Don't Make a Spectacle of Yourself [Feb 2009]
Many people are blind to the fact that they are putting themselves at risk
The wearing of eye and face protection in hazardous areas is a requirement under Regulation 4of the Personal Protective Equipment Work Regulations 1992 that requires employers to provide suitable personal protective equipment to employees who may be exposed to risks to their health and safety.
General considerations in selecting PPE
Once the risks which are actually present have been determined and, where appropriate, other control measures used to reduce the level of risk, then consideration can be given to further reducing the risks by use of PPE.
In circumstances where PPE is the only protection against a particular hazard, it becomes vital that suitable PPE is chosen for the job.
The performance standard required from PPE is determined directly by the nature and level of risks involved in performing the task. Selection of PPE without reference to the risks involved in doing the work can be a waste of resources and may provide no protection.
In selecting PPE it is important to ensure that the chosen item of PPE will provide the necessary protection under the conditions of use.
Adequate protection will only be offered when:
- The right items or combinations of PPE are worn
- The PPE being used is suitable for the welding environment
- The PPE fits each worker properly without causing undue discomfort
- The worker is given information and training in the use of PPE
- The PPE in use is maintained regularly
Wearing several different types of PPE at the same time (e.g. eye and hearing protection) may lead to unnecessary discomfort for the worker and in some cases it may compromise the effectiveness of some items and it may be better to select one item in which the protective components are integrally combined by one manufacturer.
Costs considerations
- When considering the costs of PPE controls, long-term costs should be used
- Initial costs of PPE may be low but the cost of replacement and maintenance needs to be added
Considering the options
- The selection process can be assisted by consulting several suppliers of protective equipment and considering the options carefully
- For example, one type or size of PPE will not fit all workers and consideration should be given to availability of suitable sizes
- All new items of PPE must be CE marked and only marked items must be used
- Such items will usually have been tested and marked to a harmonised European standard
- Specific requirements which go beyond those in European standards can be discussed with suppliers and they may request the manufacturer to tackle unique protection needs
- Discussion with others in the industry such as managers of other firms, trade associations etc can assist in making informed choices
Consultation with workers
- Injuries, losses and damage can often be reduced where workers are consulted on their preference for the types of PPE that provide adequate protection
- Decisions will be better informed after a trial period to get wearers’ views on comfort before ordering in bulk
Special requirements
- At times, work requirements are such that they present additional risks and create special requirements for PPE
- For example, if work involves use of equipment or a combination of equipment not normally used; uses consumables and materials not normally handled, or where the workers have no experience of working in new environments which present additional hazards such as confined spaces or work at heights
- When such special hazards arise, the risks must be assessed to make sure that PPE will be adequate for the job and workers must be informed and instructed before they start work
- It is recommended that specialist advice is obtained if the risks, control measures and suitability of PPE are uncertain
Hazards and risk assessment
Selection of PPE must be based on a risk assessment. A structured approach to the assessment of risks and selection of PPE the different processes are necessary.
Key considerations are:
- Identify all the hazards of the work being done
- Assess the risks for which control measures are required
- Control risks by means other than PPE
- Assess the requirements for personal protection needed to control residual risk
- Determine the type of PPE and the performance level required
- Select suitable PPE ensuring compatibility of different items
An important consideration of the risk assessment is to determine those parts of the body at risk from the hazards. The extent of risk will also be influenced by the frequency and duration of the exposure.
