Eye Protection​ & Safety Eyewear


The purpose of this page is to provide clear, consistent guidance for employees, managers, and supervisors of UW-Stevens Point regarding eye protection.  The goal is to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations concerning eye safety and meet employee needs for safety and comfort.

According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), each day about 2000 U.S. workers have a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment.  

Some common eye hazards are:
  • Dust, concrete, and metal particles
  • Falling or shifting debris, building materials, and glass
  • Smoke and noxious or poisonous gases
  • Chemicals (acids, bases, fuels, solvents, lime, and wet or dry cement powder)
  • Cutting or welding light and electrical arcing
  • Thermal hazards and fires
  • Bloodborne pathogens (hepatitis or HIV) from blood, body fluids, and human remains
Some common eye injuries include:
  • Corneal abrasions and conjunctivitis (red eyes)
  • Concrete or metal particles or slivers embedded in the eye
  • Chemical splashes or burns
  • Welder's flash
  • Eyeball laceration
  • Facial contusions and black eyes​
Safety eyewear is defined as any face or eye covering designed to protect the wearer's eyes from contact with flying objects, hazardous liquids, gases or other materials that may be hazardous to the eye.  This eyewear is designed to resist impact and shattering when struck by flying objects or hazardous materials.  Safety eyewear may include glasses, goggles, and face shields with or without a prescription lens component. Some examples of professions where safety eyewear should be routinely considered include carpenters, electricians, machinists, mechanics, plumbers, sheet metal workers, sanders, grinding machine operators, welders, chemical handlers, and laser device/machine operators.


When evaluating the type of eye protection, the supervisor and employee should consider the following:

  • The ability of the safety eyewear to protect against specific workplace hazards.

  • The safety eyewear should fit properly and be comfortable to wear.

  • The safety eyewear must provide unrestricted vision and movement.

  • The safety eyewear should be durable and cleanable.

  • The safety eyewear should not interfere with or restrict the function of any other PPE the employee wears.​

​​Prescription Safety Glasses Process

​All prescription safety glasses shall comply with the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 eye/face design standards. Permanently affixed side shields are requ​ired on all safety glasses.

For positions descriptions requiring safety glasses where an individual needs corrective lenses, this program is authorized for full-time employees to obtain prescription safety glasses.

Employees are eligible to receive a pair of prescription safety glasses free of charge every two years.
​​

Step 1: Identification of requirement for using safety glasses

Supervisors should complete personal protective equipment (PPE) assessment for that job/classification.  The PPE assessment questionnaire (Job Hazard Analysis Form) can be found on our Risk Assessment page​. Before completing the Job Hazard Analysis Form, you may want to take Job Hazard Analysis PPE Training from the same page.​​

Step 2: If an employee requires corrective lenses for a position identified as requiring safety glasses,  1) a supervisor should fill out the Safevision online request form​ and 2) application for employee prescription safety glasses.
  • The Safevision form will automatically be sent to the UWSP Purchasing Department. We recomend emailing or printing the PDF to the employee as well.
    • Complete these fields on the form:
      • Employee First Name
      • Employee Last Name
      • Supervisor Name
      • Supervisor Contact phone (full number)
      • Department - Leave Blank
      • Requisition - Leave Blank
      • Employee Phone
      • Email - Optional but we recommend including the employee UWSP email.
  • The application for employee prescription safety glasses should be signed by the employee & supervisors. Then emailed to UWSP Purchasing.

Step 3: UWSP Purchasing will fill out the top section of your order form, sign it, and send it back to the employee to continue the process with the eye clinic provider.

Step 4: Employees should make an appointment at one of the ​eye clinics (dispenser) who works directly with Safevision (see Provider Locations for list of these clinics) to get an eye exam and fill out the remainder of your eyeglasses order form.
​
Step 5: Employees will select prescription safety glasses with the assistance of the dispenser.

Step 6: Dispenser will complete the orde​r form (employees have to pay any self-pay amount on the order form). 

​​Please​ also reference important notes below.

Step 7: Employees' prescription safet​​​y glasses will be shipped back to the dispenser.

Step 8: Employees will be professionally fitted by the dispenser. So, employees will return to the dispenser for pick up and final​ fitting.

Important Notes:

- State Health Insurance pays for eye exams every two years. Employees' insurance is the primary coverage. If employees' insurance does not cover, partially covers, or you have no insurance, UW-Stevens Point pays the cost balance. So then, employees should fill Eye Exam Related to Safety Glasses Purchase form, provide it to your eye clinic and have them invoice UWSP Payment Services directly for this cost balance. Contact x 2052 for questions.

- If the employee brings documentation from a doctor/clinic which shows that the employee needs to have Progressive-Natural, Ideal, or Life Scape lens style (Eye Order Form Section 2) for a medical reason, UW-Stevens Point covers that amount as well. 
​
- If the eye clinic charges an employee extra for filling out the order form, the employee should request in Workday an expense reimbursement. Ensure to attach documentation from the clinic. This knowledge base article provides more information about Creating an Expense Report – Employee in Workday.​