The construction site is a busy and dangerous place because it carries many risks. The risks are not only endangering the body but also the sight. Hazards like dust, chunks of material, bright lights, and flying objects often come to the workers' eyes. In line with this, workers need to protect their sight to reduce the risk of eye injury. For example, wearing safety glasses while working on the construction site.
Wearing glasses for eye safety can protect the worker's sight in the construction environment. The goggles come from tough materials that provide additional impact protection. Therefore, the glasses protect the worker's eyes from dust, materials, and other hazards. In this article, we will discuss the importance of these glasses and how to choose the right pair for workers.
What is the purpose of Safety Glasses?
The main purpose of safety glasses is to protect the worker's eyes from dangerous materials on the construction site. Many workers underestimate the importance of eye safety when working on the site. A study shows that 60% of workers get eye injuries because they are not wearing protection at work. As a result, this leads to many problems for workers.
Eye injuries can cause pain, vision loss, or other symptoms depending on the type of injury. Workers may experience pain, redness, and swelling around the eye. Eye injuries can also lead to temporary vision problems such as blurriness. However, they can lead to vision loss in some cases. In other words, wearing safety eyewear is important to prevent these problems for workers.
Types of Safety Glasses for Construction Workers
Safety glasses are one of the personal protective equipment (PPE) that protect the worker's eyes from harmful materials. These include flying debris, dust, chemicals, or UV lights. The construction site can be risky since workers deal with different working situations. As a result, having the right safety gear is important to protect their eyes.
There are different types of safety eyewear to protect workers from danger. Each of them offers unique features to prevent harm. With different types available, choosing the right pair ensures safety and comfort in the workplace. In line with this, having the proper eyewear helps construction workers to prevent injuries. Therefore, let's explore the different types of glasses that workers can choose!
Impact-Resistant Glasses
Impact-resistant glasses are one of the safety glasses for construction. It protects the eyes from potential dangers on the site. The glasses come from materials like polycarbonate or Trivex. A fun fact about these materials is they're stronger than regular plastic or glass. As a result, they offer protection from dangerous things.
The impact-resistant glasses protect the eyes from ultraviolet light and flying debris. The anti-fog and anti-scratch coatings of these glasses reduce glare so workers can see things. Besides, the glasses pass the safety standards for protective eyewear (EN ISO 16321-1:2022). In other words, this eyewear is suitable for construction workers.
Chemical Splash Goggles
Chemical splash goggles are the other safety glasses for construction to protect the eyes. They prevent dangerous liquids like paints, glues, and chemicals getting into the eyes. Besides these things, the glasses protect the eyes from other dangers like dust and debris. In other words, they prevent the eyes from injuries.
The glasses have an adjustable strap that makes them perfectly fit the eyes. The lenses are tough and scratch-resistant. Also, the special coatings on the lenses make the glasses anti-fog. Some glasses also have small vents to let the air in. In short, it eases the construction workers while working with liquids and chemicals.
Welding Goggles
Welding goggles are the other safety glasses that protect the eyes in construction jobs. They are different from other eyewear because they protect the eyes from ultraviolet and infrared lights. In construction, jobs like cutting metals, soldering, and brazing need workers to wear welding goggles. Alongside this, workers can get serious eye injuries when they're not protecting their eyes.
The welding goggles are small and lighter than welding helmets. These glasses have adjustable straps that ensure they fit the head comfortably. Besides, it has a vent to let the air flow in to prevent fogging. In addition, the lens gets dark automatically when the welding light is bright. The most important thing, these glasses meet the safety standards (EN ISO 16321-2:2021), so they're perfect for protecting workers' eyes.
Prescription Safety Glasses
Prescription safety glasses are a great solution for construction workers who need vision correction. It's not the same as the other glasses, but it offers the same eye protection. This pair of glasses improves the workers' vision while protecting the eyes from dangerous materials. In other words, the workers don't need to wear the common goggles over regular glasses.
The prescription glasses have a strong material that makes them durable and reduces the risk of injuries. Besides, these come in different models to fit every need. Like impact-resistant glasses, prescription glasses meet the safety standards for protective eyewear (EN ISO 16321-1:2022). In short, they protect workers while letting them work efficiently.
Maintenance and Care of Safety Glasses
Construction sites are full of risks, and wearing safety glasses helps keep the workers safe. They protect the worker's eyes from dangerous materials and prevent injuries. Without wearing the eyewear, workers may get injuries that affect their ability to work. However, these glasses need proper care to make them work effectively and maintain their protection.
When the glasses are not taken care of, they may not protect the eyes as well. For instance, scratches, dirt, and damaged lenses or frames can reduce visibility. Therefore, it may not protect the eyes properly. Taking care of the eyewear is important to maintain a safe workplace. We will discuss the maintenance tips and how to take care of these glasses.
First, safety glasses must be free of dirt, oil, and other materials. Use warm soapy water and a soft cloth to clean them. For lenses, use the lens cleaner that is made for glasses. When the glasses are not in use, keep them in a protective case to avoid damage. Don't leave them in direct sunlight or a damp place, as it can damage the lenses and frames. Finally, Check the fit of your glasses to make sure they stay comfortable. Adjust the loose frames or replace the lenses to give them extra protection.
How to Choose the Right Safety Glasses
Workplace risks are real, but having a good safety plan can reduce them. Since sight is an important sense, the eyes need to be protected with a good pair of safety glasses. Wearing proper personal protective equipment like glasses can lower the risks of injuries. In other words, it can reduce costs that should not be incurred.
Choosing the right glasses is very important to keep the eyes safe, especially for construction workers. With so many options, it can be difficult to know which pairs are the best. The most important thing when choosing this eyewear is to consider some factors like lens types, size, and other safety requirements. Let's learn the tips to choose the right glasses to protect the eyes.
- Know the purpose: Before choosing glasses, figuring out what kind of dangers the worker needs to be protected from is important. For example, flying materials, dust, chemicals, even UV lights.
- Choose the right size: Choose safety glasses with a wraparound shape to protect the eyes from all angles. Look for adjustable parts like temples or nose pads to make sure it fits the face.
- Choose the right lenses: There are different types of lenses to choose from glasses, depending on the needs. Polycarbonate lenses are popular among construction workers because they protect the eyes from UV lights. Besides, choose the coatings to get extra protection. For instance, scratch-resistant and anti-fog.
- Check the certification: When choosing the glasses for eye safety, make sure they meet the EN166 standard. This standard checks that the glasses are strong enough to protect the eyes from danger.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the construction site can be dangerous, so protecting the eyes is important. Eye injuries may lead to several vision problems. By wearing safety glasses, workers can protect themselves from dangerous materials. In the end, it is important to choose the right glasses to protect the eyes while working on a site.
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