Eye Splash Protection Safety glasses are necessary as the minimum protection when a potential exists for liquid splashes to your eyes.  Safety glasses are a minimal protection and should only be used when small volumes of liquids are involved.  The determaination of whether to use safety glasses, with or without side shields, or splash goggles should be addressed in the hazard assessment.   This occurs most commonly in much chemical work.  The requirement for splash protection by safety glasses may be obviated by the use of eye/face protection by means of a more protective item, such as splash goggles . Safety glasses (with side shields if stipulated by the hazard assessment pertaining to the work) which conform to ANSI Z87.1 specifications.  (They will be stamped with Z87.1 if they conform.   Side shields are necessary with safety glasses if there is a chance of a splash coming from the side. The proper donning and doffing (putting on and taking off) of eye protection is largely intuitive for most people, but the following points are emphasized.  Safety glasses do not usually fit well over your regular prescription eyeglasses, if you wear eyeglasses, and therefore the level of protection afforded is decreased.  Either splash goggles designed to be worn over glasses or prescription safety glasses are the correct alternatives for those who wear eyeglasses.  Before wearing safety glasses, inspect them for weaknesses, cracks, scratches, etc. and replace them if they are flawed, will not stay in place, or impair your vision.   Safety glasses have been properly put on when they are situated comfortably on the face in such a manner that they cover both eyes, will not slip down, and allow you to see your work.  Side shields are necessary with safety glasses if there is a chance of a splash coming from the side.  Removing the goggles or glasses requires no special precautions unless they have been splashed or in some manner contaminated with a harmful liquid or solid that could get into your eyes.  In this case you may have to make a very rapid decision concerning the merits of removing the glasses BEFORE or AFTER you get your face into the eyewash or emergency shower.   Always know where the eyewash and shower are located, and how to get there with your eyes closed!  (And keep the path from your work to that location completely clear of trip/slip hazards.) Protective eyewear is limited mostly by whether you remember to keep it on your eyes.  Three out of five work related eye injuries result from workers not wearing any protective eyewear.   Safety glasses will not protect adequately against violent explosions of apparatus or chemical reaction set-ups; if this is a possibility there should be a blast shield between you and the apparatus or set-up.  Protective eyewear, especially plastic, can become scratched and scuffed to the point where it interferes with vision -- dispose of equipment when this is the case.   Safety glasses should be kept clean with mild soap and water, and stored in a dry, temperate atmosphere out of harm's way.  Avoid scratching the lens on your safety glasses by not placing them on a table with the lens facing down.   If protective eyewear items are not contaminated with chemical, biological, or radioactive material, there are no special disposal considerations; they are regular trash.