescription glasses, so prescription protective eye wear is rarely necessary. Contact EH&S for more information.
Quick Links
University Personal Protective Equipment Program (link pending)
Cal/OSHA Eye and Face Protection standard (8 CCR 3382)
Video Display Terminal Computer Glasses
Video Display Terminal glasses, while not considered safety eyewear, can help employees who spend more than four hours per day on a computer reduce eye strain. This program is provided to CSU employees at a reduced cost through the VSP Computer Vision Care (CVC). This is a supplemental employee benefit NOT managed by EH&S.
Types and Uses of Eye and Face PPE
Safety glasses are intended to protect the eye from solid materials (dust and flying objects). They are not very effective at protecting the eyes from chemical splashes. However, safety glasses with permanent side shields or wraparound design can provide better protection from incidental splashes of chemicals and particulate or flying objects.
When safety glasses are not enough:
For tasks involving a volume of chemicals that poses a significant risk of injury from splashes or flying objects to the eyes and eye areas, chemical splash goggles must be worn instead. Indirect venting is required to minimize the risk of chemical seepage in case of a significant splash.
For tasks where there is a significant risk of injury to the eyes and areas around the eyes, from flying objects and particulates, shop goggles must be worn. Direct venting that allows air flow may be acceptable
Safety goggles are intended to protect the eyes and eye area from flying particles and particulates when the quantity or type of materials require greater protection than that provided by safety glasses with sideshields.
These are distinguished from chemical splash goggles because they are often directly vented for comfort and don't typically have a strong seal around the eye area.
Chemical splash goggles are intended to protect the eyes and eye area from chemical splashes, as well as particulates and projectiles. These provide much more effective splash protection than that provided by safety glasses with sideshields or wrap-around lenses.
A face shield is a piece of rigid, clear plastic attached to a headband. When properly used, face shields provide additional protection against impact and splash hazards when worn over safety glasses or goggles. A face shield can protect the parts of the face that aren't covered by safety eyewear. This extra protection is often required when handling molten metal, ultraviolet or infrared radiation emitting sources, and larger volumes of corrosive or flammable chemicals.
Face shields used for hazard protection must be designed, tested and manufactured in accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) American National Standard, ANSI Z87.1-2010.
Obtain and use the correct face shield designed for the hazard following a hazard assessment.
Laser eyewear with lenses rated for specific wavelengths and intensities must be worn when laser beams are not enclosed or otherwise shielded. Standard safety glasses or goggles are not acceptable, as their lenses will allow laser light through and expose the eyes.
Specialized lenses are required that filters out harmful light sources to protect the eyes. Eye wear incorporating these specialized lenses or a face shield designed to filter out these light sources may be worn over standard safety eyewear.
Welding helmets and handshields are protective devices to provide protection from the eyes and face against optical radiation and spatter. Safety glasses or goggles are required to be worn under welding helmets.
