DealersEdge Professional Forums

Can anyone explain to me the TRUE OSHA requirements for safety glasses in the shop? Also, how do you enforce?

I am not sure about OSHA requirments, but our insurance provider just recently told us that we can create a document that each employee is required to sign that they will abide the safety glass rule. And if they are injured and not wearing their safety glasses then it has an affect on how much workman's comp will pay.

I would suggest you check with your workman's comp provider because they can outline the guidelines on enforcing for your state.

This comes from the OSHA website for General requirements.

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1)

The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.

It is an absolute necessity to require protective eyewear in order to insure proper safety precautions in any shop. If the employee is not maintaing proper protection, then it is the responsibility of the shop owner to to insure it. This will quell the number of incidents and lower the worker's comp rating in the long haul. It just makes good sense to require it for everyone associated.

Have a great day!

I once worked for a dealer that was very conscious of the situation and issued every tech a safety kit consisting of OSHA approved eye and ear protection, hardhat, air blow gun (the kind that dump excess pressure if deadheaded), etc. They then had us sign a paper stating that we had received the equipment, would use it and return it at the end of employment.
No expense or excuses for the techs, thoroughly covered backside for the dealer.

Jack

At least in California, the land of crooked politicans and special interest groups, Dmmanley's way of giving partial responsibility to the employee does not work here. the only thing you coudl do here is to issue a reprimand. this is one of the reasons our labor rate is over $100