WAC 296-304-09005   Eye and face protection.  (1) The employer must provide each affected employee with eye and face protection according to the following requirements:

     (a) Each affected employee must use appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards caused by flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acid or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.

     (b) Each affected employee must use eye or face protection that provides side protection when there is a hazard from flying objects. A detachable side protector (e.g., a clip-on or slide-on side shield) that meets the requirements of this section is acceptable.

     (c) Each affected employee who wears prescription lenses must:

     • Use eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design; or

     • Be protected by eye protection that can be worn over prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of either the PPE or the prescription lenses.

     (d) Each affected employee must use equipment with filter lenses of a shade that provides appropriate protection from injurious light radiation. Tables I-1A and I-1B lists the appropriate shade numbers for various operations. If filter lenses are used in goggles worn under a helmet with a lens, the shade number of the lens in the helmet may be reduced so that the shade numbers of the two lenses will equal the value shown in the Tables I-1A and I-1B.

     (2) The employer must ensure that all protective eye and face devices comply with ANSI Z87.1, American National Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection, edition 1989, revision 1998, or edition 2003.

     Employers may use alternate eye and face protection if they can demonstrate such devices are at least as effective as those constructed in accordance with one of the above consensus standards.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and chapter 49.17 RCW. 10-09-088, § 296-304-09005, filed 4/20/10, effective 6/1/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17].050 and [49.17].060. 98-02-006, § 296-304-09005, filed 12/26/97, effective 3/1/98; Order 74-25, § 296-304-09005, filed 5/7/74.]