1. Eye Safety While Working with Chemicals
Welcome to Chemscape’s presentation on eye safety while working with chemicals.
Eye Safety While Working with Chemicals

2. Objectives of this presentation
Gain a better awareness and understanding of eye injuries in the workplace.
Identify how to protect your eyes while working with chemicals.
Learn how to care and maintain eye and face protection.
Retain first aid tips in the event of accidental exposure to the eye
The objectives for this presentation are to:
Gain a better awareness and understanding of eye injuries in the workplace.
Identify how to protect your eyes while working with chemicals.
Learn how to care and maintain eye and face protection.
Retain first aid tips in the event of an accidental exposure to the eye

3. Eye injuries are very common
Job-related eye injuries that result in work leave, temporary or permanent vision loss:
Canada – 700 workers a day (CNIB)
USA – 2,000 workers a day (NIOSH)
90% of these injuries were preventable if the person had been wearing correct eye protection.
It’s a fact - eye injuries in the workplace are very common.
In the USA, NIOSH reports about 2,000 workers sustain job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment each day.
In Canada, similar numbers from the CNIB that report 700 Canadian workers a day sustain eye injuries on the job, that result in work leave and in some cases, either temporary or permanent vision loss.
Unfortunately, safety experts and eye doctors believe 90% of these eye injuries could have been prevented if the person was wearing the correct eye protection.

4. Common Routes of Exposure
Chemical exposure to the eye most commonly occurs from:
Chemical splashes when not wearing eye protection
Chemical splashes when wearing the wrong eye protection
Wiping one’s eye with a dirty glove or other contaminate item
Rubbing one’s eyes after handling a chemical
A large percentage of eye injuries are caused by direct contact with chemicals. The most common route of chemical exposure to the eye often result from not wearing eye protection or an inappropriate choice of eye protection that allows a chemical substance to enter from around or under protective eye equipment. Chemical substances can contact the eyes in the form of splash, mists, vapors, or fumes. Wiping one’s eye with a dirty glove or other contaminate item is another route or exposure as well as rubbing one’s eye after handling a chemical.

5. Eye and Face Protection
Personal protective equipment devices for chemical hazards: Safety Goggles: Primary protectors intended to shield the eyes against liquid or chemical splash, irritating mists, vapors, and fumes. Face Shields: Secondary protectors intended to protect the entire face against exposure to chemical hazards.
Personal protective equipment devices for chemical hazards can include:
Safety Goggles: Primary protectors intended to shield the eyes against liquid or chemical splash, irritating mists, vapors, and fumes.
Face Shields: Secondary protectors intended to protect the entire face against exposure to chemical hazards.
The type of safety eye protection you should wear depends on the hazards in your workplace. When fitted and worn correctly, goggles protect your eyes from hazardous substances. A face shield may be required in areas where workers are exposed to severe chemical hazards.

6. Prescription lenses If you wear prescription lenses:
you must also wear eye and face protection.
it should fit comfortably over glasses.
safety goggles and spectacles may incorporate prescription lenses.
Workers who wear prescription glasses must also wear required eye protection.
Eye and face protection that fits comfortably over glasses is available.
Safety goggles and spectacles may incorporate prescription lenses.

7. Contact lenses
Contact lenses may complicate eye safety. In general as long as proper eye protection is worn it is okay to wear contact lenses. However, it is recommended to not wear contact lenses when working with some chemicals.
A proper eye hazard assessment and contact lens policy is recommended by job task and worksite.
Supervisors should know who wear contact lenses to ensure proper training, PPE and first aid is available.
Contact lenses can complicate eye safety. In general as long as proper eye protection is worn it is okay to wear contact lenses. However, it is recommended to not wear contact lenses when working with some chemicals. A proper eye hazard assessment and contact lens policy is recommended by job task and worksite. This should also include job task restrictions. Supervisors should know who wear contact lenses to ensure proper training, PPE and first aid is available.

8. Protect Your Eyes at Work
Read the MSDS/SDS and Label for complete information on your workplace chemicals.
An SDS contains information on what should be worn for eye and face protection while working with the product.
The first step to protecting your eyes is to understand the chemical you are working with. Read chemical labels and MSDSs for information on the chemical. Check the MSDS/SDS on msdsBinders. You can reference the MSDS/SDS for guidance on what type of PPE should be worn while handling the product. You can also check the product label for this information.

9. Do I need to wear eye protection?
A binder location SmartChart can be used to identify the required PPE.
Chemical Splash Goggles
Face Shield
In msdsBinders you can download a SmartChart like this one by binder location. These charts can be posted at work stations, in chemical storage areas and on the front cover of your msdsBinders. A quick look at the chart will communicate using blue icons to all users which PPE is required on the job. The PPE symbols listed here must be added by an administrator after reviewing how these products are used. Once completed anyone can use this to help with hazard assessments. You will see there are different icons for different types of PPE including eye and face protection.

10. Every worker should be trained on PPE
It is important that every worker be trained to know:
When PPE is necessary.
What PPE is necessary.
How to properly put on, take off, adjust, and wear PPE.
Limitations of the PPE.
Proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the PPE.
It is important that every worker be trained to know:
When PPE is necessary.
What PPE is necessary.
How to properly put on, take off, adjust, and wear PPE.
Limitations of the PPE.
Proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the PPE.

