Top Safety Glasses to Prevent Workplace Injuries

Safety glasses are imperative for workers who are in an environment where they run the risk of having objects hit their eyes. The American Optometric Association states that over 2,000 workers each day receive an eye injury, and that eye protection in jobs where these injuries can occur drastically reduce the chance of these problems.

Even microscopic dust and chemical particles that get into the air can cause intense pain and damage to the cornea of the eye. Even grease and oil can cause significant eye damage. Steam and radiation are also dangers that can be avoided with the correct eye safety equipment.

The two major reasons for eye injuries on the job are not wearing any kind of eye protection and wearing the wrong protection. At T.A.S.C.O., we aim to fix this for you and your business.

ANSI Safety Requirements Regarding Eye Protection

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is one organization that ensures that companies invest in the safety of their workers. ANSI has created a standard known as ANSI Z87.1, which covers safety glasses for employees. This standard is included in OSHA federal regulations. These rules deal with the safety and thickness of glasses.

OSHA’s regulations have a section focused on the requirements for eye and face protection. This standard is 1910.133. It states that employers are to make sure that each employee that needs safety glasses has them available at all times. It goes into deeper detail as it states that not only are they to be provided, but they need to have side protection either built into the glasses, or attached to them. These attachments are usually side clips or shields.

This standard also reiterates the requirement of the employer to provide safety eyewear that will fit over the prescription lenses of those employers who wear glasses and that the safety goggles must not negatively impact the wearer’s vision.

For employees who are not affected by flying objects, but may be affected by strong light or light beams, there is a clause in the standard that states they must have eyewear with appropriate shade to protect them from the effects.

Rules and Regulations

OSHA has a specific set of rules concerning protective eye gear/safety glasses. These regulations state that the employer has a responsibility to ensure that their employees have adequate and safe eye gear. It also states that those employees with prescription eyeglasses must have safety glasses that are safe and fit over their normal eyewear. According to OSHA, employers cannot be released from those responsibilities by having employees sign a waiver, and it is the responsibility of the employer to make sure that employees are wearing safety glasses.

The rules and regulations put forth by OSHA are detailed and leave no room for misinterpretation.

What’s disconcerting is that the majority of those hurt on the job are not even aware that eye protection is a requirement. This came from the employers not educating their crew and not providing safety gear as needed. In addition, many who do provide safety glasses did not ensure that their staff was wearing them and that the eye gear was properly fitting each individual. These cases have led to stricter rules and regulations involving protective eyewear in the workplace.

T.A.S.C.O. Offers a Wide Range of Safety Glasses

T.A.S.C.O. has a wide assortment of safety glasses on offer. We have glasses, goggles, and accessories.

Upon further investigation of safety glasses, the choices broaden to include such features as tinting and auto-darkening. The types run the gamut from bifocals to welding glasses, which are safety glasses with an added layer of protection to withstand the specific needs of welders.

There are options to be considered for frames and different lens reflections, as well as the thickness of lenses. The price can be just a few dollars or over forty dollars for the highest quality safety glasses. Of course, the top safety glasses to prevent workplace injuries depend on the industry in question.

We offer:

• Bifocal Safety Glasses
• Pink Frame Safety Glasses
• Full Lens Magnification Safety Glasses
• Prescription Ready Glasses
• Polarized Safety Glasses
• Welding Safety Glasses
• Over The Glasses Safety Glass
• Jumbo Size Safety Glasses
• Camo Safety Glasses
• Small Size Safety Glasses
• Auto Darkening Safety Glasses

The top manufacturers of safety glasses we prefer are:

• AO Safety Glasses
• Edge Safety Glasses
• Dewalt Safety Glasses
• ERB Safety Glasses
• Gateway Safety Glasses
• Jackson Safety Glasses
• MCR Safety Glasses
• Pyramex Safety Glasses
• Radians Safety Glasses
• Smith and Wesson Safety Glasses
• Uvex Safety Glasses

We also sell safety goggles, accessories such as cleaning fluids and neck cords, side shields, storage dispensers, and storage bags – everything you and your workers need.

Focus on Eye Safety in 2018

Proper eyewear in the industrial workplaces reduces eye injuries by over 90 percent. Choosing a reputable manufacturer and researching new, stronger glasses can help your company’s safety reach a completely new level in 2018 and beyond.

The company needs to think about the needs of their employees and the line of work for which the eye gear will be worn. Comfort is another issue to think about, as you need employees to be able to wear the glasses without discomfort - discomfort that could distract the employee from doing a quality job and even cause more accidents due to a lack of focus. The product should have the American National Standards Institute’s Z87.1 stamp, which shows that the glasses are top quality.

OSHA also states that employers should educate their employees to the dangers they could face without proper eye gear. Each employee should receive a properly fitting pair of safety glasses and the correct fit should be checked individually.

It is Your Duty to Protect Your Workers’ Eyes

Knowing that eye gear can protect the safety of employees, and that there are federal regulations that insist that they are provided and used properly, there is little reason why an employer would not make sure that their employees has proper protection. In addition, considering that eye gear is so affordable, and would help employees avoid fines and charges, the fact that there are still over 2,000 eye injuries a day almost boggles the mind. Each employee should be aware of the dangers that may face them on the job and should insist on proper safety equipment.

With education and regulations combined, there will be a decrease in the number of employees who suffer with eye injuries; and as injuries decrease, we will see productivity and job satisfaction increase. Through combined education and responsibility, this is one problem that can be alleviated.