Keep Your Eyes Safe & Protected!

Last time we covered ear safety so it makes some sense to talk about eye protection today. Eye protection is not spoken of as much as it should. You may not think your eyes need protection but surprisingly, they need as much protection as your ears do! Here are just a few of our safety glasses:

 

Safety Goggles are the most popular method of eye protection,as they can be used for nearly anything. They are also good for working outdoors, keeping debris out of the eye when doing outdoor work and even protecting against harmful splatters from chemicals. In addition to work, eye protection can also apply to learning and sports. Many schools use them for science classes involving chemistry or any other class that calls for the use of them. Some sports also involve the use of eye protection like swimming and skiing.

 

Shaded Safety Goggles can not only help protect your eyes externally but also internally, as well. Many of them protect against UV rays which can damage your eyes after prolonged sun exposure. We also recommend seeing your local eye care professional at least once a year to ensure your eyes are healthy and are getting the best care.

 

You can also choose from our many brands of safety glasses. Many of our brands are well-known, like DeWalt, 3M, and Pyramex. Choose from many shade colors like clear, blue, brown/bronze, or silver! And did you know you can also customize your safety glasses to include your company logo? They are perfect for your business, employees, or customers.

 

-CD

Safety Glasses by North

Trust your eye protection to one of the best manufacturers in the industry, with the know-how and experience to fulfill all your safety glasses needs. North has it all: design, special coatings, comfort and fit. Check out their line of reasonably priced safety glasses that meet ANSI safety standards for front and side impact.

North Squire Safety Glasses feature 100% wraparound nylon frames with one piece polycarbonate lenses featuring integrated side-shields for maximum eye protection. The lenses are treated with North’s exclusive 3A coating (Anti-scratch, Anti-UV, and Anti-static) to prolong the life of the safety glasses. The wide field of vision is maximized by the design of these safety glasses, and they have an adjustable temple for a comfortable fit. These glasses meet and/or exceed ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3 requirements.

North N-Vision Safety Glasses (Amber lens) North’s N-Vision™ safety glasses feature a modern ergonomic design for the ultimate in comfort and fit. The lenses are coated with North’s exclusive 4A coating; anti-fog, anti-scratch, anti-UV, and anti-static for versatility and extra-long life. These glasses come with optional RX inserts for ease of use and clear vision. These safety glasses by North meet and/or exceed ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3 requirements.

North N-Vision w/ Mirror lenses are ergonomically designed for a better fit and are the ultimate in comfort. The frames of these safety glasses are made of Elasto LT; a chemical resistant material. The lenses are coated with North’s 4A coating for rugged use and durability. These glasses meet and/or exceed ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3 requirements.

North Knight Safety Glasses feature teardrop shaped lenses with removable side-shields. Replacement lenses are available for purchase. The lenses are coated with North’s 3A coating which includes anti-scratch, anti-UV, and anti-static. These safety glasses meet and/or exceed ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3 requirements

North’S® T1100 Overglasses fit over most prescription eyeglasses but can also be used as regular safety glasses. Offering a wide angle view, these safety glasses are coated with North’s 3A coating for durability and extra wear.

Safety Glasses between $2 and $5

According to PreventBlindness.org: “New research brings the impact of eye safety at work into sharp focus. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently published the results of its latest study of injuries and illness in the workplace. In 2004, 1.3 million American workers were injured on the job and required recuperation away from work. Of that number, 36,680 were eye injuries.” With such a high number of eye injuries being sustained in the workplace, it makes sense to prevent the inevitable and provide workers with superior eye protection you can trust.

MSA Alpine Safety Glasses (Clear Anti-Fog lenses) Alpine™ safety glasses are built for protection against impact and flying hazards such as dust, sparks, particles, and glare. Because of their design they give side protection as well as front, keeping the eyes safe from injuries. With the wrap-around design, Alpine Safety Glasses are lightweight and comfortable to wear all day. These safety glasses comply with all applicable test requirements of ANSI Z87.1-2003. (High Impact) and are ideal for the following applications: mining, agriculture, chemical, construction, electric utility, nuclear, sanding and grinding, paper and pulp, and oil and gas.

Alpine Safety Glasses - Gray Lens

MSA Alpine Safety Glasses (Gray lens) have gray lenses and feature 8 base curved lenses, protecting the eyes from front and side impact by dust or flying particles, and they comply with all applicable test requirements of ANSI Z87.1-2003. (high impact). These safety glasses are ideal for most applications.

Crews CheckMate Safety Glasses (Amber lens): Crews CheckMate restful safety glasses afford the wearer complete orbital protection from flying dust, debris, and other airborne objects. The lenses filter 99.9% of UV radiation and come with exclusive Duramass® Scratch-resistant lens coating. Crews CheckMate Safety Glasses (Amber lens) meet ANSI Z87.1+ 2003 (high impact).

