Safety, Style and Comfort — Choosing the Best Protective Eyewear for Your Team

Five essential questions to consider when choosing eye protection.

By: Mary Padron, Contributor

Full compliance with the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 standards is crucial to avoid the costly consequences of eye injuries. Photo courtesy of Radians.

Eye injuries in the workplace are common. Safety experts and eye doctors believe the right eye protection can lessen the severity or even prevent 90% of these eye injuries from occurring. So, why do workers forgo wearing their protective eyewear?

Discomfort and fogging are two primary reasons. The eyewear may cause headaches and eye strain, or it may obstruct the user’s field of vision. Depending on the style and materials used, safety glasses may cause soreness at the bridge of the nose or pain around the ears. A poor fit may lead to eyewear slipping off the face when bending over to reach a tool or when engaging in strenuous activities. Fogging is another significant complaint among the workforce, making it difficult to see clearly and potentially creating a greater hazard than not wearing the eyewear at all.

Inadequate training and lack of communication can also lead to worker nonchalance about wearing vision protection. An eye injury survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that three out of five injured employees were not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident. These workers most often reported that they believed protection was not required for the situation.

FIVE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT EYE PROTECTION

When assessing your vision protection options, your company’s safety committee should consider these questions. The answers will help guide you or your safety team to the right solution.

1. User acceptance: Have you tested various eyewear options to discover which styles your employees prefer, or did you automatically choose the most economical solution and mandate its use? Most manufacturers will provide you with safety eyewear samples free of charge to use in your eyewear evaluation. Allowing your employees a say in the solution elevates their acceptance, which always increases compliance.
2. Testing: Does the manufacturer provide third-party testing results to validate their eyewear’s compliance with the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 Standard for safety glasses?

Does the eyewear meet the Z87.1 standard for impact protection using the Drop Ball Impact Test or does it offer more protection by meeting and testing to the Z87.1+ standard which includes the Drop Ball Impact Test and three additional tests: High Mass Impact Test, High Velocity Impact Test, and the lens Penetration Test?

3. Assessments: Does your company conduct assessments to identify specific needs for impact resistance, dust or chemical splash protection, or anti-fogging features? Conducting thorough assessments enables you to evaluate each hazard by considering the severity of potential outcomes, the likelihood of an event or exposure occurring, and the number of workers who might be impacted. Leading PPE manufacturers often provide free safety assessments to help determine the best solutions for your workplace. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them — they can assist in identifying vision hazards within your company, including:
   • Chemical hazards: solvents, adhesives, paints, inks, toxic dusts, etc.
   • Physical hazards: flying debris or airborne particles, sharp objects, straps under tension, and tools/power equipment that emit sparks.
   • Other exposure hazards: radiation, infectious substances, gas, ultraviolet rays, etc.
4. The importance of comfort, style and fit: Will the fit and appearance of the eyewear under consideration influence its acceptance and usage? The answer to this is usually “Yes.” Comfort and fit are key to compliance, especially for extended wear.

Does the eyewear have comfort features like self-adjusting or vented rubber nosepieces? Is it made of lightweight materials for those who need to wear their safety glasses all day long? Or does the eyewear possess paddle shaped temples to evenly distribute weight and pressure for a more comfortable fit? When selecting safety glasses, remember that comfort and compliance are intricately linked.

Humans have a universal desire to look good, and eyewear choices often reflect this innate desire. Will the safety eyewear you select for your team make them feel confident, stylish and comfortable at work? If yes, you’ve just elevated compliance standards at your company.

5. Product development team: Last but not least, does the manufacturer have an in-house product development team dedicated to vision protection? If so, don’t hesitate to reach out for guidance and eyewear specifications. The product development team, alongside your PPE distributor and sales team, is there to help you make informed and wise choices.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FULL COMPLIANCE AND MANUFACTURER RESEARCH

Look for comfort- and fit-enhancing features like the non-slip rubber nose pad with self adjusting fingers found in Radians’ Revelation glasses. Photo courtesy of Radians.

Full compliance with the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 standards is crucial to avoid the costly consequences of eye injuries. Many non-specialized suppliers offer PPE products without the necessary safety expertise, a trend that became evident during the Covid-19 pandemic when non-compliant PPE was used to meet high demand for vision and respiratory protection.

Therefore, it is essential to verify the manufacturer’s credentials and obtain third-party testing results. This best practice helps ensure you avoid the dangers of purchasing counterfeit PPE, which can lead to non-compliance and buyer remorse. Whether you’re selecting vision protection or other PPE, thorough verification is key to maintaining safety and satisfaction.

TACKLING FOGGING ISSUES ON THE MOON AND EARTH

Fogging as mentioned earlier remains a major concern for safety eyewear users. Clear vision is essential for safety, and fogged glasses can force workers to remove their protection, exposing their eyes to hazards.

Anti-fog agents or “surfactants” are available as spray solutions, gels, creams and wet wipes. These are temporary solutions that will have to be repeated as needed. It’s interesting to note that NASA initially developed anti-fog agents during Project Gemini for use on helmet visors during space walks on the moon.

Today, new anti-fog coatings are emerging, such as Radians® IQuity Intelligent Anti-Fog and Abrasion Technology. These sophisticated semi-permanent hydrophilic coatings are applied during complex manufacturing processes. They attract water, spreading it evenly across the lens surface, preventing water droplets from beading up and distorting vision.

With the right approach and sound decision-making, today’s advanced safety eyewear can provide style, protection and comfort, ensuring it remains on the user’s head where it belongs. Selecting eyewear based solely on budget constraints, without considering its suitability for specific tasks, fit and user satisfaction, can lead to inadequate protection and compliance issues. Eye injuries carry significant risks, creating a ripple effect that negatively impacts the individual, their loved ones, the company and coworkers. When choosing vision protection for your company, choose wisely. Ensure your selected safety eyewear meets industry standards, has the necessary manufacturing and testing documentation, and promotes team enthusiasm and compliance through proper protection, comfort, fit and style WMHS

Mary Padron is a Sr. Mar/Com Specialist at Radians, a global developer and manufacturer of high-performance PPE, including Z87.1+ safety glasses and goggles, eyewash stations, lens cleaning wipes, IQuity anti-fog eyewear, and more. For more information, visit www.radians.com or call toll-free 1-877-723-4267.