Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Protection of Eyes) Regulations
[20 May 1977]
(Format changes—E.R. 3 of 2015)
These regulations may be cited as the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Protection of Eyes) Regulations.
In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—
approved eye protectors (認可護眼用具), approved shield (認可護盾) and approved fixed shield (認可固定護盾) mean respectively eye protectors, a shield and a fixed shield made in conformity with specifications for the time being declared under regulation 4 to be approved specifications for the purposes of these regulations; eye protectors (護眼用具) means any of the following (being equipment made to be worn by a person), that is to say, goggles, visors, spectacles and face screens; fixed shield (固定護盾) means a screen which is free-standing or which is, or is made to be, attached to machinery, plant or other equipment or to a building or structure; shield (護盾) means a helmet or hand shield, being equipment made to be worn or held by a person; specified process (指明工序) means any process specified in the Schedule to these regulations.These regulations shall apply to any industrial undertaking where any specified process is carried on.
The Commissioner may, by certificate under his hand, exempt any industrial undertaking to which these regulations apply from all or any of the requirements of these regulations if he is satisfied that, in the case of that undertaking, the requirements in respect of which the exemption is granted are not necessary for the protection of persons employed in that undertaking or are not reasonably practicable; and any exemption granted under this paragraph shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Commissioner may specify therein, and may be revoked at any time.
Eye protectors, shields or fixed shields provided under these regulations for the use of persons in any industrial undertaking to which these regulations apply shall be made in conformity with such specifications as the Commissioner may, by notice in the Gazette, declare to be approved specifications for the purposes of these regulations.
The Commissioner may, by notice in the Gazette, revoke, replace or amend any notice under paragraph (1) or any specification therein.
The proprietor of any industrial undertaking to which these regulations apply shall provide for the use of every person employed in any specified process carried on in that undertaking—
approved eye protectors;
an approved shield; or
an approved fixed shield,
as the case may require for the protection of his eyes, having regard to the specified process in which that person is employed and the risk of injury to his eyes from the carrying on of that process.
Where any specified process is being carried on in an industrial undertaking and any person other than those employed in that process is employed in a place where there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury to his eyes from the carrying on of the process, the proprietor of the industrial undertaking shall provide for the use of that person—
approved eye protectors;
an approved shield; or
an approved fixed shield,
as the case may require for the protection of his eyes, having regard to the specified process being so carried on and the risk of injury to his eyes from the carrying on of that process.
The proprietor of an industrial undertaking to which these regulations apply shall—
maintain in good condition all eye protectors, shields and fixed shields provided by him for use under these regulations and shall—
so far as may be reasonably necessary for that purpose, provide proper storage for them;
if it is necessary that they should be transparent, keep them clean; and
take all reasonable steps to ensure that every person for whose use he so provides eye protectors or a shield or a fixed shield, as the case may be, makes full and proper use of the same. (71 of 1989 s. 13)
Where the proprietor of an industrial undertaking to which these regulations apply provides eye protectors or a shield or a fixed shield, as the case may be, for the use of any person under these regulations, that person shall—
make full and proper use thereof; and
report forthwith to the proprietor the loss or destruction thereof or any damage thereto or defect herein.
A proprietor of an industrial undertaking who contravenes regulation 5, 6 or 7 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 6.
A person who contravenes regulation 8 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 5.
Dry grinding of metals or articles of metal applied by hand to a revolving wheel, band or disc driven by mechanical power.
Turning (external or internal) of non-ferrous metals, or of cast iron, or of articles of such metals or such iron, where the work is done dry, other than precision turning where the use of eye protectors or a screen would seriously interfere with the work, or turning by means of hand tools.
Welding or cutting of metals by means of an electrical, oxy-acetylene or similar process.
Truing or dressing of an abrasive wheel.
Any work carried out with a hand-held cartridge-operated tool, including the operation of loading and unloading live cartridges into such a tool, and the handling of such a tool for the purpose of maintenance, repair or examination when the tool is loaded with a live cartridge.
The handling in open vessels or manipulation of acids, alkalis, dangerous corrosive materials, whether liquid or solid, and other substances which are similarly injurous to the eyes.
The use of compressed air for removing swarf, dust, dirt or other particles.
Any process involving the use of an instrument which produces light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation. (L.N. 126 of 1995)
The production of metal castings at pressure die casting machines.
Working at a spout of, or attending to, a cupola or furnace where there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury to the eyes from molten metal.
Pouring or skimming molten metal.
Work in the manufacture of glass and in the processing of glass and the handling of cullet where in any of the foregoing cases there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury to the eyes of any person engaged in the work from particles or fragments thrown off.
Inspection of glass bottles which contain aerated liquids.
The following processes when carried on by means of hand tools or other portable tools—
Fettling of metal castings involving the removal of metal.
Cutting out or cutting off (not including drilling or punching back) of cold rivets or bolts from boilers or other plant or from ships.
Chipping or scaling or scurfing of boilers or ships’ plates.
Breaking, cutting, dressing, carving or drilling of concrete, plaster, slag or stone (whether natural or artificial).