Currently Browsing: Safety Glasses
Sep 10, 2010
Posted on Sep 10, 2010 in Safety Glasses | 0 comments
Are you in a professional environment where you are exposed to harmful substances or airborne dust or do you use power tools such as angle grinders, band saws, sanders around the home?
Did you know that thousands of eye injuries are recorded in the USA everyday? Over 90% of which could have been prevented had the injured party been wearing safety glasses?
Safety glasses are a see-through safety shield for your eyes. They’re different to regular glasses in that they cover only the front of your eyes, whereas safety glasses cover your eyes from the sides as well so that nothing can enter your eyes and damage them. Safety glasses have passed specific ANSI standards.
Not only the frames of these special glasses are much sturdier than the ordinary glasses, the lenses are also stronger with shatter resistance features. It implies that the lenses of safety glasses must pass a drop ball test, in which a ball is dropped on the lens to test whether it is hard enough to withstand all kinds of accidental assaults. The lenses are most commonly made of virgin resin polycarbonate which is stronger than regular lenses. The light weight and impact-resistant lenses of the safety glasses come in both prescription and non-prescription forms including bifocal safety glasses.
Safety glasses have both sturdy and heat resistant frames and are designed to prevent the lenses from being pushed into the eyes during an accident.
They also protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and are often used as sun glasses. Most safety glasses have a scratch-resistant coating as well.
A new standard, ANSI Z87.1-2003, was passed recently to give instructions regarding the requirements of different types of safety glasses for different workplaces. There are mainly two types of lenses: high impact and basic impact. It is the responsibility of the employers who require protective eye wear for their employees to consult OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) regulations to know which type of safety glass is required at their job sites.
Smith & Wesson Olympic 30-06 Dual Bifocal Safety Glasses
Dual bifocal safety glasses can be superior to traditional bifocal safety spectacles in terms of correcting the wearer’s eyesight; but only provide vision correction within the near range. This is because their lenses are made with a single, positive power in the bottom section. The upper part is non-prescription. In this case, users of bifocal safety glasses can only get visual aids when they try to view nearby objects or materials. Plenty of people can benefit greatly from this eye wear, especially those who work with power tools.
However, traditional bifocal safety glasses are not sufficient if wearers need to see objects in the distance. In fact, the combination of both nearsightedness and presbyopia correction is the typical function provided by regular bifocal reading glasses. Dual bifocal safety glasses function, in a similar way as regular bifocal reading glasses. The upper section of their lenses helps the user to see distant objects and the lower section is for presbyopia correction, which is extremely helpful for certain groups of people.
Aug 26, 2010
Posted on Aug 26, 2010 in Safety Glasses | 5 comments
Universal side shields are plastic shields that fit onto the sides of glasses to better protect the eyes from harmful substances that a worker may come into contact with during the work day. Universal shields come in many shapes and sizes and can be made from a variety of materials. Some are OSHA and ANSI compliant, but some are not. If your job requires you to wear universal side shields as a part of your regular safety equipment, you will want to make sure they are OSHA and ANSI compliant to you are not injured or fined due to having the wrong ones.
When an employee already wears glasses, it is possible to simply use the universal shields that are properly rated by OSHA and ANSI in order to afford added protection to eyes while working. Universal shields can be made out of a number of material. Medical grade polymers provide flexible protection while meeting the ANSI Z87.1-2003 impact requirements. These side shields can help protect against blood borne pathogens, bodily fluids, viral and other airborne particles by adjusting to any frame and pliably conforming to facial features.
Other side shields can be made out of impact resistant polycarbonate. This material should be rated to impact specifications tested to ANSI Z87 on both metal and plastic frames. Side shields should be easy to install and apply and fit snugly against the face in order to prevent splashes and eye injury. Other options are often available on these types of universal side shields. Tinted lenses are available, to help keep harmful UV rays from damaging the eyes and helps to eliminate glare.
