Why You Need Safety Glasses at Work

Why should you wear safety glasses? You should wear safety eyewear because they are the best defense against eye injuries. 

Eye injuries at workplaces are becoming rampant. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that every day about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment. There are two major reasons for eye injuries

• Lack of eye protection or,
• Improper eye protection.

This has led to most workers suffering various forms of eye injuries. 

A Bureau of Labor Statistics survey of workers who have been victims of eye injuries showed that about three out of five were not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident. When asked why they refused to wear eye protection, virtually all of them claimed they never thought it was necessary. This ideology is common to many today who do not see the need for wearing personal protective equipment until they fall victim to it.

Safety experts and eye doctors advise that one can lessen the severity or even prevent 90% of eye injuries if appropriate safety eyeglasses (like Univex safety glasses) are put into use. A lot of people do not acknowledge the essence of eye protection in the workplace. But the simple truth is, potential hazards can be avoided simply by covering your eyes with Uvex safety glasses or other eye protectors. 

Some occupations are very prone to eye hazards, and individuals working in such an environment should pay particular attention to their eye safety. These occupations include: manufacturing, health, welding, mining, carpentry, auto repair, construction, plumbing, and electrical work, to mention a few.

Therefore, the type of safety glasses PPE you will use should be a function of the type of job you do. When foreign bodies enter your eyes, they might scrape on the cornea leading to severe eye injuries. Depending on your workplace, different potential hazards exist, ranging from splashes with grease and oil, burns from steam, ultraviolet or infrared radiation, to metal chips. If you work in an environment with a lot of particles, flying objects, or dust, you might want to wear Uvex safety glasses that have side protection/side shields. Also, if you work in an industry where you are constantly exposed to chemicals, it will be necessary to wear goggles. What about if you work near hazardous radiation, perhaps welding, lasers, or fibre optics? You must use special-purpose safety glasses, face shields or helmets, and goggles made for that purpose.

For health practitioners and laboratory scientists, many may be at risk of acquiring infectious diseases from eye exposure. Some infectious diseases can be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the eye. This could be through direct exposure to blood splashes, respiratory droplets generated during coughing, or even when you touch contaminated objects then go-ahead to touch your eyes with your contaminated fingers or other objects. Therefore, you need to be conversant with the requirements for your work environment. You don't want to make use of side shields that come with your conventional glasses. They do not provide enough protection to meet the OSHA requirement for many work environments. You just need to get the appropriate Uvex safety glasses.

Here are a few Uvex safety glasses to choose from:

• Uvex i-5 Safety Spectacles: This has a 3-position side arm inclination and adjustable side arm lengths for maximum adaptability. It also features an excellent lens coating that offers permanent anti-fog protection on the inside, and it is resistant to chemicals and scratches on the outside
• Uvex Megasonic Goggles: It has an exceptional field of vision with a unique frameless lens design. It also has a unique lens coating that provides permanent anti-fog protection. It is scratch- and chemical-resistant.
• Uvex x-fit Pro Spectacles: This has a soft nose piece of the striking X-design. It does not get affected by chemicals or scratches. In fact, it guarantees permanent anti-fog protection.

Depending on the type of hazard, the circumstances of exposure, and individual vision needs, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) necessitates workers to make use of eye and face protection anytime there is a considerable probability of incurring injuries. And the safety eyewear in use should be one that can prevent such potential hazards. This could be goggles, face shields, Uvex safety glasses, or full-face respirators. We don't also want to forget that wearing safety eyewear like the Uvex safety glasses can have a significant impact on overall, long-term eye health.

When at your workplace, always make use of safety glasses when the following eye hazards are probable:

• Projectiles (dust, concrete, metal, wood and other particles)
• Chemicals, including splashes and fumes
• Radiation (this includes visible light, UV radiation, heat or infrared radiation (IRR), and lasers)
• Blood borne pathogens (hepatitis or HIV.) It could be from blood or body fluids

Your place of work may present more than one type of these eye hazards. Irrespective of the dangers presented at your workplace, when you use appropriate safety glasses (e.g. uvex safety glasses,) you have nothing to worry about. You can work with rest of mind knowing you've got your eyes protected. 

Apart from making use of safety glasses while at work, it should be noted that home-based injuries are increasing and nearing the yearly total for workplace eye injuries. Therefore, whether at your workplace or not, as long as you want to engage in any work that might present with potential eye hazards, always make use of personal protective equipment including Uvex safety glasses.

Employers also need to conduct an eye hazard assessment of the workshop, provide the right safety eyeglasses and demand employees to wear it, and reduce, if possible, eliminate eye hazards.

The benefits of using appropriate safety glasses have more to do than just providing safety. Here are some other benefits.

Benefits of Using Appropriate Safety Eyeglasses

Safety from floating particles:

Safety glasses can prevent foreign objects that are floating around from damaging your vision.

Avoid major accidents.

Using appropriate safety eyewear will prevent splashes and chemicals from getting into your eyes. Sometimes we unintentionally scratch our eyes, rubbing dangerous chemicals into them. With the right safety eyeglasses, a minor eye injury will not aggravate to a severe eye problem.

UV light protection

Exposing your eyes to UV radiation for long is not safe. Making use of appropriate PPE will help.

Computer Vision Syndrome

CVS occurs as a result of viewing a computer screen for a long duration. CVS could lead to eyestrain, blurred vision, and dry eyes. But with appropriate eyeglasses PPE, it will keep away the discomfort and blurred vision while you do your work.

Fashionable Eyewear

Safety eyewear does not have to look like one of those invoke in the '80s. For example, the Uvex safety glasses come in different colorful and appealing designs. You will definitely find one that fits you perfectly. While the Uvex safety glasses feature many amazing designs, it does not neglect your safety.

Conclusion

Try to recognize the dangers/ hazards you face at your workplace. This will help you purchase appropriate safety glasses PPE. Also try to eliminate hazards before starting work by using machine guards, work screens, or other engineering controls. Use proper eye protection, keep your safety eyewear in good condition, and have it fixed or replaced when damaged.