Crews Blackjack Safety Glasses (Chrome Frame Clear Anti Fog lenses) allow your work-crew to look cool, while protecting their eyesight. Anti-fog lenses help the wearer see more clearly when entering or leaving a cold atmosphere into a warm one and vice-versa by keeping the lenses clear and visual acuity sharp. The wrap-around fit of the glasses allow maximum clear vision and the ultimate in comfort. Crews Blackjack Safety Glasses meet ANSI Z87+ 2003 (high impact).

Safety Glasses and Lasik Surgery

Most people you see sporting safety glasses have are wielding power tools or on a construction site, but this is not the only use for safety glasses today. According to Market Scope, 17 million people have undergone Lasik eye surgery. Eight million of these were performed in America. This alternative to eyeglasses and contacts is a rapidly growing industry around the world. But what is less popular are the treatment procedures after your surgery to ensure that your eye heals. One of the recommendations that surgeons often make, is for their patients to wear safety glasses and take extra precautions after their surgery.

After Lasik surgery it can take up to two or three months for your eyes to totally hear. Usually doctors will recommend wearing safety glasses during certain activities regardless of if you normally wear them. Safety glasses should be work when playing sports, using power tools, swimming, or other potentially dangerous activities that could lead to an eye injury.

According to Prevent Blindness America:

• Accidents involving common household products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year in the U.S.
• More than 40,000 Americans suffer eye injuries each year while playing sports.
• More than 2,000 people injure their eyes at work each day.
• About 10% of workplace eye injuries require one or more missed days of work for recovery.
• Up to 20% of workplace eye injuries cause temporary or permanent vision loss.
• Experts believe that proper eye protection could lessen the severity of or prevent 90% of eye injuries.

Your doctor may also recommend that you wear sunglasses after your surgery because your eyes may be more sensitive to light. Check out these cool safety glasses that double as sun glasses!

Make sure that you talk to your doctor about specific limitations in your activity and get his or her recommendation on the proper eye protection for you.

ANSI Requirements for Safety Glasses

Did you know ANSI (American National Standard Institute) revised safety glasses standard Z87 in 2003? The revisions are instated to improve safety guidelines for safety glasses in an effort to reduce the amount of work related eye injuries. Each component of safety glasses (sideshields, lenses, and frame) has standards that must be followed.

Side Shield Requirements

* Must be tested for high velocity compliance on basic or high impact frame test platforms

* Must be impacted at three specified points at 150 fps (feet per second)

* Attachment to “basic” frames will not upgrade the frame to “high impact” status.  NOTE: They do provide additional lateral high impact protection.

* Must be marked with the manufacturer’s and Z87 logo indicating compliance

**NOTE: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) states that side protection does not need to be permanent indicating that detachable sideshields are permissible.

Lens Requirements

High Impact Lenses

* Must not be less than 2mm thick in diameter

* Must be marked “Z87+”

Basic Impact Lenses

* Must not be less than 3mm thick in diameter

* Must be marked “Z87”

* Glass lenses are considered low or basic impact resistant

* Resin lenses are considered low or basic impact resistant

**NOTE: Dress or street wear frames regardless of frame or thickness do not meet current or previous ANSI Z87 standards and are not to be worn in the work place without approved protection worn over them.

Frame Requirements

* Must display a permanent and legible mark or logo identifying the manufacturer

* Safety glasses frames intended to hold prescription lenses must be marked “Z87-2”

* Basic impact frames must be marked “Z87” on either the frame or temple

* High impact frames must be marked “Z87+ on either the frame or temple

Keep in mind that the ANSI standards are enforced to prevent accidents and keep you and your coworkers safe. These standards can prevent you from being one of the more than 2,000 workers per day who suffer from eye injuries on the job. Nobody needs or wants to lose money from being out of work for an injury. Therefore, take the time to get yourself a pair of safety glasses, and protect your sight for many years to come.

Vision Correction in Safety Glasses

A common concern amongst workers required to wear safety glasses is the need for vision correction as well. Unfortunately, this causes many workers to not wear eye protection or wear safety glasses that do not provide vision correction properties. Wearing safety glasses that do not provide vision correction properties has the potential to cause injuries and mistakes to occur. The good news is several manufacturers created prescription inserts for safety glasses.

Several years ago, safety glasses had a larger and boxier design to fit over prescription glasses. Today, eye protection has evolved into smaller, sleeker designs preventing prescription glasses from fitting underneath. An older, but effective solution to this issue is the use of prescription inserts for safety glasses.

Inserts are smaller magnified lenses that are joined by the nosepiece and connect to the lens of safety glasses. The prescription inserts act as a pair of glasses within safety glasses providing vision correction properties and protecting the eyes. Manufacturers such as North and Uvex offer quality prescription inserts for safety glasses. These inserts are ideal for those in work environments exposed to flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical vapors or gases.

Now is the time to promote safety and eye protection at the workplace. Workers everywhere need to don their safety glasses and reduce the rate of injuries. Check out the selection of safety glasses and a pair that work for you.