Eye Protection

Why it matters

Eye injuries on construction sites send someone to the ER every few minutes in this country, and nearly all of them happen to people who owned safety glasses but were not wearing them at that moment. Grinding sparks, nail ricochets, concrete dust, and chemical splash do not give warnings.

Hazards

• ⚠ Flying particles from cutting, grinding, and nailing
• ⚠ Dust clouds during demo, sweeping, and concrete work
• ⚠ Chemical splash from adhesives, solvents, and cleaners
• ⚠ Ricocheting fasteners from nail guns and powder-actuated tools
• ⚠ UV and infrared radiation from welding and torch work nearby

Controls and safe practices

• ✓ Safety glasses with side protection are the site minimum, on from gate to gate.
• ✓ Add a face shield over glasses for grinding, cutting, and chipping. The shield alone is not enough.
• ✓ Use goggles for dust-heavy tasks and any chemical pouring or spraying.
• ✓ Welding and torch work require the right shade lens; bystanders need screens or distance.
• ✓ Replace scratched or fogged lenses. If you cannot see through them, you will take them off.
• ✓ Know where the nearest eyewash or clean water is before the task starts.

Crew discussion questions

1. Which tasks today throw debris, and who is working next to them?
2. Does everyone have side shields, or just prescription glasses?
3. Where is the eyewash or clean water source on this site?
4. Whose lenses are too scratched to use and need swapping today?

Applicable OSHA standards

29 CFR 1926.102

More toolbox talks

• Ladder Safety
• Fall Protection Basics
• Heat Illness Prevention
• Lockout / Tagout: Controlling Energized Circuits
• Trench and Excavation Safety
• Silica Dust Control

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