Safety Eye Protection

Selecting the appropriate safety eye protection for your environment, the specific type of work and its potential hazards is critical.


Risks Addressed:

Risk Addressed

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), more than 40% of workplace eye injuries take place among craft workers (plumbers, repairers, carpenters, mechanics, etc.), and around 33% among equipment operators (assemblers, sanders, etc.). Of the total number of injuries, almost half take place in manufacturing and just over 20% happen in construction. BLS records also show that 70% of eye injuries in the workplace involve flying or falling objects or sparks, while about 20% of workplace eye injuries involve contact with chemicals. Other causes of frequent eye injuries come from swinging objects like tree limbs, ropes, and chains, as well as tools other workers are using in the work area. 

Working in different environments, whether in construction, manufacturing, or laboratory, exposes workers to a variety of hazards to their eyes. The most common types of hazards include:

·         Flying objects (bits of metal, glass)

·         Blunt impact

·         Radiation

·         Splashes and droplets

·         Dust

·         Small particles

·         Chemicals

·         Welding flashes

·         Any combination of these hazards

 

Without proper eye protection, workers are at risk of suffering permanent eye damage.


How Risks are Reduced:

How Risk Is Reduced

Most eye injuries recorded are minor, but some workplace accidents can result in serious injury, vision loss or blindness. Any job that involves airborne particles or hazardous substances carries a risk for eye injury. Ordinary eyewear does not adequately protect workers against eye injury; the need for proper eye protection glasses is paramount to the safety of the eye. Safety glasses are different from regular glasses because they are made from polycarbonate, a lightweight but strong material that is designed to have high impact resistance. The risk of workplace injuries can be reduced by paying attention to the working environment and always wearing the right eye protection when workers are required to do a high-risk job. Ninety percent of eye injuries can be prevented by wearing the appropriate safety eyewear for the task (safetyglassesUSA.com) thereby providing the proper shielding reducing the risk of eye injury.  

Hazards involve any potential danger or risk that exists not only in workplaces, but also at home and during recreation activities. These threats include physical, chemical, and biological hazards. Eye hazards exist in every workplace, but some jobs pose a higher risk for eye injury than others do. The most important way to protect the eyes is to wear appropriate eyewear. In the work place, this means following recommendations of the safety experts at OSHA, as well as performing safety audits. Injuries to the eye due to the lack of protective glasses incur costs that include medical expenses, treatments, surgery, compensation for damage or loss, and reimbursement for lost wages. Regular use of protective eyewear saves money and resources by preventing injuries and reducing injury severity.

Other benefits of safety eyewear include enhanced vision, increased comfort, and protection from sunlight. In addition to offering a high level of protection against acute injuries, newly manufactured polycarbonate lenses provide 99% protection from harmful UV-A and UV-B rays. This helps to prevent eye disease caused by long-term exposure to the sun, such as pterygium, photokeratitis, macular degeneration, benign eye growths, and peri-ocular skin cancer.

Availability

3M
To obtain information, visit Eye Protection

Pyramex
To obtain information, visit http://www.pyramexsafety.com or contact 1-800-736-8673 help@pyramexsafety.com

Edge
To obtain information, visit http://edgeeyewear.com/ or contact 1-866-953-7325

Radians
To obtain information, visit https://www.radians.com/ or contact 1 877-723-4267 SALES@RADIANS.COM