Some jobs will require that side shields be compliant with OSHA rule 29 CFR Part 1910.133. This rule has specific specifications for side shields and protective eye glasses depending on the job being done. Jobs like shielded metal arc welding and plasma arc cutting require eye safety side shields and goggles to be thicker than those for workers only working with a torch brazing or soldering. Check the OSHA and ANSI requirements for your job to see what the minimum protective shade is needed to keep your eyes safe from harm.
It is important to only use safety devices, such as protective eye side shields, that are ANSI and OSHA compliant. Inferior side shields may be cheaper, but may not offer you the protection you need when you need it most. You can find our the specifications for universal shields by consulting the OSHA website. Your company may also have specific requirements as well, above what is required by OSHA and ANSI. When working around electricity, plasma and chemicals, it is possible to do some severe and irreversible damage to your eyes. However, with proper precautions and by wearing the compliant safety gear, those chance of damage to your eyes is greatly lessened. Make sure the universal side shields you are using are compliant to be assured that you are getting the best protection possible for your eyes.
Aug 19, 2010
Posted on Aug 19, 2010 in Safety Glasses | 1 comment
Written on Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Polarized safety glasses help to prevent eye fatigue and reduce glare. This increases the ability to see, and increases overall safety in the work environment. Any jobs outdoors will usually require polarized safety glasses. When light shines off a surface, it becomes polarized. All light planes move in one plane. Normally, light moves on many planes until it hits a reflective surface. When you wear polarized safety glasses, only one plan of light passes through the lens reducing reflection.
This is what eliminates glare and eye fatigue. Vision is vital in any work environment to maintain safety. Polarized glasses are very common in construction and outdoor jobs where the sun is bright and there are many surfaces. Light becomes polarized off of surfaces into different components. There is more of a horizontal component that is reflected than a vertical component. This is what makes reflective light polarized.
In order to eliminate glare, polarized safety glasses need to be vertically polarized. If glasses were polarized vertically and horizontally, no light would be transmitted. Normal sunglasses only decrease light intensity using a uniform percentage. Polarized glasses eliminate reflection off of various surfaces. Polarization is maximized when the sun is approximately 37 degrees from the horizon. If the sun is too low or too high, polarization is not as affective. These glasses will not help you if you are staring directly at a light source. They are not intended to block UV rays or infrared light. Sometimes people think polarized safety glasses will work for welding. This is not the case and can cause serious eye damage. There are safety glasses specifically made to protect from the infrared light that a welder deals with.
Polarization is a benefit when light comes at you between 30 and 60 degrees. Many outdoors workers experience reflections from the road, water, vehicles, and more. This is where polarized safety glasses increase visibility and safety. Workers who wear polarized glasses will have greater clarity, color definition, and reduced eye fatigue.
Rule of thumb is that if you are working outside in bright light, polarized safety glasses are best for your situation. Glare can really affect the ability to see when clarity is crucial for safety. This is especially true when it comes to highway work. Workers need to keep themselves safe, but also think about the drivers on the road. If vision is hindered even for a moment, disastrous results could occur.
If you work anywhere outdoors, polarized glasses aren’t going to hurt. As with any dark tinted glasses, they are not recommended in low levels of light, or in weather conditions that may further impede vision such as snow and rain.
Once people know how polarization occurs, they then realize why polarized safety glasses should be used instead of regular tinted glasses for the sun. It is not so much about brightness and it is increasing clarity by reducing glare. Glare is what impedes vision the most while leading to eye fatigue.
Aug 19, 2010
Posted on Aug 19, 2010 in Safety Glasses | 0 comments
Written on Thursday, October 1, 2009
There are so many types of side shields out there! You can find just about anything if you look hard enough. It is very important to know what is best for you, so that you can maintain the highest safety levels while working. Eye damage can be very serious even if an accident or injury seems small. It is not worth taking a chance.
If you already wear glasses, there are slip-on sideshields that will fit any type of prescription glasses. This is an easy and quick way to maintain safety. The only issue with these is that you have to remember to keep them on you for when you need them. Many people just leave them on their glasses, if they are flexible enough to bend when glasses are folded.
There are many generic protective glasses with side shields that fit most people. These are great if you are just protecting your eyes from particles and debris. These are very commonly seen in the work place. These precautionary glasses are the most commonly worn.
