Much of the work we carry out day to day present’s significant hazards with respect to your eyes. Your eyes can be harmed in many ways from chemical slashes, welding flashes and inclusions of metallic particles. Even ‘minor’ eye injuries can cause life-long vision problems and suffering a simple scratch from sawdust, cement, or drywall can cause corneal erosion that is recurrently painful...

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Eye Protection
The much of the work we carry out day to day present’s significant hazards with respect to
your eyes. Your eyes can be harmed in many ways from chemical slashes, welding flashes
and inclusions of metallic particles.
Even “minor” eye injuries can cause life-long vision problems and suffering–a simple scratch
from sawdust, cement, or drywall can cause corneal erosion that is recurrently painful
What the Law Says - PPE Regulations 1992
Every employer shall ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to his
employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work except where
and to the extent that such risk has been adequately controlled by other means which are
equally or more effective.
“personal protective equipment” means all equipment (including clothing affording protection
against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which
protects the person against one or more risks to that person’s health or safety, and any
addition or accessory designed to meet that objective.
Under these regulations, PPE should be regarded as the last resort to protect against risks to
health and safety. Engineering controls and safe systems of work should be considered first.
Every employee shall use any personal protective equipment provided to him by virtue of these
Regulations the task risk assessment and permit to work where applicable. Employees must
take reasonable care of PPE provided and report to their employer any loss or obvious defect
or damage as soon as possible.
Safety glasses must be fitted with side protectors and have lenses which meet the minimum
impact requirements of BS EN 166. Lenses must be clear in all cases, unless for a specific
task and is agreed by the relevant Project Manager and the Safety Department.
Types of protection
The main types of eye and face protection are:
Safety spectacles – May be separate lenses in a metal or plastic frame (similar in appearance
to prescription glasses) or have a single lens/frame moulding (sometimes called eye-shields).
Most designs have side shields. Spectacles can incorporate corrective lenses, while eye-
shields may fit over prescription glasses;
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Goggles – These are made with a flexible plastic frame and one or two lenses with a flexible
elastic headband. They give the eyes protection from all angles as the complete rim is in
contact with the face. Some goggles are ventilated and may be unsuitable for protection
against gases and fine dusts;
Faceshields – These have one large lens with a frame and adjustable head harness or are
mounted on a helmet. Most can be worn with prescription glasses. They protect the face but
do not fully enclose the eyes.
Examples of hazards which require eye and face protection are;
 liquid or chemical splash as a result of handling or coming into contact with
dangerous liquids or chemical substances;
 working with power-driven tools, where chippings or debris are likely to fly into
the face, or abrasive materials may be ejected;
 dust, gas or liquid mist from machines, high-pressure cleaning, or using gas or
vapour under pressure;
 radiant heat, molten metal, hot solids, sparks or hot liquid splash from working
in hot conditions, for example welding, ovens, furnaces etc.
 intense light or other optical radiation emitted at levels liable to cause risk of
injury, for example welding, lasers etc.
Wearing Eye Protection;
 Make sure the eye/face protection fits and does not fall off easily. Glasses that are not
snug against the face also create larger gaps in protection.
 Wear safety glasses so that the temples fit comfortably over the ears. The frame should
be as close to the face as possible and adequately supported by the bridge of the nose.
 Some safety glasses have adjustable arms to adjust to the size of your head, make
sure these are adjusted over the ears and fit snug to your face.
Maintenance Inspection and Storage;
 Clean daily. Cleaning can be as simple as rinsing glasses under cool water to remove
debris and then drying with a soft cloth. keep a cloth especially made for cleaning
glasses handy. Individual pre-moistened lens towelettes are another convenient
option.

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 Use lens cleaner regularly. While water can be an easy way to clean safety glasses,
lens cleaners can help remove residue that water cannot. Never use soap, which can
leave a residue on glasses.
 Clean sides and ear pieces too. If you haven’t done this in a while (if ever) you’ll be
surprised at how grimy the sides and ear pieces on glasses can get. This grime can
migrate onto the lenses, so it’s wise to clean these parts often in addition to keeping
lenses clean.
 Avoid abrasive cleaners or rough cloths. These can scratch lenses and make glasses
un-wearable.
 Inspect daily. Look for any broken pieces or cracks every day. Glasses that are even
slightly cracked can fail to provide the necessary protection should an incident occur.
 Replace when necessary. Damaged or scratched safety glasses pose a safety hazard
and should be replaced. When lenses are scratched, vision becomes impaired and
strains eyes. When glasses are damaged, they may lose their ability to protect as they
should.
 Consider storage. The best option for storing glasses is in a hard case or microfiber
pouch especially made for safety glasses. If glasses do not come with a case, a
Microfiber Pouch is a great option because it doubles as a cleaning cloth for glasses.
If a case is unavailable and you don’t want to purchase one,
an old sock is another option for storing glasses and keeping
them free from scratches.