Lincoln Public Schools

Eye Safety Guidelines

LPS Eye Safety Guidelines

To provide eye protection as specified in Nebraska Department of Education bulletin, “Eye and Face Protective Devices As Required by Nebraska Revised Statue 79-4,144,” The Lincoln Public Schools system is providing protective devices for students as outlined in the attached Board Agenda Item #12, 11-27-84.

Please be aware that the guidelines refer not only to students but also to visitors, teachers, or an individual within the area requiring eye protection.

Nebraska Revised Statute #79-4, 144 specifically states:

(1) Every student and teacher in schools, colleges, universities, or other educational institutions shall be required to wear appropriate industrial-quality eye protective devices at all times while participating in or observing the following courses of instruction:

(a) Vocational, technical, industrial technology, chemical, or chemical-physical, involving exposure to:

(i) Hot molten metals or other molten materials;
(ii) Milling, sawing, turning, shaping, cutting, grinding, or stamping of any solid materials;

(iii) Heat treatment, tempering, kiln firing of any metal or other materials;
(iv) Gas or electric welding or other forms of welding processes;
(v) Repair or servicing of any vehicle; or
(vi) Caustic or explosive materials; and

(b) Chemical, physical, or combined chemical-physical laboratories involving caustic or explosive materials, hot liquid or solids, injurious radiations, or other hazards not enumerated.

More specifically, exposure to:

Sparks Flying particles Glass breakage

Heat Chemical splash Harmful rays
Glare Radiant energy Molten metal
Lasers Fumes (chemical) Intense rays
Dust Caustic materials Mist (steam)
Acid burns Hot liquid splash Electric arc
Hot grease Chemical cleansing agents

The preceding list is not all-inclusive. The instructor should make an inspection of the premises to determine potentially hazardous conditions which may require the wearing of eye and face protection devices.

General guidelines:

1. Any person entering the area while hazardous conditions are present must wear the appropriate protection.

2. Students wearing contact lenses and/or “street wear” glasses should be informed that these sight correction glasses do not provide adequate eye protection.

3. The Food and Drug Administration approved impact-resistant (RX) lenses and/or glasses must be covered by additional goggles or shield which do meet the industrial standards.

4. Glasses containing photo-gray or photographic (photo chromic) lenses are not an acceptable substitute for industrial quality safety glasses. The ANSI Z 87.1-1979 standard specifically states that these lenses may not be worn in lieu of an approved eye protection device.

5. Protective devices need not be worn unless hazardous activities are in progress within the walled confines of the room. Classes observing a chemical demonstration must use protective devices. Students in journalism, outside the confines of the dark room where developing is occurring, need not wear them unless a hazardous activity is taking place. Within the dark room, they must be worn when chemicals are involved.

6. Protective devices must be kept clean, sanitary, and in wearable condition. A disinfectant spray and tissues should be provided in an accessible location.

Approved by: Marilyn Moore
Associate Superintendent of Instruction
April, 1991

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