11. Care and Maintenance of PPE
Inspect your eye and face protection before each use.
Lenses should be clear.
Headband should be tight and not worn.
Structure should be reliable.
Replace damaged PPE.
Frequent cleaning and disinfection is important.
Inspect your eye and face protection before each use. PPE must be used and maintained in a clean and structurally reliable condition. The field of vision should not be obstructed by scratches or dirt. Headbands should not be damaged and should hold the eye protector in proper position. Damaged eye and face protection should be replaced.
Frequent cleansing of the PPE is important to allow face protection to ventilate and prevent fogging of lenses. If you use the same protective equipment every day you should clean and disinfect it regularly. If eye and face protection equipment is to be shared it should be disinfected before being issued to another employee.

12. Storage of eye protective equipment
Eye protection should be stored in a clean, dust-proof container, such as a box, bag, or plastic envelope, to protect until reissue.
Goggles should not be stored without a case in the workplace.
Spectacles require their own glasses, since the frame, nose pads, and temples can be damaged by rough usage.
Eye protection should be stored in a clean, dust-proof container, such as a box, bag, or plastic envelope, to protect until reissue.
Goggles should not be stored without a case in the workplace.
Spectacles require their own glasses, since the frame, nose pads, and temples can be damaged by rough usage.

13. Emergency eyewash stations
Emergency eyewashes should be placed in all hazardous areas and clearly labelled with first-aid instructions. Employees must know where the closest eyewash station is and how to get there with restricted vision.
Icon for
Eyewash
Emergency showers and eyewash stations provide on-the-spot decontamination. They allow workers to flush away hazardous substances that can cause injury. Accidental chemical exposures can still occur even with good engineering controls and safety precautions. As a result, it is essential to look beyond the use of goggles, face shields, and procedures for using PPE. Emergency showers and eyewash stations are a necessary backup to minimize the effects of accident exposure to chemicals. Emergency showers can also be used effectively in extinguishing clothing fires or for flushing contaminants off clothing. Emergency eyewashes should be placed in all hazardous areas and clearly labelled with first-aid instructions. Employees must know where the closest eyewash station is and how to get there with restricted vision.
Icon for
Showers

14. Every second counts after an exposure
If an eye injury occurs, quick action can prevent a permanent disability. The first 10 to 15 seconds after exposure to a hazardous substance, especially a corrosive substance, are critical. Delaying treatment, even for a few seconds, may cause serious injury. Sources recommend 15 to 20 minutes for flushing.
In the event of a chemical exposure every second counts. If an eye injury occurs, quick action can prevent a permanent disability. The first 10 to 15 seconds after exposure to a hazardous substance, especially a corrosive substance, are critical. Delaying treatment, even for a few seconds, may cause serious injury.
Most standard sources recommend that water rinsing/flushing following skin or eye contact with a chemical should continue for 15 or 20 minutes. The duration of flushing should follow the known effects of the chemical or product. Corrosives and alkali require a longer period of flushing. Refer to the MSDS and get medical assistance.

15. Recognizing Hazard Symbols
WHMIS 1988
WHMIS 2015 (GHS)
Irritants and Corrosive materials are categorized under the Health Hazards.
Hazard Class E
Skin/Eye Corrosion
Hazard class:
Serious eye damage/eye irritation
Category 1
Cause serious eye damage
Category 2A
Causes serious eye irritation
Category 2B
Causes eye irritation
Hazard Class D -- Poisonous and Infectious Materials
Division 2 (D2) is for "Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects
D2A are "Very Toxics"
D2B are "Toxics"
Recognizing hazard symbols is important to understand the hazards you are working with. For chemicals that can cause harm to the eye we need to look at both corrosive materials and irritants.
Under WHMIS 1988, corrosive materials are part of Hazard Class E -- Skin/Eye Corrosion and are recognized by the symbol with a hand and metal bar with 2 test tubes.
Irritants are found in Hazard Class D – Poisonous and Infectious Materials. They and are broken down into “very toxic” and “toxic” category. WHMIS has a division for each. Under WHMIS 1988, irritants can be recognized by the by the toxic T symbol.
Under the WHMIS 2015 system with the international GHS pictograms corrosive materials can be recognized with the corrosive pictogram. Irritants are recognized by the exclamation mark pictogram.

16. How to identify irritants and corrosives at work
Are you wondering if any of these chemicals are in your workplace? An administrator can find this information by going to reports menu in msdsBinders and selecting Find MSDS by Health List.
There are NIOSH Lists that are specific to the Eye. You can search by a binder location or in your entire corporate binder. Another method of searching for a chemical of concern is by Target Organ. Go to Reports and select Find MSDS by Target Organs. Choose Eyes. Finally select the binder location you are looking for. You can then download the results and print this list of chemicals to be reviewed at your next health and safety meeting. You can also identify chemicals by the hazard symbols on labels and the binder location SmartChart.

17. The best way to protect yourself
Elimination or substitution of hazardous material
Hazardous chemicals can sometimes be substituted with less dangerous chemicals. Ask yourself if you really need to use this chemical for the job, or is there a safer option?
Dispose of unused chemicals. This eliminates the hazard.
Finally, don’t forget the most effective way to reduce your workplace exposure is by eliminating hazardous materials or substituting them with less hazardous materials. Ask yourself if you really need to use this chemical for the job, or is there a safer option?
Dispose of chemicals from your inventory that are no longer used. This eliminates the hazard.

18. Contact your Chemscape representative if you have any questions.
In conclusion, chemical exposure can happen in a blink of an eye. You can prevent being a statistic by wearing the proper eye protection for the job. If more workers wore proper eye protection we could prevent thousands of eye injuries each year.

19. Resources
OSHA - Occupational Safety & Health Administration American Optometric Association Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety Centre for Disease Control Canadian National Institute for the Blind