Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
D.
EYE AND FACE PROTECTION
1.
Introduction
Splashes, errant sprays, mists, clouds, etc., of pesticide vapors, aerosols,
liquids, dusts, and granules are potential sources of facial contact with the pes-
ticides. Although facial contacts would be expected to occur less frequently
than, for example, contact with the hands, the health consequences of the con-
tacts are potentially more serious, especially for contacts with the eyes.
In this section, the characteristics of eye and face protection products use-
ful for protection from chemicals and pesticides are discussed. Occupational
Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.133 and American
National Standard Institute's (ANSI) Z87.1 are used as references for this dis-
cussion. The regulation and the standard are useful consolidations of informa-
tion and guidance on the subject area, although they may not be directly appli-
cable to the agricultural setting.
2.
Selection Recommendations
The process of selecting eye and face protection for pesticide handlers is
difficult to generalize because of the wide range of exposure conditions that are
present in agriculture. In some situations, workers are in close proximity to
highly toxic pesticides where the danger of splash, irritating mists, or nuisance
dusts might occur (at other times, the worker may only peripherally encounter
the above dangers, yet requires appropriate protection). Common sense and
fundamental technical principles should be used in determining the correct pro-
tective eyewear.
Historically, many individuals have used either no eye protection or
safety glasses as the primary method of protection in this environment. There
are currently several different types of safety glasses for eye protection: no
sideshield, non-removable lens, half sideshield, lift front, full sideshield, de-
tachable sideshield, and headband temple. Safety glasses are designed to pro-
tect the wearer primarily from direct impact and heat. The sideshields provide
additional protection from side impacts. Of the seven types of spectacles
available, the models with full sideshields provide the greatest protection from
flying objects.
Shielded safety glasses are comfortable, do not cause fogging or sweat-
ing, and give good eye protection in many situations. Safety glasses must
have both brow and side shields.
Other types of protective eyewear appropriate for use in environments
containing pesticides include:
