Eyewear

One organ most vulnerable to damage in the laboratory is the eye. Protection against chemical or physical hazards are absolutely critical for the safety of our students and employees; therefore, the following guidelines must be observed in laboratories.

  1. Availability
  2. Prescription Eye Protection Program
  3. Performance Standards
  4. Definitions
  5. Usage Requirements
  6. Chemical Requirements for Splash Goggles
  7. Chemical Splash Goggle Exceptions
  1. Availability

    Eye protection must be made available to all employees or visitors to laboratories where chemicals are used and stored, in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i).

    The Laboratory Supervisor will establish the level of eye protection needed per laboratory activity, within the guidelines set forth in this policy. As per OSHA regulations, it is the responsibility of Gettysburg College to pay for such protective equipment as is required by the employee's job functions.

  2. Prescription Eye Protection Program

    Gettysburg College employees who work in areas requiring chemical splash goggles (as outlined in this policy) may be provided with, at the College's expense, a new prescription pair of safety glasses or chemical splash goggles every two years. For more information about this policy, refer to the Department of Public Safety guidelines as published in the "Prescription Eye Protection Program".

  3. Performance Standards

    All eye protective devices must be stamped with "Z87" by the manufacturer if they meet ANSI standards. If the eye protection is not marked, it may not be the most effective protection available, and should not be used in any laboratory setting.

  4. Definitions
    • Safety Glasses (which often includes side shields) offer minimal protection against flying fragments, chips, particles, sand, and dirt. They do not provide adequate protection from splashes or impacts originating at the side of the head.
    • Safety Goggles ("Impact Goggles") offer more complete protection against flying fragments chips, particles, sand, and dirt from all directions, but do not protect the user sufficiently form chemical splashes.
    • Chemical Splash Goggles ("Acid Goggles") have indirect venting for splash proof sides, which provide adequate protection against splashes from all sides. These provide the greatest level of eye protection against all physical and chemical hazard.
  5. Usage Requirements
    • Safety glasses are minimally required when working with all solid materials in the laboratory, including, but not limited to, glassware and other breakable materials, equipment with moving parts, and dry chemicals. Safety glassesmay not be used when working with hazardous materials.
    • Safety goggles (impact goggles) are the preferred method of eye protection for those uses mentioned above for safety glasses. They similarly offerinadequate protection from splash hazards due to the lack of splash-proof sides with proper ventilation. Therefore, safety goggles are not appropriatewhen working with hazardous liquids.
    • Chemical splash goggles (acid goggles) arerequired when using hazardous liquids or solids or gasses that are deemed otherwise toxic or dangerous, as defined below. There are a few discipline-specific exceptions to this requirement, which are also outlined below.
    • Face shields protect the face and neck from flying particles and splashes. Always wear additional appropriate eye protection under face shields.
    • Refer to section (TBD) for detailed information about protecting eyes from ultraviolet light.
  6. Chemical Requirements for Splash Goggles

    The following is a detailed cross-reference and clarification of which chemical classes, liquid or otherwise, shall upon use mandate the use of chemical splash goggles. If not specifically mentioned below, however, any liquid chemical meeting any of the definition of (section 1.5) shall implicitly require the use of chemical splash goggles.

    • Toxics:Any chemical, liquid or otherwise, defined as "toxic" as per (section 1.5.1)
    • Flammable Liquids: Any flammable liquid chemical as per (section 5.2)
    • Reactive Liquids: Any reactive liquid that meets the definition of (section 1.5.3)
    • Corrosive Liquids: Any liquid that meets the definition of (section 1.5.4) and/or any liquid with a pH of ≤5 or ≥9.
    • Particularly Hazardous Substance: Any chemical, liquid or otherwise, that meets the definition of (section 1.5.6)
  7. Chemical Splash Goggle Exceptions

    A minimal number of exceptions to the mandatory chemical splash goggle rules listed above shall be allowed under the following conditions. And though these exceptions are permitted, it shall be the policy of Gettysburg College to nonetheless recommend the use of chemical splash goggles regardless.

    • Ethanol, when in concentration ≤75% v/v, in volume <500mL, when dispensed via squirt bottle as a disinfectant or preservative.
    • Ethanol, in any concentration, in volumes <5mL, when transferred or mixed by Pasteur pipet or micropipette.
    • Ethanol, in any concentration, in volumes <250mL, when used in a dipping jar for sterilization purposes.
    • Bleach, when in ≤ “household strength” (~6% w/v hypochlorite), in volumes <500mL, when dispensed via squirt bottle as a disinfectant.
    • Bleach, in any concentration, in volumes <5mL, when transferred or mixed by Pasteur pipet or micropipette.