Fresh Expert Directions On Buying Safety Glasses January 12 2018
The eye is one of the most delicate organs in your body that once lost cannot be replaced. It is therefore only prudent for workers in environments where there is exposure to seek protection at all cost. One of the best ways to protect your eyes is by getting safety glasses. However, the effectiveness of these glasses depends on whether you have made the right choice. Here is a simple criterion by experts on how to choose the right glasses to protect your eyes.
What danger are you exposed to?
Each work environment exposes you to different hazards. To adequately protect your eyes, you need to understand the danger you will be facing. There are different types of risks that you are exposed to in work environments.
- Mechanical risks- these are risks emanating from tools or machines that would generate particles. The particles are likely to hit the cornea leading to injuries.
- Radiations- the radiations range from visible light that emanates during welding to UV radiations that cannot be detected. Such radiations would lead to acute eye injury.
- Temperature- the risks arise from hot liquids to intense heat and intense heat radiations.
- Chemical exposure- chemical splashes, gas, liquids and dust are some of the dangers you are exposed to.
Know The Types Of Lens Materials And Glasses Required
Different materials are suited for a variety of environments and offer varying degrees of protection. Generally, there are two categories of glasses used to protect eyes. There are safety goggles and safety glasses. Some are deigned for objects while others are designed for heat and light. Polycarbonate is a good material because of its light weight and ability to protect you from UV light. However, you might have challenges with clarity. Trivex or polyurethane offers excellent optical clarity but it might pass as being too expensive. Acrylic is rather affordable, light and resistant to solvents. However, it is not durable and has clarity issues. You may also settle for optical glasses that are resistant to scratches and vision distortion but come with heavy lenses that are expensive and perform poor in case of an impact.
Personal Preference Should Be Considered
While personal preferences are important, they must not override the functionality of your glasses. Some of the personal preference options to consider include lens coating, tint, safety prescriptions and comfort of design.
There are other cautions that experts think you should consider to guarantee safety.
- While the glasses protect you from substance exposure, they must not restrict your movement because this might lead you into more danger.
- The glasses must fit comfortably and allow you to work freely. Glasses that fall or come off will cause instability and lead to work related hazards.
- Compatibility with other personal safety equipment- they must fit within such equipment as the helmet and mask. Exposing other parts of the body will be equally dangerous.
For people with corrective glasses, you need to consult your eye specialist to prevent one lens from interfering with the other. The safety glasses you choose must also meet the standards set by regulators. Any slight compromise would be disastrous.