Product Overview

Summary: This Eye Injury Prevention Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, practical framework to protect workers’ eyesight across a wide range of Australian workplaces. It sets out how to identify eye hazards, apply effective controls, and respond quickly to incidents so businesses can meet their WHS duties and keep their people safe from preventable eye injuries.

Eye injuries are one of the most common and costly workplace incidents, yet they are also among the most preventable. From flying particles in workshops and construction sites, to chemical splashes in laboratories and processing plants, to UV exposure in outdoor work, the risk to workers’ vision is ever‑present. This Eye Injury Prevention Safe Operating Procedure gives your organisation a structured, repeatable method for controlling these risks before they cause harm. It translates WHS obligations into clear steps that can be followed on the floor, in the lab, or on site, rather than remaining as abstract policy.

The procedure covers the full lifecycle of eye safety: hazard identification, risk assessment, selection and use of appropriate eye and face protection, housekeeping and engineering controls, and immediate response to eye incidents. It helps standardise expectations across supervisors and teams so that eye protection is used correctly and consistently, eyewash and first aid facilities are maintained and accessible, and eye incidents are reported and investigated in a defensible way. By implementing this SOP, businesses can reduce injury rates, support compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant standards, and demonstrate due diligence to clients, regulators and workers alike.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the frequency and severity of workplace eye injuries through consistent, risk‑based controls.
• Ensure workers select, use and maintain appropriate eye and face protection for specific tasks and hazards.
• Support compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant AS/NZS eye protection and first aid standards.
• Standardise supervisor expectations and worker behaviour around eye safety across sites and shifts.
• Improve emergency readiness with clear instructions for immediate response, flushing and escalation of eye injuries.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Site Supervisors
• Operations Managers
• Laboratory Managers
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Manufacturing and Production Managers
• Construction Project Managers
• Workshop Forepersons
• Facility Managers
• Safety Trainers and Induction Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Flying particles and projectiles from grinding, cutting, drilling and machining
• Chemical splashes and aerosols from handling liquids, cleaning agents and process chemicals
• Dust, fibres and biological contaminants causing eye irritation or infection
• UV radiation exposure from outdoor work, welding and cutting operations
• Glare and poor lighting contributing to eye strain and reduced visual acuity
• Thermal hazards such as hot liquids, steam and molten materials
• Mechanical impact from tools, equipment or materials contacting the eye area
• Incorrect or non‑use of eye and face personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Inadequate or poorly maintained eyewash stations and emergency showers

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 References and Applicable Legislation
• 3.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 4.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 5.0 Eye Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
• 6.0 Hierarchy of Controls for Eye Injury Prevention
• 7.0 Selection and Use of Eye and Face Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• 8.0 Engineering and Administrative Controls (Guards, Barriers, Signage and Work Practices)
• 9.0 Housekeeping and Work Area Setup for Eye Safety
• 10.0 Pre‑Task Checks and Permit/Authorisation Requirements
• 11.0 Step‑by‑Step Procedure for High‑Risk Eye Hazard Tasks
• 12.0 Emergency Response for Eye Injuries and Exposures
• 13.0 Eyewash Stations, Emergency Showers and First Aid Requirements
• 14.0 Training, Induction and Competency Requirements
• 15.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Replacement of Eye Protection
• 16.0 Incident Reporting, Investigation and Corrective Actions
• 17.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
• 18.0 Document Control and Recordkeeping

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act (as implemented in relevant Australian jurisdictions)
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations (as implemented in relevant Australian jurisdictions)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work (for combined eye and face PPE considerations)
• AS/NZS 1336: Recommended practices for occupational eye protection
• AS/NZS 1337.1: Personal eye protection – Eye and face protectors for occupational applications
• AS/NZS 1337.6: Personal eye protection – Prescription eye protectors for industrial applications
• AS 4775: Emergency eyewash and shower equipment
• AS/NZS 4501 series: Occupational protective clothing (where integrated face and eye protection is relevant)