Eye Protection Policy

 

  1. All persons in a lab are required to wear fully enclosed CHEMICAL SPLASH GOGGLES (with "indirect vents") whenever:
    • Opening or otherwise handling open containers of liquids or solids that are capable of injuring the eyes, or the body via the eyes (acids, caustics, poisons, carcinogens, mutagens, solvents, organic peroxides, boiling water, reactive chemicals, etc.).
    • Occupying or traversing the "splash zone" of someone working with the above chemicals. In COTA labs, this typically means that one individual handling injurious chemicals in a laboratory necessitates the use of chemical splash goggles by all lab occupants.
  2. Safety glasses or prescription type eyeglasses are inadequate protection for all types of chemical eye hazards. They may never be employed in lieu of proper protective eyewear!
  3. In addition to chemical splash hazards, the eyes must be adequately protected from other hazards as appropriate -- including, but not limited to, flying particles, hazardous light (UV, laser, electric arc, etc.).
  4. Eyewash/deluge shower units are inspected regularly by Plant Operations. If found to be defective, the unit is clearly marked as OUT OF ORDER. Hazardous chemicals may not be used in the laboratory when the eyewash is out of service!

ANYONE (students, faculty, service personnel etc.) UNABLE TO COMPLY with the eye protection requirements MAY NOT REMAIN in the laboratory! THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS AT ANY TIME!

Chemical splash goggles can be purchased from the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (SAACS). They have a booth set up near chemistry labs during the first weeks of semester. Goggles are also sold in the University Bookstore.

Contact Lens Use in Potentially Harmful Environments

Employees and students who wear contact lenses in locations where there is a risk of receiving eye injuries such as punctures, abrasions, contusions, or burns as a result of contact with flying particles, hazardous substances, projections or injurious light rays which are inherent in the work or environment, shall be safeguarded by means of appropriate face and/or eye protection ("special precautionary procedures" per Title 8, Section 3382). Although recent studies have shown that contact lenses do not increase the risk of accidental injury to the eyes, and in many cases may provide more protection to the eyes than spectacles (see attached), they may not be regarded as a substitute for protective eyewear.

COTA employees and students wearing contact lenses and working with hazardous liquids or solids must wear fully enclosed, indirectly vented, flexible chemical splash goggles whenever they are engaged in one or both of the following activities:

  1. Opening or otherwise handling open containers of liquids or solids that are capable of injuring the eyes (acids, caustics, poisons, carcinogens, solvents, organic peroxides, boiling water, highly reactive chemicals, etc.).
  2. Occupying or traversing the "splash zone" of someone working with the above materials. In COTA labs, this typically means that one individual handling injurious materials in a laboratory necessitates the use of chemical splash goggles by all lab occupants.

COTA employees and students wearing contact lenses and engaged in activities potentially involving flying particles, injurious light rays, injurious gases etc. must wear the appropriate eyewear as stipulated by Title 8 Section 3382 and as approved by the COTA Safety Office.