What are three things eye protection keep you safe from?

If a worker is suffering from an eye injury, it’s most likely due to improper eye protection or lack of any eye protection at all. Many people do not realize the importance of eye protection in the workplace. Potential hazards can be avoided simply by covering your eyes. Here are the top five reasons why you need to wear safety glasses..

Protect Against Foreign Objects Or Debris

Safety glasses can prevent foreign objects or debris from damaging your vision. Dangerous particles or chemicals could be floating around in your workplace. Construction, welding, maintenance, mining, and other dangerous jobs can harm your vision. Dirt, dust, pollen, and wood can irritate your eyes and cause long-lasting damage.

Protect Against Extremely Bright Or Unsafe Lights

Safety glasses could save your eyes from the harmful effects of high-intensity lights. These lights can come in many different forms and are used for everyday tasks such as motorcycles, cars, welding torches, lasers, and more. Wearing safety goggles will help protect you against these bright light sources that may

Preventing Eye Illnesses

Many computer-related jobs require that you stare at a monitor for hours on end. When the light from your computer enters and reflects off of your eye, it can cause fatigue in the eyes or even lead to vision loss. The most common eye illness caused by computers is called Computer Vision Syndrome, which can lead to pain in the eyes and blurred vision. The best way to prevent this from happening is by wearing glasses while you are on a computer for long periods of time.

They’re Now Fashion-Friendly

Many people do not wear safety glasses because they feel that the limited styling options are unattractive. However, there is a wide selection of styles to choose from and many companies offer customized frames with your company’s logo on them! You can have bright colors or subdued tones.

Protection Against Chemicals and Pesticides

Chemicals and pesticides can be dangerous to your eyes. They can cause inflammation, a condition in which the eye swells and becomes red as well as blurry vision. If you work with chemicals or pesticides on a regular basis, then it is important that you wear safety glasses because they decrease the risk of having an allergic reaction to those products

Don’t rely on your own sunglasses or prescription glasses to protect your eyes from harm. Wearing properly designed safety glasses will help prevent all potential hazards. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of safety glasses or how to find the right pair for you, we invite you to contact us today so that our professional staff can assist you with all of your safety glasses needs.

Departments are responsible for buying required personal protective equipment for employees as it relates to eye and face protection.  Departments should consider purchasing prescription safety glasses, see Prescription Safety Glasses guidance and ordering information.  Employees are responsible for the costs of eye examinations.

Eye and Face Hazards

Listed below are some hazards that employees may be exposed to when protecting the eyes and face.

• Chemical and Biological
• Dust or mist
• Splashes of liquids
• Extreme Heat and Cold
• Flying Objects
• Impact or Explosion
• Radiation

General Requirements

• Employees must use appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards.
• Eye and face PPE must be marked to identify the manufacturer and the ANSI Z87 standard marking on the frame.
• Eye and face protection must meet ANSI Z87.1- “American National Standard Practice of Occupational and Education Eye and Face Protection”.
• Safety eyewear can be worn over prescription lenses and should not disturb the proper position of other safety apparel.
• Safety eyewear can be purchased that incorporates prescription vision correction in the design. []
• OSHA provides reference guidance in OSHA’s Eye and Face Protection eTool

Types of Eye and Face Protection

Safety Glasses 

• Standard safety glasses are designed to protect against light to moderate impact and flying particles and are constructed of metal or plastic with impact-resistant glass or plastic lenses.
• Safety glasses must have shatter-proof lenses, impact resistant frames and provide side protection. Detachable side protectors [e.g. clip-on or slide-on shields] are acceptable if they meet the ANSI requirements.
• Metal frame safety glasses shall not be used when performing electrical work
• The employee is responsible to obtain any prescription for corrective lenses.

Limitations:

• Standard safety glasses are not impervious to all impacts. They can also be dislodged easier than other eye protection.
• Safety glasses do not prevent liquids from entering into the eyes from a splash to the face.
• Safety glasses do not protect against vapors or airborne particulates.
• Prescription Safety Glasses guidance and ordering information.

Safety Goggles

• Safety goggles are tight-fitting eye protection that completely cover the eyes, eye sockets and the facial area around the eyes and provide protection from impact, dust,, mists, and splashes.
• Safety goggles can be worn over prescription lenses.
• Safety goggles are available with perforated, port-vented, or non-vented frames.Safety goggles should be worn when working with liquids that may splash or if vapor or airborne particulate protection is required.

Limitations:

• Safety goggles can fog when in use

Face Shields

• Face shields provide general protection to the entire face for a variety of hazards, such as flying debris, chemical splash, arc flash, UV radiation, and extreme heat.
• Impact rated face shields can be worn or face shields must be worn over primary eye protection [safety glasses or goggles] when there is a potential exposure to flying fragments or objects, hot sparks from furnace operations, potential splash from molten metal, or extreme temperatures.

Limitations:

• Some face shields are not rated for impact protection.
• Face shields do not protect against airborne particulate hazards

Welding Shields

• Welding shields are constructed of vulcanized fiber or fiberglass and fitted with a filtered lens.  The shield assemblies consist of vulcanized fiber or glass-fiber body, a ratchet or button type adjustable headgear or cap attachment, and a filter and cover plate holder.
• Welding shields protect eyes from burns caused by infrared or intense radiant energy.  Welding shields protect both the eyes and face from flying sparks, metal spatter and slag chips produced during welding, brazing, and soldering.
• OSHA requires welding shield filter lenses to have a shade number appropriate to protect against the specific hazards of the work being performed in order to protect against harmful light radiation.  See “Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy” for information. []

Welding Helmets

• Welding helmets protect the eyes and face from infrared or radiant light burns, flying sparks, metal splatter, and slag chips encountered during welding, torch brazing, torch soldering, resistance welding, bare or shielded electrical arc welding, and oxy-acetylene work.
• Welding helmets should only be used over primary eye protection [i.e. safety glasses or safety goggles]. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Limitations:

• Welding helmets do not protect against airborne particulates
• Welding helmets do not protect against head impact hazards except the face.

Laser Safety Glasses/Goggles

• Laser safety glasses/goggles protect against intense concentrations of light produced by lasers.
• Laser safety glasses/goggles selection is dependent upon the laser equipment and operating conditions.
• For use of eye protection around lasers please refer to the Laser Eye Protection
  Selection Guide

Limitations:

• Visibility

Electrical PPE for the Eyes

• Electrical PPE for the eyes is covered in Appendix G PPE Body Protection Information of the Electrical Safety website.

Selection of Eye and Face Protection Guide

Storage and Care

• Always follow manufacturer’s guidance for cleaning, storage and care.
• Store to prevent scratching and damage.
• Do not store equipment with potential exposure to high heat or direct sunlight.
• Inspect prior to use.
• Damaged or broken equipment should be discarded.
• Lenses that are pitted or deeply scratched are more prone to break under impact and should be replaced.
• Clean eye and face protection according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If the manufacturer’s instructions are not available, clean with a mild soap and water solution and rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry.
• PPE that has been previously used by other personnel should be disinfected before issuing to another person. Follow manufacturer guidance for cleaning.