Safety goggles are a mandatory PPE for any workplace. Safety glasses are Eye Protection gear, They protect against dust particles and other flying debris that can cause serious eye conditions like corneal abrasions or scratches. In this blog post, youll learn everything about safety goggles including the purpose of them, their benefits in the workplace as well as standard and requirements when using these important gear pieces.
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Eye Protection SignageWhat are safety goggles?
Safety goggles are mandatory PPE (Personnel Protective Equipment) and a necessary requirement for any job site. safety goggles are designed to fit around the eye and shield it from different hazards like impact or chemical splash. To protect your eyes, you should always wear safety goggles.
Why do you need Safety Glasses?
It is very important to wear eye protection at the worksite. This will protect your eyes from any small particles that could get in them and cause damage like dust or debris, as well as dangerous chemicals if you are working with those materials.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 800,000 eye injuries occur in workplaces each year. These may be attributed to such factors as improper eyeglasses fit or quality and improperly worn safety glasses by employees.
Eye protection is an integral part of a safe workplace environment because it helps prevent injury that can potentially lead to blindness
TipsRequirements & Standards of safety glasses:Frame:
Frame shall be comfortable to wear and not too heavy so you dont lose. In addition, they should seal firmly around your face without being irritating or causing any skin irritation as well as meeting ANSI Z87- standards for what makes an acceptable pair of eyewear in terms of design!
Lenses:
Safety glasses should be made of polycarbonate. They need to have a lens that is 3mm thick, scratch-resistant, and fog-free with side shields. The lenses of safety glasses must be resistant to high impact, chemicals, fog-free, sparks and dust. The lens should also protect against UV radiation. Furthermore, the minimum requirements reference BS EN 170- or equivalent ANSI Z87.1- level of protection for your eyesight.
Fit over safety glasses
Safety Goggles must be designed to fit over spectacles worn by a wearer, retain the seal where required.
Marking:Every goggle should come with a label that tells you what the goggles are for, who made them, Z87+ standard, and other important information. More details on your safety gear labels help protect both yourself and those around you by making sure theyre suitable for use.
Markings
Which types of Eye protection should I wear:
When choosing safety goggles, it is important to consider the different types of safety glass available. Basically Clear goggles are designed for indoor use and tinted or gray lenses can offer protection from outdoors but may not provide adequate visibility at night & indoor. Choose safety glass or safety goggles as per potential hazards like chemical, physical, UV, or splash hazards.
Types of Eye and face protectionWhy is it important to get new pairs periodically
Wearing Eye Protection can be a lifesaver for workers at many different jobs. This is because the lenses may become scratched or foggy with time, and they need to have perfect vision in order to do their job safely! Wearing your old pair might not give you the same level of protection and clear vision thats why it is important to change safety goggles periodically or after damaged
The dangers that come with wearing old pairs of glassesWhen we wear old pairs of Eye Protection, the scratches on the lenses can cause a distortion in our vision. And when frames are too loose or damaged, its easy for them to break off at an inconvenient time (like during work) If you use them for too long without replacing your spectacles, they could break and put us at risk of injury! damaged eye protection is actually a hazard
Emergency response
If you get something in your eye, immediately locate the nearest eyewash. Wash for 5-10 minutes to avoid any potential damage or irritation that could happen if left untreated. Seek medical attention and notify management as soon as possible
ConclusionAll of us want to be safe and healthy, but sometimes its hard to find the right information. We hope that this blog post has been helpful in providing you with a better understanding of safety glasses standards for construction work so you can make informed decisions about your own health and well-being. If there is anything else we can do to help out, please let us know!
Eye protection is about more than just safety glasses. Having a shelf full of protective eyewear on hand does not ensure your workers eyes are safe.
Employers must ensure the safety and well-being of their employees. This includes protecting them from eye and face injuries.
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Below are 10 key facts about eye protection. This information will help you prevent eye and face injuries from taking place at your organization.
