Why Should You Wear Safety Glasses in a Shop?
Eyesight is one of the five fundamental human senses. The basic structure of the human face provides some natural protection from eye injury, but a workshop environment presents specific hazards that may damage the human eye(s) causing temporary, partial, or permanent blindness. This article identifies those hazards and proposes the use of personal protective equipment when engaged in workshop activity. Does this Spark an idea?
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What Hazards Exist in a Workshop?
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The activities performed and material used in a workshop may pose dangers to a worker's eyesight. These may take the form of physical, chemical, or radiation hazards. The United States Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration warns of "hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation." Thinking about your own particular circumstances, also consider the possibility of harmful dusts, hot sparks or splashes, high temperature or chemical mists, and steam hazards.
Activities such as grinding, welding, drilling, cutting, and hammering all pose the possibility of inadvertent debris impacting and/or penetrating the eye(s). Chemical substances present splashing, vapor, and direct contact hazards. Welding creates a variety of risks, including light radiation, molten metal, high temperature burns, and exposure to gases under pressure. Dusts or material by-products may adversely affect eyesight.
What Personal Protective Equipment is Available?
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Safety glasses have ratings based on several factors, including the level of impact they may sustain before breaking or being penetrated, the amount of light radiation they will deflect (welding helmets have filter shade numbers clearly marked on them), and the types of chemicals they will thwart. The specific activity will determine whether you want safety glasses with or without side protectors or a full-face shield.
Select eye protection that meets American National Standards Institute (ANSI) safety standards. Merely wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses will not prevent injury or provide the appropriate shading necessary for many activities. Safety glasses are available that fit over prescription eyewear. Wearing a hard hat may also be warranted depending on the activity due to falling-object and debris hazards.
Unusual and infrequent activity may present hazards from unfamiliar or unaccustomed sources. Proper ventilation in a workshop helps reduce exposure to dusts and other caustic vapors. Avoid metal frame glasses when working with electrical equipment or in the presence of arc or sparks.
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The Human Eye
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You may think that protective equipment interferes with your activities and be tempted to avoid wearing a protective device. Help yourself remember by hanging a balloon in your shop. The eye is structured like a balloon filled with water. The vitreous gel behind your pupils is held in place by thin tissue. Any object or debris that may puncture or compress the balloon may do so to your eye. Any dust or heat or chemical that may cover or negatively affect the balloon may do the same to the surface of your eye.
In Case of Emergency
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A timely medical response is critical with eye trauma and injuries. Keep your emergency medical telephone number clearly posted and a telephone accessible in your workshop.
Install an emergency eyewash station if you will be routinely working with eye-hazard material and equipment. Keep portable bottles of eyewash available when working in remote areas.
Notify others when you will be working with hazardous material or equipment.
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