It’s not just important to be protected physically while you’re at work, it’s mandatory.
While hazards can exist in every workplace, there are some that have a higher risk of eye injuries to be aware of, and that’s where safety glasses become a significant advantage in the workforce.
Safety glasses are most often used for people who work in what might be classified as dangerous conditions or in industries that include manufacturing, construction, landscaping, auto repair, plumbing, woodworking, agriculture, mining, forestry, fishing, and health care, to name a few.
Many employees take for granted the importance of eye safety while on the job, especially for eight hours a day, five days a week. But according to a 2003 estimate, about seven in 1,000 workers in Australia sustain an eye injury, which equates to about 50,000 eye injuries per year.
Today, globally most countries have governing bodies that require employers to provide eye and face protection for employees to safeguard against eye injuries during their workday. At Flash Uniforms, our safety glasses are certified to AS NZS standards, ensuring that you're getting the highest quality protection available. Safety glasses are made with a variety of different materials, some common types are plastic or metal and feature impact resistant lenses.
It's important to know the type you need as those for unobstructed views wrap around safety spectacles to provides a wide field of vision and are ideal for tasks that involve machinery or tools. Medium impact and splash resist safety spectacles are perfect for general industrial use, while elastic at back safety spectacles is ideal for workers who wear prescription glasses.
Safety glasses also come in a variety of colors and each color has a specific purpose. For example, clear eye protection is the most standard option and is used for general purposes. It allows wearers to see clearly while protecting their eyes from debris and other hazards. Gray safety glasses are used when high levels of brightness are present.
Here Are Six Most Common Reasons to Choose Safety Glasses:
- Prevents flying particles. Safety glasses can protect your eyes from flying objects that might occur from activities that include grinding, sawing, or hammering.
- Protects Impact: Safety glasses are designed to protect your eyes from light to moderate impact.
- Minimizes chemical splashes. Safety glasses can protect your eyes from chemical or industrial splashes.
- Reduces effects of laser light. Safety glasses can prevent retinal burns.
- Decreases computer glare: Wearing safety glasses can help prevent eye fatigue and keeps the eyes cool. They can even lower vision loss created by the computer’s blue light.
- Provides UV protection. Safety glasses defend against the sun’s UV rays when engaging in outdoor activities by shielding the eyes from sunburn and glare.
One crucial aspect to understand when it comes to considering safety glasses is that they are not the same as regular glasses, and should not be used as a replacement, because the material used for the lenses are drastically different between the two. Most conventional eyeglass lenses, while robust and built for everyday wear, are made of a plastic called acetate, which is not durable enough to protect your eyes in workplace situations. The amount of coverage the safety glasses provides is also vastly different than regular glasses. Besides protecting the front of the eye against flying objects, most safety glasses, as noted above, also feature additional side safeguard to both the peripheral and temple areas. In contrast, everyday glasses are designed for comfort, and not protection. Never rely on sunglasses or prescription glasses as a prevention from eye harm.
Now that you have a better understanding of the necessity of using safety glasses in the workplace, it is also essential to know how to care for them, so they continue to maintain their clarity and effectiveness.
Five Steps to Properly Clean Safety Glasses
- Rinse the glasses under lukewarm water. Ensure it is lukewarm, and not hot, to avoid damaging the lenses.
- Apply a small amount of mild soap or cleaning solution gently on the lenses with light pressure to prevent scratching the lenses.
- Use a microfiber or lint-free cloth to dab the glasses. A soft bristle brush can also be used.
- Store your clean and dry safety glasses in a special case where they are protected, or a clean dry place. Proper storage helps prevent dust, scratches, or damage when the glasses are not in use.
- Replace scratched, broken, bent, or ill-fitting eyewear immediately as damaged eyewear interferes with your ability to see.
Conclusion: Safety glasses are essential protection for specific industries and workforces and should always be used with the utmost care.