When do I Need Polarized Safety Glasses?

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.

What Kinds of Emergency Eyewash Stations Are There?

There are approximately one million eye injuries in the workplace every year. This may seem like a lot, but it does show the importance of proper eye protection and safety regulations in the workplace. Although people are required to use goggles, face shields, and safety glasses, accidents are still a possibility. When accidents occur, it is imperative that an eyewash station is available to all employees. They should be positioned in a manner that eye emergencies can be treated within seconds.

There are several OSHA regulations that require businesses to have eyewash stations when employees could be exposed to corrosive materials. Eyewash stations must be in compliance with ANSI Z358.1-2004. There is a voluntary standard that offers guidance for the proper design, use, performance, installation, and maintenance of eyewash stations.

There are many factors that must be taken into consideration when positioning eyewash stations in the workplace. A business must first select an eyewash station. Before doing so, the work area and injury potential should be assessed. The layout of a building will play a large role in where an eyewash station is placed. All stations are to be placed within 10 seconds walking distance from when an injury occurs. The area should remain free and clear from objects that will block the accessibility of the station if there is an emergency. Water used in an eyewash station should be lukewarm or tepid. There must be at least 15 minutes of water flow.

Now we will talk about the types of eyewash stations. Plumbed eyewash stations draw their water directly from plumbing pipes connected to a main water source. These require ANSI weekly activation in order to maintain proper operation. It also flushes out buildup that often forms when water sits in the pipes. If weekly activation is not performed, mold, bacteria, and sediment can build up in the pipes. You have the option of a tank style eyewash station that is self contained. These stations use tap water mixed with a preservative. A preservative will reduce the build up of bacteria. The preservative will usually expire after 6 months, so this type of system will need maintenance every six months. At this time, the units will be cleaned and refilled. There are self-contained eyewash stations that do not require the use of tap water. There is also no mixing involved in the process. Purified water is used in a clean room environment.

Some eyewash stations use saline solution to mimic tears that are produced in the eye. The solutions for cartridge bases eyewash stations have a shelf life of approximately 24 months. These models can be installed in minutes. A big benefit to these is that the eye station is portable. They can easily be moved if necessary.

It is very important to know all guidelines related to eyewash stations in the workplace. OSHA has very strict guidelines when it comes to eye safety.