July/August 2019

46 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk July/August 2019 Health& Safety SPECIAL FOCUS W orkplace risk is an acknowledged reality but the implementation of a well thought through safety policy will significantly reduce such risk. Our eyesight is precious and demands the selection and provision of high-quality safety eyewear which not only ‘protects’ but which enhances wearer compliance due to excellent comfort and fit features. It’s clear that high quality personal protective equipment (PPE) can significantly reduce the high real cost of personal injury (productivity, litigation and income) while enabling more people to return to their families safe and sound. Despite the availability of high-quality safety eyewear, the frequency of incidents directly affecting the eyes and eyesight, is alarmingly high. The evidence indicates that this is largely due to inappropriate safety eyewear being used or that eyewear is not being worn at all. Both causes are avoidable. Eye injuries sustained in the workplace can be caused by a multitude of factors including the ingress of airborne materials, chemical splash, direct impact from any number of materials and from the environment, namely ultraviolet light and glare. The combination of a wide range of tasks carried out in diverse workplace environments create the potential for multiple risks, which, if possible should be ‘engineered out’, but where this is not the case, job specific risk assessments should define the type of safety eyewear to be worn. Types of eyewear Safety eyewear is primarily classified as either spectacles or goggles and for a very good reason – it is predominantly about the level of impact protection each provides. Safety prescription eyewear is available in both spectacles and goggles. Laser protection eyewear is available from selected manufacturers. Safety spectacles certified to the core EN166 standard, provide protection against low energy impact, specifically up to 45 meters per second. Safety goggles properly certified to EN166 provide medium energy impact protection, specifically up to 120 meters per second and should be regarded as the mandatory option for those using high power tools such as nail guns or angle grinders. In contrast, safety spectacles are not recommended for use for such applications. Safety goggles are equally recommended where the task involves the risk of chemical or molten metal splash, exposure to gases or vapours which could be harmful to the eyes or environments where there is a high degree of airborne particulates. Choosing the right safety eyewear So, how do you choose the right eyewear? Employers have a duty of care to ensure that workers are provided with appropriate PPE wherever the risk assessment defines that as necessary. There are several areas for consideration when selecting eyewear suitable for your workforce. The first and most vital thing to remember is that one size does not fit all. Head and facial shapes all differ requiring a range of eyewear from which employees can select. Involvement in this process not only ensures a proper fit, crucial for the wearer’s safety, it also increases the likelihood that eyewear stays worn throughout the working day. A good fit also takes into consideration the ‘wearability’ of safety eyewear, which should include the following: Eyewear should deliver a low-pressure, How to specify suitable safety eyewear Clair Weston, uvex marketing manager, takes a look at how to specify the most suitable safety eyewear for the wearer.