Safety Information on Contact Lenses
Contact lenses
Recommendations and regulations regarding the wearing of contact lenses have varied widely over the years. Currently, OSHA considers contact lenses to be acceptable under most industrial situations, although cautions that appropriate eye protection be worn instead of or in conjunction with contact lenses.[1]
The Laboratory Standard advises against their use if possible. Studies have verified that contact lenses can be worn under full face respirators, although excessive drying of the eyes may occur. There are a few situations where contact lenses are strongly discouraged by substance-specific standards, but none of these chemicals is likely to be encountered in histology. The most sensible guidelines that we have encountered come from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM)[2]:
- Establish a written policy on the use o f contact lenses in an eye-hazardous environment. Include a description of required eye and face protection. This could be part of your Chemical Hygiene Plan.
- Conduct an eye hazard evaluation (required anyway under the Laboratory Standard and the PPE Standard, but include contact lenses in the evaluation).
- Provide training which includes the policy o n contact lens use and specific first aid for contact lens wearers. In most cases, eye irrigation will remove the lens. It is preferable that irrigation be started immediately, but if loss of a lens would be significant, include procedures for lens removal in the written policy and the training. Instruct all workers who wear contact lenses to re move them at the first signs of irritation.
- Provide personal protective equipment (already required). No special equipment is needed for lens wearers.
- Notify visitors and employees of any areas where contact lenses are forbidden.
- Notify supervisors, first aid responders and EMS responders of any workers wearing contact lenses in eye-hazardous environments.
ACOEM also lists three conditions when contact lenses should not be worn in the work place:
- banned by regulation;
- contraindicated by medical or industrial hygiene recommendations; and
- when working with acrylonitrile, 1, 2-dibromo-3-chloropropane, ethylene
oxide, methylene chloride, and 4, 41-methylene dianiline (until OSHA changes rules).