[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1910.133]
[Page 417-419]
TITLE 29--LABOR
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR
PART 1910_OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS--Table of Contents
Subpart I_Personal Protective Equipment
Sec. 1910.133 Eye and face protection.
(a) General requirements. (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.
(2) The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses eye
protection that provides side protection when there is a hazard from
flying objects. Detachable side protectors (e.g. clip-on or slide-on
side shields) meeting the pertinent requirements of this section are
acceptable.
(3) The employer shall ensure that each affected employee who wears
prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards
wears eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design,
or wears eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses
without disturbing the proper position of the prescription lenses or the
protective lenses.
(4) Eye and face PPE shall be distinctly marked to facilitate
identification of the manufacturer.
(5) The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses
equipment with filter lenses that have a shade number appropriate for
the work being performed for protection from injurious light radiation.
The following is a listing of appropriate shade numbers for various
operations.
[[Page 418]]
Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy
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Minimum* Protective
Operations Electrode Size 1/32 in. Arc Current Shade
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Shielded metal arc welding Less than 3................. Less than 60............... 7
3-5......................... 60-160..................... 8
5-8......................... 160-250.................... 10
More than 8................. 250-550.................... 11
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Gas metal arc welding and flux less than 60............... 7
cored arc welding
60-160..................... 10
160-250.................... 10
250-500.................... 10
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Gas Tungsten arc welding less than 50............... 8
50-150..................... 8
150-500.................... 10
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Air carbon (Light)..................... less than 500.............. 10
Arc cutting (Heavy)..................... 500-1000................... 11
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Plasma arc welding less than 20............... 6
20-100..................... 8
100-400.................... 10
400-800.................... 11
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Plasma arc cutting (light)**................... less than 300.............. 8
(medium)**.................. 300-400.................... 9
(heavy)**................... 400-800.................... 10
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Torch brazing ........................... 3
Torch soldering ........................... 2
Carbon arc welding ........................... 14
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Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy
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Minimum* Protective
Operations Plate thickness--inches Plate thickness--mm Shade
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Gas Welding:
Light Under 1/8................... Under 3.2.................. 4
Medium 1/8 to 1/2.................. 3.2 to 12.7................ 5
Heavy Over 1/2.................... Over 12.7.................. 6
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Oxygen cutting:
Light Under 1..................... Under 25................... 3
Medium 1 to 6...................... 25 to 150.................. 4
Heavy Over 6...................... Over 150................... 5
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* As a rule of thumb, start with a shade that is too dark to see the weld zone. Then go to a lighter shade which
gives sufficient view of the weld zone without going below the minimum. In oxyfuel gas welding or cutting
where the torch produces a high yellow light, it is desirable to use a filter lens that absorbs the yellow or
sodium line in the visible light of the (spectrum) operation.
** These values apply where the actual arc is clearly seen. Experience has shown that lighter filters may be
used when the arc is hidden by the workpiece.
[[Page 419]]
(b) Criteria for protective eye and face devices. (1) Protective eye
and face devices purchased after July 5, 1994 shall comply with ANSI
Z87.1-1989, ``American National Standard Practice for Occupational and
Educational Eye and Face Protection,'' which is incorporated by
reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6, or shall be demonstrated by the
employer to be equally effective.
(2) Eye and face protective devices purchased before July 5, 1994
shall comply with the ANSI ``USA standard for Occupational and
Educational Eye and Face Protection,'' Z87.1-1968, which is incorporated
by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6, or shall be demonstrated by
the employer to be equally effective.
[59 FR 16360, Apr. 6, 1994; 59 FR 33911, July 1, 1994, as amended at 61
FR 9238, Mar. 7, 1996; 61 FR 19548, May 2, 1996]
