Written basis
Hazard assessment first
The packet is stronger when it shows the actual task hazard, why that PPE was selected, and who reviewed the work.
29 CFR 1926FY top-10 cited · rank #91926.102
Cited under 1926.102 Eye & Face Protection? Here's what usually has to happen next.
1926.102 requires employers to provide and enforce appropriate eye and face protection for flying-particle, chemical, welding, and similar hazards. In practice, citations here usually require a documented hazard assessment, the right PPE selection, and proof that crews were trained on how and when to use it.
Grinding, welding, cutting, demolition, and chemical tasks create visible exposure. In the OSHA citation records we track (issued February 2024 to September 2026), 5,548 items were cited under 1926.102, and 98% of them were (a)(1): a worker not wearing eye or face protection.
Start HereProof & DocsOwner HandoffWhat to ConfirmPacket PDF
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- 1 or 2 items
- No repeat or willful items
- $20,000 or less in proposed penalties
- At most 1 item that needs heavy paperwork
- All the work goes to one owner group
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1926.102 · what usually follows
Why a Eye & Face Protection citation usually turns into an abatement and documentation project.
Contest timing can matter, but most employers still need to fix hazards, gather proof, line up Owner Handoff, and prepare written closeout support.
PPE proof
Selection + training records
Closeout often needs hazard-assessment notes, PPE selection documentation, employee training proof, and visible-use confirmation.
Owner Handoff
Safety + field + training
The safety manager, site supervision, and training owner usually split PPE assessment, issuance, and reinforcement.
Template Packs
PPE pack included
Matched cases include a hazard-assessment worksheet, PPE selection record, and training acknowledgement sheet.
1926.102 · paragraph by paragraph
What each 1926.102 paragraph means, and what proves it is fixed.
Your citation names the exact paragraph next to each item, for example 1926.102(a)(1). Find yours below.
1926.102(a)(1)Not wearing eye or face protection
You must make sure each exposed worker uses the right eye or face protection when there is a hazard from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustics, chemical gases or vapors, or harmful light such as welding arcs. Handing out glasses is not enough; the rule is that workers use them. On construction sites this usually means cutting, grinding, chipping, nail guns, welding and chemical work. This was 5,413 of the 5,548 items cited under 1926.102 in our data.
Usual fix
Match eyewear to each task (safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield over glasses), keep stock on site, and have foremen enforce it.
Proof to keep
- Photos of the crew wearing eye protection on the cited task
- PPE issue log or purchase receipt
- Toolbox talk sign-in on eye protection
1926.102(a)(2)No side protection
Where there is a hazard from flying objects, eye protection must protect from the side too. Clip-on or slide-on side shields that meet the rule are acceptable.
Usual fix
Replace flat-front glasses with wraparound safety glasses or add approved side shields.
Proof to keep
- Photo of the eyewear showing side protection
- Purchase receipt
1926.102(a)(3)Prescription glasses
Workers who wear prescription glasses need eye protection with the prescription built in, or protection that fits over their glasses without pushing either pair out of position. Ordinary prescription glasses do not count unless they are rated safety eyewear.
Usual fix
Provide over-the-glasses goggles or prescription safety glasses for those workers.
Proof to keep
- Photo of the worker wearing the over-glasses or prescription safety eyewear
1926.102(b)(1)Not ANSI Z87.1 rated
Eye and face protection must meet ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010, Z87.1-2003 or Z87.1-1989 (R-1998), or you must show it is at least as effective. Under (a)(4) it must also be marked with the maker's name or mark.
Usual fix
Buy eyewear marked Z87 and pull unmarked glasses off the job.
Proof to keep
- Close-up photo of the Z87 marking on the frame or lens
- Product spec sheet or receipt
1926.102(c)(1)Welding filter shade
Use Table E-1 in the rule as the guide for filter lens shades. For example: shade 10 for shielded metal-arc (stick) welding with 1/16 to 5/32 inch electrodes, 12 with 3/16 to 1/4 inch, and 14 with 5/16 to 3/8 inch; 3 or 4 for torch brazing and for light cutting up to 1 inch. A darker shade is allowed.
Usual fix
Check each welder's helmet or goggle lens against the work they do and replace lenses that are too light.
Proof to keep
- Photo of the shade number on each lens next to the process it is used for
Proof rules that apply to every item
- PPE must be provided, used and kept in sanitary, reliable condition wherever the work calls for it. Photos of the crew wearing it on the cited task are the strongest proof. (29 CFR 1926.95(a))
- If workers bring their own eyewear, you are still responsible for making sure it is adequate and maintained. (29 CFR 1926.95(b))
- Unlike general industry (1910.132(d)), the construction rules do not require a certified written hazard assessment. A short dated list of tasks and the eyewear each needs is still the easiest way to show the fix. (29 CFR 1926.95 and 1926.102)
Plain-words summaries of the regulation, not legal advice. Read the full text of 29 CFR 1926.102.
