SUMMARY
Verizon requires its employees to wear wraparound protective eyewear whenever a potential hazard to the eye(s) exists. This Verizon safety lesson plan outlines what type of protective eyewear must be worn when performing work operations or in the vicinity of others performing work operations or when exposed to conditions that present a potential hazard to the eyes.
Times when eye protection is not necessary include:
- • Performing work operations of a clerical nature
- • Attending meetings in which tools are not being used or demonstrated
Types of Protective Eyewear
Note: Prescription safety glasses with fixed or portable side shields may be utilized instead of wraparound side protection eyewear.
Wraparound Side Impact Protection
Splash Proof Safety Goggles
Safety Lesson Plan Protective Eyewear
April 2007
YYJS0154
Note: Local bargaining unit agreements may cover the type of safety glasses supplied to bargaining unit employees by Verizon. Check local agreements.
Note: In regions where Verizon does not supply prescription eyewear to its employees, Impact Type Safety Goggles or safety overglasses may be worn over prescription eyewear
Note: Face Shield (if utilized) must be worn with one of the other approved forms of eye protection specified for the particular operation.
Impact Type Safety Goggles
Face Shield
Safety Overglasses
When must safety eyewear with side shields or wrap around eye protection be worn?
- • When exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, liquid chemicals, acids, caustic liquids, chemical gas/vapors, light radiation or when using tools.
- • When performing operations requiring special eye protection, like goggles.
- • When welding or cutting requires welder’s goggles or shields
- • Tree trimming
- • Handling wire ends
- • Using hand or power tools
- • Soldering
- • Using Acetylene torch
- • Driving hardware into poles
- • Any other time that the described hazards listed above exist
Note: protective eyewear must have side shields or wrap around side impact protection
When must you wear either impact type safety goggles or wraparound eye protection?
- • Drilling or chipping stone, brick, masonry, terra cotta, tiles, etc.
- • Working with grinding wheels.
- • Overhead work with loose material
- • Using compressed air
- • Handling air filters or fluorescent tubes.
- • Removing or rearranging strand or open wire.
- • In certain conditions, protective eyewear with wrap around side shields may be used in place of impact resistant goggles
When must you wear splash proof (chemical) goggles?
- • Using hazardous chemical compounds
- • Wiping lead sleeves.
- • Handling splicing compounds.
- • Handling battery acids, electrolytes or taking battery readings.
- • Handling parts in solvent
- • Any condition where a liquid drip, leak, spill, splash, spray, etc. could result in the liquid entering the eyes.
What should you look for when inspecting eye protection?
When inspecting your wraparound eye protection:
- • Look for the Z87 stamp on the eyewear or side shields, to verify that they are approved eye protection. Eye protection without the “Z87 stam” is not approved and cannot be used as protective eyewear.
- • Make sure lenses are not cracked or scratched
- • Check for proper fit
- • Keep clean
- • Store in appropriate case.
What should you inspect on safety goggles?
When inspecting your safety goggles look for:
- • Look for the Z87 stamp on the goggles, to verify that they are approved protective eyewear. Protective eyewear without the “Z87 stamp” is not approved and cannot be used as protective eyewear.
- • Cracked and scratched lenses.
- • Straps for elasticity and wear.
- • Proper fit.
- • Keep clean.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: If I am standing in a work zone but am not using tools, do I need to wear my protective eyewear?
A: Yes, whenever you are around others using or demonstrating tools, or you are using or demonstrating tools yourself, you need to wear your protective eyewear.
Q: When I purchased my sunglasses it said on the package that they were shatter proof, can I where them as protective eyewear?
A: Only safety glasses that have ANSI Z87 stamped on the eyewear and have either wraparound side shields or wrap around side protection can be worn as protective eyewear.
Q: Do I have to wear protective eyewear when I am doing flagging operations, if I’m not handling tools?
A: Yes, protective eyewear must be worn when doing work operations in or near the side of the road to protect from flying debris.
Q: If I’m only supervising one of my employees in my workgroup, do I need to wear protective eyewear when standing in the work area?
A: Yes Verizon employees need to wear protective eyewear whenever they are in an active work area where other will be using tools or in or near the side of the road.
Q: If I’m in a training class and only demonstrating how to do a work operation, do I need to wear protective eyewear?
A: Yes, anytime you are handling tools you need to wear protective eyewear and those in close proximity to you also need to wear protective eyewear.
Q: If my protective eyewear is either lost or broken, can I wear my impact safety goggles instead?
A: Yes, if you lose or break your protective eyewear or if you prefer to wear your impact safety goggles you may use them instead of wraparound eye protection. However, protective eyewear cannot be used as a substitute for safety goggles where the use of safety goggles is required.
Q: I wear prescription glasses and Verizon does not pay for prescription wrap around eye protection, what should I do if I don’t want to buy my own protective eyewear?
A: If in your region Verizon does not pay for prescription protective eyewear, you can wear your impact type safety goggles or safety overglasses over your own prescription eyewear.
Documentation
Document this training on the Safety Training Roster (Form 20-1572) using TEDS Course # YYJS0154
Additional References
- • Verizon Incident Prevention Plan OSP Safety Package 6 http://hr.verizon.com/safety_policies/100006.pdf
- • Verizon Safety Lesson Plan: Personal Protective Equipment http://hr.verizon.com/staff/safety/lessonplans/protequip.pdf
- • Verizon InfoPoint® Document 7229 Safety Eyewear Program http://hr.verizon.com/lib/infopoints/7229.shtml?c=c0d83f0b82a6b30de8811e69e6d95c61
- • US Safety Website http://www.ussafety.com/verizon
Lesson Plan Answer Key
1-T, 2-T, 3-F, 4-F, 5-T, 6-F, 7-F, 8-T, 9-T, 10-F,
Remember the Verizon Safety Creed:
The demands of the service or urgency of the job are never so great that we cannot take time to perform our work safely
Safety Meeting Lesson Plan Employee Quiz
Protective Eyewear
Indicate True or False for each question. Review your answers with your meeting facilitator.
1) You must wear protective eyewear whenever you are in a work area where tools are being used.
TRUE/FALSE
2) If you do not have your protective eyewear with you, you can wear your impact type safety goggles.
TRUE/FALSE
3) If I am only supervising and do not do touch any tools while I am in the work area, I do not need protective eyewear.
TRUE/FALSE
4) My sunglasses are impact resistant so I can wear them instead of my protective eyewear.
TRUE/FALSE
5) You need to wear your protective eyewear even if you are doing flagging operations.
TRUE/FALSE
6) You need to wear your protective eyewear when in a safety meeting whether or not you are using or demonstrating tools.
TRUE/FALSE
7) Wraparound protection or side shields aren’t necessary if you are not snipping wires.
TRUE/FALSE
8) If you are working with chemicals you need to wear splash proof chemical protective goggles.
TRUE/FALSE
9) If your protective eyewear is scratched you need to return them for a new pair.
TRUE/FALSE
10) You only need protective eyewear if you’re using tools that potentially could cause flying debris.
TRUE/FALSE