If you are going to be working in welding areas, there are side shields to protect your vision against the welding flame. Many people don’t think of the fact that you do not have to be looking directly at a welder to obtain damage. If it is in your line of vision, it is best to protect your eyes. It surely can’t hurt.
If you are working with chemicals, you will want to make sure that your side shields are chemical resistant and fit in a way that will protect your eyes from splatter and droplets. This is important in lab settings, hospitals, and many companies that use chemicals on a regular basis.
If you work in a hospital, there are various molded frames with shield that will protect you against body fluids. These are very similar to those used for chemicals, but the material make-up is different.
You should always ask your employer what types of side shields are right for your environment. This should be something that you are taught before you start working. If you need them for personal use, you can contact any company that makes side shields. They are very informative and will be able to give you the very best of suggestions.
As long as you are wearing side shields for nothing but protection from particles, you will just need a generic one fits all type. If you are welding or in certain types of light, then you need to make sure that your side shields accommodate that.
If you wear glasses, you will want to get a goggle style that fits over your existing frames. If for some reason you do not like this choice, you can get prescription glasses with side shields on them made specifically for your job.
If you are unsure of whether or not you should put on side shields in a working environment, go ahead and ere on the side of caution. Your eye are a major part of your function. Do not loose them due to lack of safety.
Aug 19, 2010
Posted on Aug 19, 2010 in Safety Glasses | 2 comments
Written on Tuesday, September 22, 2009
You already know that safety glasses are a necessity for protecting your eyes from potential injury caused by impact or flying debris. You may even know the exact style you want, but do you know which lens tint is right for your application?
Clear Lenses are recommended for general purpose mostly indoor (and some outdoor) work environments where normal to low light conditions exist. These are the most popular type of lenses because of their low cost and high functionality. Another benefit of clear safety glasses are their ability to provide true color recognition.
Indoor/Outdoor (I/O) Lenses offer protection for both indoor and outdoor environments because they are light enough to wear indoors, but dark enough to shade you eyes in the daylight. These lenses can be described as being darker than a clear lens, but lighter than a gray lens. The I/O tint is ideal for a person who is constantly changing environments.
Polarized Lenses are ideal for outdoor applications because they block reflective glare so wearers see more clearly and experience less eye fatigue. Glare produced from snow, water, cement, ice and other reflective surfaces can cause “blind spots” that may impair vision. Polarized lenses prevent blind spots by blocking glare.
Amber Lenses are recommended in low light conditions where enhanced contrast is needed. Amber lenses are perfect for working at dawn and dusk, or on a hazy, overcast day. However, they are not recommended for night driving or bright light environments.
Gray or Smoke Lenses provide general purpose sunglass protection in sunny, outdoor environments. These lenses are great for landscaping, construction, utility workers, airplane pilots, transportation and many other applications.
Brown or Espresso Lenses are similar to gray/smoke lenses, but provide enhanced contrast and depth perception.
Mirror Lenses also provide general purpose sunglass protection, but feature an enhanced lens color. In addition, mirror lenses reflect light, reducing even further the amount of light that passes through the lens.
Vermilion Lenses sharpen visual acuity and provide a contrast similar to amber lenses. Some people prefer vermilion lenses for indoor applications because they are better are reducing glare from fluorescent and halogen lighting without compromising color perception. These are great for inspections because defects are easier to see. Vermilion lenses are not recommended for driving or for use as general purpose eyewear.
Blue Lenses are commonly used in work applications where there are high levels of yellow or sodium vapor lighting and glare. These conditions exist in the semi-conductor industry and sometimes in food processing plants.
Orange Lenses offer high contrast and low light image resolution. They are high visibility, and are perfect for target shooting or other activities where clarity is a must.
IR 3.0 and 5.0 Green Lenses block infrared (IR) light and are designed for certain welding affiliated operations such as brazing and cutting. These are the darkest lenses available.
Anti-Fog Coated Lenses are ideal for humid environments or when moving from one extreme temperature to the next. Anti-fog coatings are usually available on a variety of different lens tints.
