LOOK into Safety Glasses

Did you know that over 100,000 workers suffer disabling eye injuries each year? At least 9 out of 10 could have been prevented. Studies by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal that 3 of 5 workers who experienced eye injuries were not wearing eye protection when the accident occurred. Most of the of the others wore the wrong kind of eye protection. The majority of workers who were wearing eye protection were injured when chemicals or particles went around the eye protection, usually through the sides – a compelling reason to use glasses fitted with side shields. The greatest contact lens hazard results from vapors creeping around goggles and combining with eye lens moisture to cause a corneal burn. It’s recommended that contact lenses not be worn at all in an environment where eye protection is needed. Instead, wear prescription safety glasses. Kits are available which allow the wearing of prescription safety glasses under a full-face respirator.

In any situation where eye injury is a possibility --- flying objects or substances (dust particles, metal chips, etc.), chemical splash, hazardous gas or fumes, blows to the eye, flames, heat or extreme cold, light or radiation—eye and face protection is critical. Many types of eye protection are available to accommodate a variety of hazardous operations. Eye. And face protection includes spectacles with side shields, goggles, face shields, welding helmets and special purpose lenses.

· Spectacles with side shields are designed to shield eyes. They’re available in a number of styles, including special purpose an front-lift, to fit a wide range of applications.

· Face shields, or secondary protectors, shield the entire face. Shields feature windows made of plastic, plastic with glass inserts, or a wire screen to provide different levels of protection.

· Goggles are designed to surround and shield the eyes. Common goggle styles include the eyecup, which completely covers the eye sockets, and a cover, which can be worn over spectacles.

· Special-purpose lenses provide eye protection while performing visual tasks that require unusual filtering of light. Special purpose lenses appropriate for wavelength protection are required during laser or short wavelength Ultra-violet use.

Too uncomfortable? Have your eye protection adjusted or refitted by a professional. They give you a headache? Get the fit checked or the head strap adjusted; see an eye doctor. Can’t see with them? Clean them regularly; keep them in a case or a location where they won’t get scratched. It’s much harder to get used to partial or total blindness. Forget to put them on? You won’t forget and eye injury.

When choosing your eye protection, look for an ANSI-approved design. Chemical Store House and Central Stores offer a good selection. For further information contact the EHS Occupational Health & Hygiene Division at x45366.

Types of eye protection:

Goggles: Basic

Light (Laser) Protection

Face Shield: Basic

Impact: with side-shield

Face shield: UV protection

Should protect against exposure to damaging amounts of UV in the 200 to 405 nM range.

Adapted from UCSD EHS document.