§1910.133 Eye and Face Protection
(a) General requirements. (1) The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.
(2) The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses eye protection that provides side protection when there is a hazard from flying objects. Detachable side protectors (e.g. clip-on or slide-on side shields) meeting the pertinent requirements of this section are acceptable.
(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, or wears eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of the prescription lenses or the protective lenses.
(4) Eye and face PPE shall be distinctly marked to facilitate identification of the manufacturer.
(5) The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses equipment with filter lenses that have a shade number appropriate for the work being performed for protection from injurious light radiation. The following is a listing of appropriate shade numbers for various operations.
Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy
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Minimum* Protective
Operations Electrode Size 1/32 in. Arc Current Shade
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Shielded metal arc welding Less than 3................. Less than 60............... 7
3-5......................... 60-160..................... 8
5-8......................... 160-250.................... 10
More than 8................. 250-550.................... 11
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Gas metal arc welding and flux less than 60............... 7
cored arc welding
60-160..................... 10
160-250.................... 10
250-500.................... 10
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Gas Tungsten arc welding less than 50............... 8
50-150..................... 8
150-500.................... 10
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Air carbon (Light)..................... less than 500.............. 10
Arc cutting (Heavy)..................... 500-1000................... 11
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Plasma arc welding less than 20............... 6
20-100..................... 8
100-400.................... 10
400-800.................... 11
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Plasma arc cutting (light)**................... less than 300.............. 8
(medium)**.................. 300-400.................... 9
(heavy)**................... 400-800.................... 10
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Torch brazing ........................... 3
Torch soldering ........................... 2
Carbon arc welding ........................... 14
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Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy
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Minimum* Protective
Operations Plate thickness_inches Plate thickness_mm Shade
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Gas Welding:
Light Under 1/8................... Under 3.2.................. 4
Medium 1/8 to 1/2.................. 3.2 to 12.7................ 5
Heavy Over 1/2.................... Over 12.7.................. 6
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Oxygen cutting:
Light Under 1..................... Under 25................... 3
Medium 1 to 6...................... 25 to 150.................. 4
Heavy Over 6...................... Over 150................... 5
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* As a rule of thumb, start with a shade that is too dark to see the weld zone. Then go to a lighter shade which
gives sufficient view of the weld zone without going below the minimum. In oxyfuel gas welding or cutting
where the torch produces a high yellow light, it is desirable to use a filter lens that absorbs the yellow or
sodium line in the visible light of the (spectrum) operation.
** These values apply where the actual arc is clearly seen. Experience has shown that lighter filters may be
used when the arc is hidden by the workpiece.
(b) Criteria for protective eye and face devices. (1) Protective eye and face devices purchased after July 5, 1994 shall comply with ANSI Z87.1–1989, “American National Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection,” which is incorporated by reference as specified in §1910.6, or shall be demonstrated by the employer to be equally effective.
(2) Eye and face protective devices purchased before July 5, 1994 shall comply with the ANSI “USA standard for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection,” Z87.1–1968, which is incorporated by reference as specified in §1910.6, or shall be demonstrated by the employer to be equally effective.
[59 FR 16360, Apr. 6, 1994; 59 FR 33911, July 1, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 9238, Mar. 7, 1996; 61 FR 19548, May 2, 1996]
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