Wildcat Statue

Eye Safety Policy

Eye Safety Policy

Purpose:
To protect employee of Northern Michigan from preventable eye injuries.

Applicability:
All University employees, full time, part time, temporary, casual labor, students.

Policy:

The University shall provide every employee, at no expense to the employee, eye protection suitable for the work being performed.* Students enrolled in courses requiring eye protection are responsible for obtaining their own equipment.

Employees are required to wear eye protection equipment provided by the University. Employees who fail to wear required eye protection shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. Students who fail to wear required eye protection as part of their employment or course work shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action under the General Regulatory Statement of the Student Code.

Supervisors and faculty members are responsible for ensuring that every employee or student wears eye protection suitable for each work assignment or course, as defined in the eye safety guidelines. Supervisors and faculty members will ensure that each work area or class room where eye protection is required is adequately posted with advisory signs indicating that eye protection is required. Supervisors and faculty members will ensure that each employee, student, or visitor complies with the requirements of this policy.

Supervisors will ensure that an adequate supply of approved eye protection for a particular work area or assignment is available at all times.

* If an employee's (Faculty, Staff or Student) vision requires the use of corrective lenses and is required by this policy to use eye protection, the cost for these safety spectacles shall be determined by the current collective bargaining agreement.

References

Act 154, of Public Acts of 1974 as amended, Part 33.

 

 

  1. Applicability:
    1. The University Eye Safety Policy applies to all employees of the University; faculty, staff, student, seasonal, temporary, part-time employees, and casual labor.
    2. The University Eye Safety Policy applies to all students currently enrolled in courses or performing assignments where eye protection is required.
  2. General Requirement For Eye Protection:
    1. Any employee (Faculty, Staff or Student) working in an area where hazards exist due to flying objects or particles, harmful contacts, exposures such as glare, liquids, injurious radiation, and electrical flash or a combination of these hazards will be required to wear eye protection.
    2. Contact lenses or plastic lenses shall not be considered as eye protection. In certain applications, the use of contact lenses may be completely prohibited due to hazards associated with the wearing of these lenses. This determination will be made by the appropriate Department Head or supervisor.
    3. Eye protection shall comply with the U.S. Department of Labor Standards R 408.13312. (These standards are attached to the guidelines)
    4. The University Safety Director will assist the Department Heads or supervisory personnel in determining the specific requirements of eye protection for work sites or academic courses.
    5. Some examples of employees required to wear eye protection are: Painters, Carpenters, Metal Workers, Welders, Electricians, Grounds Workers, Police Officers, Kitchen Workers, and others performing work where hazards outlined in Section II., A. exist.
  3. Employer/Employee Responsibilities:
    1. The University shall provide to an employee, (Faculty, Staff or Student), at no expense to the employee, personal protective equipment suitable for the work to be performed.
      * If an employee's (Faculty, Staff or Student) vision requires the use of corrective lenses, and is required by this policy to use eye protection, the cost for these safety spectacles shall be determined by the current collective bargaining agreement.
    2. Employees shall use all eye protective equipment provided by the University.
    3. Employees who fail to wear required eye protective equipment shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
    4. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that all employees wear personal protective equipment suitable for each assignment.
    5. Supervisors will ensure that each work area where eye protection is required, is adequately posted with advisory signs indicating that eye protection is required.
    6. Supervisors will ensure that each employee or visitor complies with the requirements of this policy.
    7. Supervisors will ensure that an adequate supply of approved eye protection for a particular work area is on hand at all times. Visitors eye protection must be disposable or capable of withstanding sanitizing.
  4. Employees Required To Wear Eye Protection:
    1. Any employee (Faculty, Staff or Student) working in an area where eye protection is specifically required by a MIOSHA standard will be required to wear the prescribed eye protection.
    2. Any employee (Faculty, Staff or Student) or visitor to any work site where eye protection is required, will be required to wear eye protection.
    3. Employees (Faculty, Staff or Student) who are not normally required to wear eye protection in the course of employment will be required to wear eye protection when visiting or performing temporary assignments where eye protection is required.
  5. Students:
    1. Student employees working at a job or work site where conditions outlined in Section II., A., exist will be required to wear the prescribed eye protection.
    2. Students enrolled in lab courses, or other courses, where hazards outlined in Section II., A., exist will be required to wear the prescribed eye protection.
    3. Faculty members are responsible for ensuring that every student wears eye protection suitable for each course, as defined in the eye safety guidelines.
    4. Faculty members will ensure that each class room where eye protection is required is adequately posted with advisory signs indicating that eye protection is required.
    5. Faculty members will ensure that each student, or visitor complies with the requirements of this policy.
  6. Availability Of Eye Protection:
    1. Appropriate types of eye protection for employees of the University will be available for department purchase through the Central Warehouse.
    2. Appropriate types of eye protection for students enrolled in courses requiring eye protection will be available for purchase through the University Book Store.
Date Approved:12-17-1989
Last Revision:12-17-1989
Last Reviewed:12-17-1989
Approved By:President
Oversight Unit:NMU POLICE DEPARTMENT