Text from
the OSHA Logging PreambleSection V: Summary and
Explanation of the Final Standard
Paragraph (d) General Requirements
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Eye and face protection. Paragraph (d)(1)(vii) of the final
rule requires that each employee who works in an area where there is a potential for
injury due to falling or flying object shall wear eye and face protection meeting the
requirements of subpart I of part 1910. This provision permits logger-type mesh screen to
be worn when the employer demonstrates it provides equivalent protection. The proposed
rule also contained these provisions. The 1978 ANSI standard contained a similar
requirement. Eye and face protection is also required by several State logging standards
(Ex. 2-18, 2-19, 2-22, 2-23, 38K).
Two commenters said OSHA should require eye protection to be worn only in certain
situations (Ex. 5-43 and 5-64). One commenter stated:
This is a good rule for some logging activities, such as felling, bucking, splicing,
etc.; however, we do not feel that this is necessary for choker setting and many machine
operators, such as yarder, loader, feller-bunchers (Ex. 5-64).
After reviewing the evidence in the record, OSHA believes that a requirement mandating
eye and face protection is necessary. According to the WIR survey, 13 percent of all
injuries reported involved the eyes and face (Ex. 2-1). In the final rule, OSHA is
requiring only that such protection be worn whenever there is the potential for head
injury due to falling or flying objects. OSHA agrees with the commenters that the
potential for eye and face injury is present especially for fellers, buckers and chippers,
however, there are other logging operations in which the potential for this type of injury
also exists. In any logging operations when there is no danger of being struck by falling
or flying objects, eye protection is not required.
Employers, under the PPE standard, will have to conduct a hazard assessment to
determine when and where those hazards may exist in the logging workplace. In some cases,
the presence of the hazard will be obvious (e.g., fellers and buckers). In other cases,
working conditions may be such that there is no potential for injury (e.g., yarder
operator working inside an enclosed cab).
As with the head protection provision, OSHA has retained the eye and face protection
provision to alert the industry that falling objects, in addition to flying objects, are a
hazard for employees in the logging industry.
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