What are Safety Glasses? Are they ok to use when handling chemicals?
Safety glasses with side shields are the minimum requirement for lab and shop areas. Safety glasses must be supplemented with goggles and/or face shields when there is a greater risk of exposure to chemical splashes or flying particles. Cover goggles are required for operations where there is a greater risk of exposure to chemicals and to flying particles. Furthermore, they are required for activities producing airborne eye irritants including gases, vapors, fumes, dusts, and mists. Safety glasses provide no protection against eye irritants. Face shields protect the entire face and are required for operations that present a high likelihood of exposure to flying particles or splashes from liquid chemicals or cryogenic fluids. This is explained in the Eye and Face Protection section of the CHSP at http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/chsp/html/materials.shtml#PPE.
