Which personal protective equipment is crucial for a machinist working with flying chips?

Safety glasses are essential for a machinist working with flying chips because they provide vital protection for the eyes. In machining operations, such as milling or cutting, small, sharp particles can be ejected at high speeds. These flying chips can cause severe eye injuries, including scratches or punctures to the cornea, which can lead to vision loss.

The correct use of safety glasses ensures that the eyes are shielded from these hazards, allowing machinists to work safely and effectively. This personal protective equipment is specifically designed to withstand impacts and prevent foreign objects from entering the eyes, making it an indispensable safety measure in machining environments.

While other options like dust masks, earplugs, and steel-toed boots serve important protective functions, they do not address the immediate threat posed by flying chips directly targeting the eyes during machining activities.