Page 74 - OHS, June 2020

VISION PROTECTION
The Eyes are a Gateway for COVID-19: Safety Eyewear Can Help
It’s crucial to pick the right eyewear for your safety.
BY MARY PADRON
The novel coronavirus, which causes the dis- ease COVID-19, is believed to spread among people in three ways. According to the Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus spreads:
■ From close contact with people who have it.
■ From respiratory droplets that become air- borne when an infected person sneezes or coughs nearby.
■ From touching our mouths, noses or eyes after touching a surface that has the virus on it.
The CDC says that “infectious agents are intro- duced to the eye either directly (e.g., blood splashes, respiratory droplets generated during coughing or suctioning) or from touching the eyes with contami- nated fingers or other objects.”
Because our mouths, noses and eyes are gateways for the virus to enter, certain products in the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) realm have taken cen- ter stage, especially N95 respirators and surgical face masks since they provide a barrier to respiratory drop- lets entering the mouth and nose. However, the CDC reminds us that eye protection is equally important and “provides a barrier to infectious materials enter- ing the eye and is often used in conjunction with other PPE such as gloves, gowns, masks, or respirators.”
This article will discuss:
■ Some of the fogging challenges that arise from wearing masks and safety eyewear together.
■ Vision protection options for infection control, including goggles and face shields.
The Top Eyewear Complaint—Fogged Eyewear—Is Now Bigger Than Ever
One of the eye protection challenges surging during the pandemic is fogged eyewear. Essential industrial workers, who often wear ANSI Z87.1 impact resistant safety glasses, are experiencing increased fogging is- sues from having to wear masks and safety glasses to- gether during the COVID-19 pandemic. The general population is wrestling with fogging concerns too as they wear DIY face coverings and glasses when they go to the grocery store.
Many PPE manufacturers offer safety glasses and goggles with anti-fog coatings that are either water- based (hydrophilic) or solvent-based (hydrophobic).1
Both water- and solvent-based products are effec- tive at preventing fogging; however, lab testing shows that the thicker, water-based coating will last up to ten times longer in high humidity environments (up to 80C or 176F).2 Because the water-based coating is thicker, it can withstand cleaning significantly longer
and does not easily rub off like some solvent-based anti-fog coatings.
Water is also environmentally friendly and entirely safe. Solvents have toxic properties, can be flammable and can have a negative impact on the natural envi- ronment. Water-based coatings are non-flammable and non-toxic.
Anti-fog coatings are offered in a variety of lens col- ors including clear, smoke, indoor-outdoor and amber to satisfy various needs of the industrial workforce.
Vision Protection Options
for Infection Control
The ANSI Z87.1 standard delineates between primary protection, secondary protection, and face shields. The ANSI definitions for these categories are:
■ Primary protection. A device that may be worn alone or in conjunction with a secondary protector.
■ Secondary protection. A device that shall be worn only in conjunction with a primary protector.
■ Face shield. A protective device commonly worn to shield the wearer’s face, or portions thereof in addition to the eyes, from certain hazards. Face shields are secondary protection and shall be used only in conjunction with primary protection.
Although ANZI Z87.1 impact resistant safety glasses are appropriate in an industrial setting, they are not typically used for infection control because they do not provide adequate splash or droplet protection.
However, during the pandemic with its subse- quent shortages of goggles and face shields, many PPE manufacturers have seen additional requests for safety eyewear with frameless wraparound lenses, foam-lined eyewear, flex side shields and over-the- glass (OTG) styles that go over prescription eyewear.
Indirectly Vented Goggles
with Anti-fog Coating
Goggles are a key PPE item for eye protection, and they play a critical role in infection control.
Goggles that are close-fitting and indirectly vented with a manufacturer’s anti-fog coating provide reliable and practical eye protection against splashes, sprays and respiratory droplets. The three primary types of goggles include:
■ Direct vented goggles allow the direct flow of air into the goggle and may allow penetration by splashes or spray.
■ Indirect vented goggles limit or prevent the passage of liquid splash into the goggle.
■ Non-vented goggles do not have venting and www.ohsonline.com
70 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2020