TL;DR
This eye protection toolbox talk reminds crews that flying particles, splashes and dust can cause a serious eye injury in an instant. It covers wearing the right eyewear for the task, when to add goggles or a face shield, keeping lenses in good condition and knowing where the eyewash station is.
Run this eye protection toolbox talk with crews who grind, cut, drill, weld, handle chemicals, or work near anyone who does. It takes about five minutes. If possible, end it by walking to the nearest eyewash station together. The crew should leave knowing which eyewear each task needs and what to do in the first seconds after an eye injury.
Why does eye protection matter?
Eye injuries happen fast and can be permanent. OSHA states that thousands of people are blinded each year from work-related eye injuries that could have been prevented with the right eye and face protection.
In the US, OSHA 1910.133 requires appropriate eye or face protection against flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids, caustic liquids, gases, vapors and injurious light. It requires side protection where there's a hazard from flying objects. Workers with prescription lenses need eye protection that includes the prescription or fits over it.
Where eyes may be exposed to corrosive materials, OSHA 1910.151 requires facilities for quick flushing of the eyes within the work area. Other countries have equivalent rules, so check the rules where you work.
Talking points for your eye protection toolbox talk
- Wear the eyewear specified for the task. Safety glasses, goggles and face shields protect against different things. Check the job sheet or signage and don't swap down to something lighter.
- Add goggles or a shield for splashes and grinding. Glasses leave gaps that liquids and fine particles can get through. Goggles seal around the eyes, and a face shield goes over them to protect the whole face.
- Side protection matters. Debris doesn't only come from straight ahead. Use eyewear with side shields wherever particles are flying.
- Your own glasses aren't safety glasses. Regular prescription glasses aren't built to stop impact. Use prescription safety glasses or over-glasses that fit properly.
- Keep lenses clean and replace scratched ones. Scratched or fogged lenses tempt people to lift them up "just to see." CCOHS notes glass lenses lose impact resistance if scratched.
- Bystanders need protection too. Grinding sparks and chips travel well beyond the person doing the work. Screen off the area or make sure people nearby are protected.
- Know your eyewash station. If something gets in your eye, every second counts. Know where the nearest station is, keep the route clear, and know how to hold your eyelids open while flushing.
Example to share with the crew
Picture this: a worker is helping a colleague by holding a bracket while they drill it. The driller is wearing safety glasses; the helper isn't, because they "weren't doing the drilling." A metal chip flicks sideways into the helper's eye. They rub it, which makes it worse, and nobody is sure where the eyewash is.
Two failures added up: no eyewear for the helper and no plan for the first minute. Ask the crew which "helper" jobs here need eye protection too.
Eye protection checklist
- Eye hazards identified for each task and the required eyewear posted
- Safety glasses with side protection available in a range of sizes
- Goggles and face shields available for splash and grinding tasks
- Prescription safety eyewear or over-glasses provided where needed
- Lenses clean, unscratched and frames undamaged
- Eyewash stations accessible, unobstructed and checked
- Bystanders protected by screens or eyewear near hot work and grinding
Questions to ask the crew
- Where is the nearest eyewash station to where you work?
- Which tasks here need goggles or a face shield, not just glasses?
- What makes people take their eye protection off, and how could we fix that?
How to close the talk
If the crew remembers one thing from this eye protection toolbox talk, make it this: protect your eyes whenever you're doing the work or standing near it, and know where to flush them before you need to. Report scratched eyewear, missing face shields or a blocked eyewash to your supervisor right away. For more PPE discussions, see the head protection talk or our library of safety talk topics.
Toolbox talk sign-in sheet
Print this page to get the talk and a blank attendance sheet on paper.
- Date
- Location / crew
- Presenter
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Frequently asked questions
What should an eye protection toolbox talk include?
The eye hazards on site, matching glasses, goggles or face shields to the task, side protection, prescription eyewear, keeping lenses clean and unscratched, and the location and use of eyewash stations.
Are prescription glasses enough as safety eyewear?
No. In the US, OSHA 1910.133 requires workers who wear prescription lenses to use eye protection with the prescription built in, or eye protection that fits over their glasses.
When do you need a face shield instead of safety glasses?
When the hazard can hit the whole face, such as chemical splashes, molten metal or heavy grinding debris. Face shields are normally worn over safety glasses or goggles, not instead of them.
Sources
This toolbox talk is general safety information. Adapt it to your site's procedures and follow the regulations that apply where you work.