Check your dates before you start abatement
Look up your citation to see each cited item, its proposed penalty and its abatement date, and work out your 15-working-day contest deadline. Then read every OSHA citation deadline in one place.
Who on your team handles Eye & Face Protection abatement?
Abatement responsibility should never land on a single role. Here's how a typical citation usually splits:
Site Superintendent
Enforcement, visible-leadership use, PPE inventory
EHS / Safety Manager
Hazard assessment, PPE selection, specification
HR / Training Lead
PPE training delivery and certification
Evidence OSHA typically wants to see
Written closeout support usually requires documentation like this. Your packet generates the exact list for every cited item.
- Dated task list with the eye protection each task needs
- PPE selection documentation (ANSI Z87.1 references)
- Training records per worker
- Toolbox-talk records reinforcing use
- Photos of compliant PPE in use post-abatement
Template Packs
Template packs commonly matched for Eye & Face Protection citations.
When those issue types appear in the packet, the full product includes downloadable files you can hand off internally, fill in, and add to your closeout package.
Included when matched
PPE Pack
Hazard assessment, PPE selection record, and training acknowledgement template.
The exact template set depends on the actual sub-items on your citation, not just the top-line standard code.
How it compares
Your options after a citation.
OSHA Action Packet does not replace a lawyer on serious cases. It gives you an organized place to start.
OSHA defense attorney
- Typical cost
- $5k–$15k retainer
- Turnaround
- Days to weeks
- What you get
- Legal strategy, contest filing, formal response
Compliance consultant
- Typical cost
- $3k–$8k
- Turnaround
- 1–2 weeks
- What you get
- Site walk, abatement plan, written report
Do it yourself
- Typical cost
- Your time
- Turnaround
- Unpredictable
- What you get
- Full control, high risk of missed deadlines
OSHA Action Packet
Best fit- Typical cost
- Usually $349
- Turnaround
- 2–5 minutes
- What you get
- Deadlines, Proof & Docs, Owner Handoff, downloads
If your citation involves a death, willful violations or very large penalties, talk to an OSHA lawyer. For most other citations, the problem is not the law. It is getting organized and moving fast.
Related standards
Often cited alongside this one.
Federal OSHA inspections rarely yield a single-standard citation. If you were cited under one of these, you were probably cited under the others too.
1926.501Top 1
Fall Protection
Because the condition is visible, OSHA can document multiple edge, hole, roof, or leading-edge exposures in one walkaround. Employers usually end up managing both field corrections and a strong paper trail for closeout.
See abatement guide
1910.134Top 4
Respiratory Protection
Respirators are often handed out before the supporting program is current. OSHA then finds missing medical records, overdue fit tests, weak program administration, or untracked voluntary use.
See abatement guide
1926.102 · FAQ
Eye & Face Protection citation questions
Does contest timing still matter for a Eye & Face Protection citation?
Yes, if the receipt date still keeps the federal 15-working-day window open. But even when the contest window is gone or unclear, the main work usually remains abatement, proof collection, Owner Handoff, and written closeout support.
Do I need a lawyer for a 1926.102 citation?
For citations involving a fatality, willful violation, or significant penalty exposure, yes, hire an OSHA defense attorney. For many citations under this standard, the immediate gap is operational: abatement work, proof, Owner Handoff, and written closeout documentation. That is the work OSHA Action Packet helps organize.
What evidence does OSHA expect for abating 1926.102?
For Eye & Face Protection citations, OSHA typically wants: Dated task list with the eye protection each task needs; PPE selection documentation (ANSI Z87.1 references); Training records per worker. The full list is generated per-item inside your packet based on what was actually cited on your inspection.
Who on my team handles Eye & Face Protection abatement?
Typical ownership is split across Site Superintendent, EHS / Safety Manager, HR / Training Lead. Each packet assigns every cited item to a role and produces Owner Handoff ready to share directly.
What if my citation bundles multiple standards?
That is the norm. Most federal OSHA inspections yield 3 to 12 items across several standards. Your packet covers every item. This page is just the standard-specific guide for one of them.
Are there included template packs for Eye & Face Protection citations?
Yes. Common matched packs for this standard include PPE Pack. The exact template set depends on the actual cited sub-items in your packet.
What does the packet actually include?
Packet PDF, per-item Abatement Plan, Proof & Docs, Owner Handoff, Calendar (.ics), CSVs, included template packs when applicable, and the Full Packet ZIP. Preview is free. You only pay if you want the full packet and downloads.
Cited under 1926.102? Start your packet.
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