If you work in a job where your eyes are at risk of chemical or foreign objects causing you an eye injury, then your employer has an obligation to provide you with safety goggles or face shields so that you can do your job safely. This includes jobs like welding, jobs that involve using a saw, and most chemical-related jobs. If you were injured due to your boss’s failure to provide you with safety goggles, talk to an eye protection lawyer today. Call us at 800-298-0111.
Failure to Provide the Right Safety Goggles
Safety goggles come in all shapes and sizes. But they are not all equal. Different eyewear is required for different jobs. Whether you are working with chemicals, flames, or toxic gases, you must wear the appropriate eyewear for the job. Ultimately, your employer must identify the correct safety glasses for the job. Failure to provide safety goggles to an employee who needs them to perform his job safely is negligence.
Who Regulates Safety Goggles?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets workplace safety standards in the United States. OSHA has adopted the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) guidelines as the standard for eye safety wear in the workplace. Unsafe working conditions should be reported to OSHA.
ANSI differentiates between types of glasses and when to use them. For example, goggles are classified as “high impact” and “basic.” The “drop ball” test determines if goggles are “high impact” or not. A one-inch-diameter steel ball is dropped on them to see whether they can withstand the force of a potential projectile strike.
What Do Safety Goggle Lens Markings Mean?
Safety goggles and mask lenses may have several markings. A ‘+’ mark indicates that the lens passed the ‘high impact’ test. ‘V’ indicates that the lens is photochromic- it darkens in the sunlight and lightens when indoors. ‘S’ indicates that the lens has some sort of special tint. You often find these markings on the bottom right corner when looking at the front of the goggles. It is critical that you have the correct gear to protect your eyes.
Who Determines What Safety Goggles an Employee Must Wear?
Your employer must determine which type of glasses are required for your job and make sure they are used properly. Failure to provide safety goggles can result in severe injury to the eye caused by:
- safety glass failure or shattering
- failure to protect the eyes from a dangerous chemical exposure
- failure to prevent fire or heat from getting to one’s eyes
- failure to prevent excessive or dangerous bright light flashes from entering the eye
Your employer owes you a safe workplace with proper safety equipment. If you feel like you were injured as a result of your employer failing to provide the proper safety goggles or welding masks, talk to an eye protection lawyer. Please call us immediately for a free consultation at 800-298-0111.
Talk to an Eye Protection Attorney
When you are ready to take action, call (713) 932-0777 to speak with an eye injury lawyer at Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we make a recovery for you.
