What is a Safety Data Sheet and where should it be kept?

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a standardized 16-section document that provides detailed safety information about a chemical substance, including hazards, first aid measures, handling procedures, and protective equipment requirements. SDS documents must be kept in a location readily accessible to all employees during their work shift, not locked away or in hard-to-reach areas.

How close does an eyewash station need to be to the optical lab?

ANSI Z358.1 requires eyewash stations to be within 10 seconds of travel time from the hazard area, approximately 55 feet on the same level. The path must be unobstructed with no doors or barriers between the hazard and the station. The station must deliver flushing fluid for at least 15 minutes.

Do universal precautions apply in an optical dispensary?

Yes. While the optical dispensary is not a surgical environment, universal precautions still apply whenever there is potential contact with blood or body fluids. This includes adjusting frames on patients (skin contact), handling contact lenses, cleaning shared diagnostic equipment, and responding to any bleeding from cuts during adjustments.

OSHA Workplace Safety for Optical Professionals

OSHA and the Optical Workplace

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets and enforces standards to ensure safe and healthy working conditions across all industries. For optical professionals, OSHA regulations apply to the lab environment where lenses are edged, tinted, and coated, as well as the clinical setting where patient care occurs.

Understanding OSHA requirements protects both you and your patients from preventable workplace injuries and health hazards.

Chemical Safety in the Optical Lab

Optical laboratories use various chemicals that require proper handling:

Lens tinting dyes: Some contain solvents that produce fumes
Anti-reflective coating solutions: May contain irritants
Cleaning agents: Acetone, alcohol, and other solvents used to clean lenses and equipment
Edging coolant: Water-based solutions used in the lens edging process

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) requires that all employees have access to information about the chemicals they work with. This includes proper labeling of chemical containers, training on safe handling procedures, and access to Safety Data Sheets.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Safety Data Sheets (formerly called Material Safety Data Sheets or MSDS) are standardized documents that provide detailed information about each chemical substance in the workplace. They contain 16 sections covering:

Identification of the substance and supplier
Hazard identification
Composition and ingredient information
First-aid measures
Fire-fighting measures
Accidental release measures
Handling and storage
Exposure controls and personal protection
Physical and chemical properties
Stability and reactivity
Toxicological information
Ecological information
Disposal considerations
Transport information
Regulatory information
Other information

SDS documents must be readily accessible to all employees during their work shift. They cannot be locked away or stored in a location that is difficult to reach quickly. In an emergency, immediate access to the SDS can make the difference between a minor incident and a serious injury.

Eyewash Stations

Any workplace where employees may be exposed to chemicals that could cause eye injury must have eyewash stations that meet ANSI Z358.1 standards:

Location: Within 10 seconds of travel time from the hazard area (approximately 55 feet on the same level with no obstructions)
Accessibility: Must be on the same level as the hazard with no doors or obstacles between the hazard and the station
Flow capacity: Must deliver flushing fluid at a minimum rate for at least 15 minutes
Maintenance: Must be inspected weekly and tested regularly to ensure proper function

Every optical lab employee should know the exact location of the nearest eyewash station and how to activate it immediately. In a chemical splash emergency, you have seconds, not minutes, to begin flushing the eyes.

Include eyewash station location and operation as part of every new employee's first-day orientation. Practice activating the station so the procedure is automatic in an emergency. Hesitation or fumbling with an unfamiliar device during a chemical splash wastes critical seconds.

Universal Precautions

Universal Precautions is an infection control approach that treats all human blood and certain body fluids as potentially infectious. In the optical setting, this applies when:

Adjusting frames that have been on a patient's skin (contact with sweat, oils)
Handling contact lenses during fitting and training
Cleaning trial frames and diagnostic equipment
Encountering blood from a minor cut during frame adjustment

Key practices include:

Hand washing: Before and after patient contact
Gloves: When there is potential for contact with blood or body fluids
Disinfection: Clean shared equipment between patients
Sharps disposal: Properly dispose of any sharp objects that contact body fluids

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

OSHA requires employers to provide appropriate PPE at no cost to employees. In the optical lab, this may include:

Safety glasses: When edging, grinding, or drilling lenses
Gloves: When handling chemicals or performing tinting
Ventilation: Proper exhaust for chemical fumes and lens grinding dust
Hearing protection: If equipment noise exceeds OSHA limits

Not wearing safety glasses while operating the lens edger. The edging process generates small particles and occasionally flings lens fragments. Even as an optical professional who dispenses safety eyewear to others, you must wear your own protection in the lab.

Recordkeeping and Training

OSHA requires employers to:

Maintain injury and illness logs (OSHA 300 Log) for recordable workplace injuries
Provide training on hazards present in the workplace
Post the OSHA poster ("It's the Law") in a visible location
Allow employee access to their exposure and medical records

Key Takeaways

OSHA standards apply to optical labs and clinical settings
Safety Data Sheets must be accessible to all employees for every chemical in the workplace
Eyewash stations must be within 10 seconds of travel time from chemical hazards
Universal Precautions treat all body fluids as potentially infectious
Employers must provide PPE at no cost to employees
All employees need training on workplace hazards and safety procedures