Each day, more than 2,000 U.S. workers experience a work-related eye injury. And thats just the number of employees who seek medical treatment. It doesnt include those who are able to treat their injury with basic first aid.
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(Learn more in Be Prepared for Chemical Exposure Emergencies with Eyewash Equipment.)
Roughly 10% of workers with an eye injury need at least one day away from work for recovery. Others may require restrictions or transfers until theyre able to perform their regular jobs again.
Sadly, some of these injured workers will never fully recover.
When most people hear the words eye protection they immediately think of safety glasses. But theres more to it than that.
OSHAs eye and face protection standard states that eye protection must be worn when exposed to hazards from:
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As you can see, there are a number of workplace hazards that can lead to eye injuries.
We need to be more diligent about protecting our employees from eye injuries. Instead of just stocking the PPE shelves with goggles and safety glasses, work with your employees to conduct a hazard assessment of each work area.
Employees must be provided with eye protection that meets the ANSI Z-87 guidelines. Most of the approved eyewear products will have Z87 stamped on the inside frame. If youre unsure, check with the manufacturer.
Here are the basic criteria for ANSI-approved eyewear:
(Find out How to Choose the Right Safety Eyewear for Your Job.)
In general, it is safe for employees to wear contact lenses in the workplace. However, certain situations may present additional hazards for these employees.
For instance, welding activities that produce gases or vapors may cause irritation and excessive watering of the eyes for someone who wears contacts.
Chemical splashes can also be more severe for an employee wearing contacts. And dust and other particulates can become trapped between the lens and the eye.
The best way to address this issue is to provide additional training for workers with contact lenses. Explain the hazards and present them with alternative options. They should also know that contacts cannot be used as a substitute for regular safety eyewear.
According to federal OSHA, employers are not required to purchase prescription safety eyewear for their employees.
Some State Plans, however, may go above and beyond this regulation. Check with your local OSHA office to be sure. Some companies and labor unions will also set their own policies regarding the cost of prescription safety eyewear.
At a minimum, employers must provide safety eyewear options that would fit over an employees regular pair of glasses. However, many employees find this to be cumbersome and uncomfortable.
Thats why its a best practice for the employer to cover at least a portion of the prescription safety eyewear. Even though it isnt required, it will make your employees more likely to comply with the eye protection requirements in your workplace.
(Find out Who Pays for Personal Protective Equipment?)
Many people are under the impression that OSHA requires safety glasses with permanent side shields. However, the OSHA .133(a)(2) clearly state that detachable side shields are acceptable:
The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses eye protection that provides side protection when there is a hazard from flying objects. Detachable side protectors (e.g. clip-on or slide-on side shields) meeting the pertinent requirements of this section are acceptable.
That being said, its important to remember that employers and State Plans may go above and beyond the federal regulation. Check with both to determine whether detachable side shields are allowed at your workplace.
According to the CDC, most eye injuries result from small particles or objects. They strike or scrape the eye when ejected by tools and machinery. Another common problem is when these particles and objects are airborne and blown into the eye.
Examples of common particles and objects include:
Chemical and thermal burns are another common source of eye injuries in the workplace. Industrial chemicals or cleaning products can affect workers in various industries. Thermal burns typically affect welders and those who work near them.
Other sources of eye injuries include objects like nails, staples, or wood chips that penetrate the eyeball. When an injury of this nature occurs, it usually results in permanent vision loss.
Welders and other employees exposed to radiant energy hazards must wear appropriate eye and face protection. The equipment used must have filter lenses that provide adequate levels of protection.
OSHA has established minimum protection requirements for radiant energy work (you can view the charts and tables here).
Keep in mind that you may need to provide your workers with several pairs of hoods, goggles, and eyewear.
(For related reading, see Goggles vs. Glasses: Which Is the Right Safety Eyewear for Your Job?)
In emergency situations, employees may need to use an eyewash station to flush or rinse their eyes. OSHA requires eyewash stations to be readily accessible in areas where employees may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials.
Eyewash stations must meet the following minimum requirements:
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