The eyes are the most complex organs that a human possesses – except for the brain. They are composed of more than two million working parts and are capable of processing more than 36,000 pieces of information every hour, contributing towards 85% of a person’s total knowledge.

Whilst eye injuries may not, statistically, be the most common workplace injuries, when they do occur, they are often instant and serious. They can result in a massive personal impact for the sufferer, with anything from temporary blurred vision, irritation or burns, resulting in temporary loss of sight through to severe and long term impaired vision and/or blindness in extreme cases.

 

Where direct contact with substances may not cause instant injury, exposure to liquid mists or sources of radiation without proper protection can have a slow, steady and ultimately damaging effect on the eyes, chipping away at the body’s natural defences until ultimately injury occurs.

 

Key success factors for eye protection programmes include hazard avoidance, providing the right solution for the right environment and ensuring worker buy-in. To put key issues in focus, a simple 10-point plan should consider the following:

 

•  Spectacles – Spectacles are suitable where full enclosure of the eye area is not required. Offering protection against high speed particles, all spectacles are tested from both the front and the sides. There are various levels of lens treatments available for environmental conditions such as resistance to scratching and fogging.

•  Goggles – Select goggles when workers are coming into contact with eye hazards such as dust, flying particles or liquid droplets, gases and vapours, molten metal and hot liquids, and require a tight seal. Look for goggles with anti-scratch and anti-fog ventilation or with an anti-fog lens coating.

•  Faceshields – Opt for faceshields when workers have the potential to come into contact with hazards such as flying solid particles or liquid droplets, arc flash, molten metal and hot solids. When looking at faceshields consider the environment and the likely risks to determine the right solution. Recommendations include a polycarbonate screen for heavy mechanical work, for chemical contact, an acetate screen, for electrical work a Polycarbonate screen, and for welding tasks Polycarbonate lenses in conjunction with the correct lens scale for the application (i.e IR 3 & 5 shades). In all cases, it is also important to know if the person is working outside or inside as they will require different lens tints and shades to block out sunlight, to enhance colour or to accommodate indoor/outdoor work applications. 

 •  Sizing – It is vital that the eye protection chosen fits well and is comfortable for the wearer. Look for different width sizes and additional features such as an adjustable nose bridge to help keep eyes centred in the lens and reduce eye fatigue. 

•  Comfort – Any PPE selected should be comfortable as this is the major factor in determining worker acceptance and wear over the course of a full work day. 

•  Flexibility – Consider safety eyewear that incorporates added wearer features such as ratcheting temple hinges on spectacles, enabling the wearer to tailor the fit and customise the lens angle for greater protection. 

•  UV Protection – Where light is an issue, go for a product that offers 99.9% UV protection and a proper coating to ensure anti-fog, anti-static and scratch-resistant properties meeting the EN166 European Standard. 

•  Close fitting – The closer the fit – with ideally little or no gap between the lens, frame and the wearer’s face where spectacles are concerned – the better. 

•  Wider PPE compatibility – If eyewear has to be worn with other forms of PPE, such as hard hats or hearing protection, ensure it is compatible and the use of one does not compromise the use or performance of another. The best eyewear is designed with interoperability in mind.

•  Prescription eyewear – Research shows most people over the age of 40 wear spectacles all or part of the time, yet many do not use prescription eyewear in the workplace. For those wearing prescription eyewear under goggles or a faceshields, there should be an adequate gap between the two.

Finally, it is recommend that all eye protection programmes, even established ones which follow the above 10-point plan, are regularly reviewed in terms of their approaches and solutions for workers. By being proactive and trialling and using the latest PPE technology and solutions, regularly reviewing training and reinforcing the message about the importance of eye protection, safety managers are able to gain worker insight, feedback and buy in.