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Citing construction eye and face protection violations

Summary OSHA instructed regional administrators how inspectors should cite construction employers when workers did not use required eye or face protection. The memo said the provision requiring protective equipment did not itself specify use, so inspectors should cite the separate use requirement and reference the equipment provision. OSHA archives the memo.
Document
Federal guidance
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1984-09-18-0
Date issued
September 18, 1984
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Eye Protection Face Protection Enforcement
Source
View the official document

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OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

September 18, 1984

MEMORANDUM FOR: ALL REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS
FROM: JOHN B. MILES, JR., Director, Directorate of Field Operations
SUBJECT: Clarification of Citing for Alleged Violations of Employees Not Using Appropriate Eye or Face Protection in the Construction Industry

29 CFR 1926.102(a) requires that employees be provided with eye and face protective equipment when machines of operations present potential eye and face injury from physical, chemical, or radiation agents. The above mentioned standard does not, however specifically address the use of such personal protective equipment. Therefore, CSHO's shall cite 29 CFR 1926.28(a) when employers are not requiring employees to use eye and face protection in operations presenting potential eye or face injury. 29 CFR 1926.102(a) shall be referenced in the citation.

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