Eye injuries are commonplace in several work settings. Fortunately, many such injuries are easily preventable using safety eyewear. However, choosing the right safety glasses may get overwhelming due to the sheer number of lenses and frames available. You may also find restrictive, uncomfortable glasses fogs up quickly and looks unattractive. Therefore, you must ensure that the glasses have the perfect design and provide complete protection. Below is a complete guide to help you choose protective eyeglasses for your workplace.
Consider safety hazards
The choice of your safety glasses must depend on the safety hazard you encounter in your workplace. It could be anything of the following hazards.
Radiation: It can be UV rays to visible light generated in welding and other types of optical radiation, which may result in chronic or acute eye injury.
Chemical: It may include any liquid or chemical splashes entering the eyes.
Temperature: It includes the risks of splashes of metal and hot liquids in the eyes.
Mechanical: Hazards caused by particles generated from tools and machines which hit the cornea, causing injury.
Choose the type of glasses and lens material.
Identifying workplace hazards is followed by getting acquainted with different types of glasses and the extent of eye protection they offer. Usually, safety eyewear is categorised into two: safety glasses and safety goggles.
Goggles and glasses can protect you from particles, flying objects, glare and optical radiation based on the lens material. The commonly used materials for safety eyewear are acrylic, polycarbonate, optical glass and NXT polyurethane. However, consider the pros and cons of each of these materials before buying.
Consider your comfort
Once you have selected the lens material, you must check the following factors to understand the extent of your comfort.
Lens tint: Tints add value to the glasses when working in a high optical radiation setting. You can have tints in different colours, from simple grey, blue or brown.
Lens coatings: Coatings increase the functionality and acceptability of the goggles. For example, if you need to use your goggles in high humidity, you need an anti-fog coating to prevent the hassle of removing the glass and wiping the fog off frequently. Moreover, you can get a hard coating for your lens to increase scratch resistance.
Comfort and design: The acceptance of your glass depends on comfort and design. You must choose a pair of lightweight glasses designed ergonomically to be worn comfortably for several hours throughout the day.
Prescription glasses: If you have impaired vision, you need prescription glasses customised to get maximum protection and optimum visibility.
Get the right fit
There is no one size fits all solution when safety eyewear is concerned. So, make sure that the glasses you choose doesn’t have any gap, sits securely on the head, stays in place when you move side-to-side or up and down and allows unobstructed and clear peripheral vision.
When checking the fit, you must see no pressure points on the sides of your head, behind the ears and your nose bridge. Also, look for frames that combine soft and hard components to keep you protected and comfortable all day.
Harsh working environments call for increased protection for the eyes. Therefore, your safety eyewear should offer consistent and complete protection. You also check them before every use, clean them regularly and dry them. Then, when you see any visible damage, get them repaired or dispose according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
