Wednesday, 28 March 2012


How to Choose Industrial Eye Protection

By Mike Strama

Many injuries in industrial workplace settings occur due to improper eye safety, whether because the worker was wearing the improper safety eyewear or not wearing eye protection at all. Understanding the possible eye hazards and the types of protection available is critical to ensuring a safe workplace. Molten metal, harmful liquids and chemicals, and intense light radiation are just a few examples of dangers that can lead to serious injury through direct contact or exposure. With various styles, types and features, protective eyewear can prevent injuries from occurring. Below, learn more about choosing the right protective eyewear for the job.
Identifying the Hazards:
Understanding the potential hazards that can lead to eye injury can help you better choose the right type of eyewear. Safety lenses can protect your eyes from flying particles caused by using machinery for grinding, drilling, sawing or sanding. Protective eyewear and face shields are also required during welding and other applications that cause hot sparks and molten metal splash to come into contact with the eyes and face. When working with liquid chemicals or harmful gases and vapors, special-purpose glasses can help guard against exposure and injury. Workers using laser or welding applications may also be exposed to harmful UV lights and infrared radiation.
Protective Eyewear Features:
Safety glasses add scratch resistance to the lenses and ensure durability and long lens life. Lenses are also coated to reduce moisture and keep the spectacles from fogging up. For certain applications, such as welding and laser cutting, protection from UV and infrared radiation may be necessary. Frequent exposure to UV radiation can cause immediate effects such as photokeratitis, which causes sunburn on the surface of the eye, or long-term problems including cataract formation. While tinted lenses can help protect against UV radiation, exposure to infrared radiation requires special shaded lenses. Tinted lenses can also protect against harsh lights and bright sunlight, and true color gray (TCG) protective eyewear help workers who need to identify true colors, such as in electrical wiring applications or traffic signal control.
Comfort and Visibility:
Comfortable safety glasses that do not distract the worker are more likely to be used than eyewear that constantly slips off the face, fogs up, or makes the worker sweaty and uncomfortable. Therefore, comfort and visibility play a key role when choosing the right protective eyewear. Many styles and sizes are available today, with glasses that can fit any facial contour. Thinner lenses and lighter frames also improve comfort, and customizable features allow workers to adjust the glasses to their own preferences.
Many workplace injuries can be prevented when wearing the proper protective eyewear. Employees should be trained and required to wear all the necessary protective garments to reduce the risk of injury on the job.

Mike Strama writes for Magid Glove Safety (http://www.magidglove.com/), a leading manufacturer and distributor of quality eye protection, work gloves, and other industrial safety equipment. Magid provides workers with the safety equipment they need to stay protected and improve productivity. For more information, visit http://www.magidglove.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Strama

 

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