Employer & Employee Responsibilities & Training

According to OSHA, all PPE, including those designed for the eyes and face, "shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition whenever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes and environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body, through absorption, inhalation, or physical contact."

In other words, employers must provide PPE for the eyes and face if workers can absorb, touch, or inhale any chemical, radiological, environmental, or mechanical irritants on the job. Employees can supply their own protective gear, but it is the employer's responsibility to make sure that gear is not only adequate, but properly cleaned and maintained. In addition, employers must train employees to know the following:

• When to use PPE
• Various types of PPE needed
• How to put on, take off, adjust, and wear PPE
• What the PPE can and cannot do
• Proper care, maintenance, usefulness, and disposal of PPE

To learn more about Eye & Face Protection visit our Eye & Face Protection Online Training web page.