Critical OSHA Safety Standards

OSHA Regulations and Specialty Eyewear

As an employee who requires prescription lenses, you need to understand the OSHA standards to obtain the level of protection you are entitled to. Two important OSHA standards that pertain to prescription eye protection are sections 1910.132(h)(2) and 1915.153(a)(3). According to OSHA:

1910.132(h)(2)

The employer is not required to pay for non-specialty safety-toe protective footwear (including steel-toe shoes or steel-toe boots) and non-specialty prescription safety eyewear, provided that the employer permits such items to be worn off the job site.

1915.153(a)(3)

The employer shall ensure that each affected employee who wears prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards wears eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design unless the employee is protected by eye protection that can be worn over prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of either the PPE or the prescription lenses.

Essentially, if you are not able to wear additional eye protection over traditional prescription lenses, your personal health and safety are at risk. As such, your employer will be required to provide prescription eye protection.

Types of Eye Protection and Goggles

There are many different types of eye protection conditionally suited to protect against a variety of hazards. However, there is much more to eye protection than inserting prescription lenses into a pair of goggles or protective headgear. You will also want to consider the material of the frame’s composition and the durability of the material. Common types of frames include:

  • Rimless
  • Titanium
  • Spring hinged and non-spring hinged
  • Stainless and T-guard
  • Wraparound/Wrap Around
  • Foam Gasket
  • Dust Dam
  • Fashionable safety frames

You will also need to consider the function of the specialty prescription lenses and frames. Some frames can be hard to find, but we offer:

  • Non-conductive frames
  • X-ray and MRI frames
  • Plano and fog-free non-RX frames

Protect Your Health

No matter what type of hazards you encounter on a daily basis, one thing remains certain: you need to do everything in your power to protect your eyesight. Too many people take their health for granted until they suffer a personal injury. The bottom line is that you need to vigilantly adhere to OSHA safety standards. They exist for a great reason: to protect you from personal injury! Be certain you wear appropriate eye protection to avoid terrible regrets. Protect your eyes before it is too late!