Chemical splash goggles

Safety glasses protect from flying particles approaching from the front or side, but they leave the area around the eyes open. Splash goggles close that gap with a flexible frame that rests against the face and indirect vents or covers that keep liquid from entering while still allowing some airflow to limit fogging.

The SDS usually indicates when goggles are needed. Corrosives, strong irritants and any liquid that can damage the eye call for them, as does decanting, mixing, pouring or working with pressurized lines. Products that cause serious eye damage or irritation are flagged in the hazard identification, which should alert managers to provide proper eye protection.

For larger splash risks or very hazardous liquids, a face shield can be worn over goggles. A face shield alone does not seal the eyes, so it supplements rather than replaces goggles. People who wear prescription glasses need goggles designed to fit over them or prescription-compatible versions. Contact lenses are a concern mainly because chemicals can be trapped behind them, so workplace policy should say how they are handled.

Even with goggles, an Eyewash station (ANSI Z358.1) must be available. If a splash gets in, start flushing at once and keep going for as long as the SDS directs (commonly 15 minutes or more for corrosives), and goggles should be removed without wiping the contaminated outside across the face. Goggles should be cleaned and stored so that lenses do not scratch or degrade.