Page 30 - Occupational Health & Safety, August 2017

VISION PROTECTION
lasting results required to keep workers safe and productive and to help protect employers’ bottom lines.
Factors That Cause Fogging
■ Environmental heat and humidity
The most obvious cause: Existing moisture in the air adheres to
the outside of the lens.
■ Worker exertion
As an individual’s body temperature rises, the heat and sweat produced around the face need to dissipate into the atmosphere, typically fogging the inside of the lens.
■ Transitions between warm and cool environments
Whether moving from warm-to-cool or cool-to-warm envi- ronments, such worker transitions cause moisture to condense on the outside of the lens.
■ Lens washing
A lesser known cause of fogging, washing most anti-fog coated lenses erodes their AF properties, diminishing their capacity to manage water from the environment.
Impact on Safety
Whatever the cause, workers whose vision is obscured by fog can- not clearly see the hazards around them and are vulnerable to inju- ry, from minor bumps to life-threatening harm. Similarly, workers who take off—and leave off—their eyewear to avoid the hassle of
fog are vulnerable to eye injury from nearby hazards.
Keep in mind, safety eyewear protects not only from visible, physical hazards, but also from harmful visible and invisible light. The effects of overexposure to optical radiation range from eye fatigue, dryness, and irritation to short-term and permanent vision loss. In fact, long-term exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays is a leading cause of cataracts and blindness in the United States.1 Therefore, when workers remove their safety eyewear due to fogging, they face greater risk from physical and radiation
hazards alike.
Impact on Productivity
Foggy lenses don’t just reduce safety—they impact productiv- ity, too. When safety eyewear fogs, workers have little choice but to remove it and wipe it clear, which can lead to repeated inter- ruptions throughout the shift. When eyewear is removed, even briefly, in the work zone, work is interrupted and individuals are unprotected. When workers leave the site to safely dry their lens- es away from hazards, productivity takes an even greater hit. The cumulative cost of fog-related interruptions can add up to a big reduction in productivity.
The Cost of Noncompliance
Foggy lenses directly impact compliance. It is not uncommon for workers to take off fogging eyewear—and leave it off—rather than
PRESCRIPTION
SAFETY
Wrap-Around Semi-Rimless
EASY ORDER - CORPORATE PRESCRIPTION EYEWEAR
888-254-7406
SAFEVISION.NET
&
STYLE
Foam Surround ANSI z87.1
24 Untitled-6Oc1cupational Health & Safety | AUGUST 2017
www.o7h/7s/1o7nl4in:0e9.PcMom
Circle 20 on card.