Page 32 - Occupational Health & Safety, August 2017

VISION PROTECTION
Because safety eyewear is a highly visible form of PPE, violations are easy for inspectors to spot.
million per year.3
Despite national and corporate safety
programs, approximately 2,000 occupa- tional eye injuries occur in the United States every day—more than 700,000 an- nually—taking a massive toll on workforce health and overall productivity.4 Yet most safety professionals agree: Nearly all oc- cupational eye injuries could be prevented through the proper use of the appropriate eyewear.5
Likewise, a coating whose ap- plication isn’t closely monitored is likely to deliver inconsistent anti-fog performance and distorted lens optics. Look for coatings that employ dynamic, dual-action properties.
Anti-fog Solutions Differ Widely
While anti-fog solutions include wipes and sprays, the best defense against fogging is a high-performance anti-fog lens coating. Be aware that different manufacturers’ coat- ing technologies work in different ways, with varying levels of success and longev- ity. Furthermore, the methods used for ap- plying coatings vary widely, resulting in a spectrum of consistency and performance. When the reservoir of anti-fog agents is shallow, for instance, those agents are eas- ily wiped or washed away after the first few uses. Likewise, a coating whose application isn’t closely monitored is likely to deliver inconsistent anti-fog performance and dis- torted lens optics.
Many anti-fog products look good out of the box, but when coating formulations or application methods lack effectiveness or durability, safety eyewear becomes just another piece of disposable PPE that re- quires frequent replacement.
Advances in Anti-fog Technology and Application
Today’s advanced lens coating technolo- gies actively manipulate moisture through surface acting agents, chemicals designed to move to the lens surface as needed to prevent fogging. The most reliable coatings employ dual-action properties:
■ hydrophilic properties that absorb moisture into the lens, and
■ hydrophobic properties that spread www.ohsonline.com
deal with the ongoing hassle and distrac- tion of fog. But when workers leave eye- wear off altogether, not only are they risk- ing eye injury, they are also noncompliant with safety regulations, which can incur hefty penalties. Because safety eyewear is a highly visible form of PPE, violations are easy for inspectors to spot.
While regulatory fines for noncompli- ance may seem sizable, consider the cost of noncompliance when it results in an
eye injury:
■ The cost of lost vision to an indi-
vidual is immeasurable, spanning medical expenses, diminished quality of life, and the reduced ability to earn a living.
■ Workplace eye injuries cost U.S. em- ployers an estimated $467 million per year in direct costs.2
■ With indirect costs included, such as legal fees, judgments, and training new workers, the estimated total exceeds $934
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