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|---|---|---|---|
| | | • Can provide frontal protection only and no protection from side | • Not recommended for grinding, chipping and other activities where flying particles are likely |
| | • Can provide protection in grinding, chipping and from sparks and spatter • Both glass and polycarbonate types provide protection against low energy impact, but polycarbonate is lighter and more comfortable to wear • Lenses with abrasion resistant coating are available • Do not provide adequate protection gainst molten metal splash and hot particles or medium/high energy impact | • Frames can interfere with some ear protectors, causing discomfort and noise leakage • With suitable filters can be used for protection against incidental exposure from arc radiation for those working near the welder • Not recommended for protection against molten metal and hot particles | |
| | | • Can provide adequate protection from sparks, spatter and low/medium energy impact in grinding and chipping, and protect eyes from airborne particles and gases • Edges should conform to wearer’s face | • In humid and hot environments can become misted and frequent cleaning may be required • Do not interfere with ear protectors • Easier to wear behind welding shields than spectacles |
| | • Can provide adequate protection from sparks and low/medium energy impact, spatter and from airborne particles • Does not protect against gases • Edges should conform to wearer’s face | • Useful in hot and humid environments where misting can occur • Do not interfere with ear protectors | |
| | • As with the indirect ventilation type but do not provide protection against airborne particles and gases • Edges should conform to wearer’s face | • Useful when ventilation around the eyes is required • Do not interfere with ear protectors | |
| | | • Can provide adequate protection from sparks, spatter and low/medium energy impact in grinding and chipping but do not provide protection against airborne particles and gases | • With suitable filters can be used for gas welding without use of welding shield but use of face shield may still be appropriate |
| | • Can provide adequate protection from sparks and spatter and low/medium energy impact and from airborne particles • Does not protect against gases | • As with cover goggles with indirect ventilation but these are less bulky and may be easier to accommodate under the welding shield | |
| | | • Can provide adequate protection from sparks and spatter • When fitted with suitable filter can provide adequate protection from radiation during gas welding • They do not provide adequate protection in arc welding without use of face shield or welding shield • Edges should conform to wearer’s face | • Less bulky than a face shield or welding shield and would not interfere with other PPE worn in the face region • Face shield or welding shield may be more appropriate if working overhead |
Due to the varied nature of work in welding and allied processes, the type of PPE required is determined not only by the type of welding and materials being used but also by the immediate environment in which the work is being carried out.
For this reason it is not possible to address the specific requirements for each type of operation and provide a detailed list of controls and PPE requirements.
For example
PPE requirements for working in confined spaces where hazardous fumes and gases may accumulate or shielding gases may create an oxygen deficient atmosphere, would be very different from those in a well-ventilated workshop, so in discussing PPE requirements reference is made to the risks rather than any specific operation.
Once the risks arising from the work activities have been determined and, wherever appropriate, other means have been used to reduce the level of risk to as low as is reasonably practicable, consideration can be given to further reducing the risks by use of PPE.
When choosing safety eye wear it should be noted that:
- It is important to consider comfort and fit when considering suitable eye protectors. Single size non-adjustable spectacles are common but cannot be expected to provide comfort and fit to all wearers
- If good fit is not achieved, eye protectors may not provide the intended level of protection. To provide good comfort and fit many types of spectacles have adjustable side arms and tilting frames. Some goggles are provided with deformable foam flange seals to achieve improved comfort and fit
- Various types of lens material are available together with various coatings to provide additional properties such as abrasion resistance, impact resistance and anti-fogging. Given the choice in safety eye wear, wherever possible workers’ involvement in the selection process should be sought;
- Sidearms of spectacles and head-bands of goggles can disturb the fit of full facemask and ear protectors and the nose bridge of spectacles and goggles can disturb the fit of half mask and filtering piece respirators and vice-versa
- Safety eye wear may need to be worn behind the welding shield, e.g. when slag is removed or a weld is ground, and therefore it is required that it be compatible with the shield. If goggles are used, types that resist misting are preferred (marked ‘N’ in BS EN 166)
Toolbox tips
Leading cause of blindness is eye injury. 90% of injuries can be avoided by using proper eye protection.
Protective eyewear should be made of polycarbonate plastic. If working with liquids they should be splash proof goggles. Use only high-quality sunglasses with (UV) ultraviolet light protection. If your eyewear came from your local street seller, you should ask yourself how much your eyes are worth.
- Almost anything that can splash into the eye can damage it. Wear protective eyewear when working with: detergents, cleaning solvents, etc. Never mix cleaning agents
- Car batteries contain sulfuric acid and produce hydrogen gas while being charged. This is one of the gasses used to send rockets into space. Always wear protective eyewear when working with batteries. Know the proper procedures for handling batteries and jump-starting cars
- Never remove safety guards from power equipment. Wear protective eyewear to protect against flying particles
- Ultraviolet and infrared light from the sun, welding arcs can damage your eyes; it may also contribute to age-related macular degeneration. Use proper eye protection and never look directly at a solar eclipse
- Light from a laser pointer aimed into eye can be more damaging than staring directly into the sun
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|---|---|---|---|
| | Safety glasses can be bad for your eyes | | |
| | Using a computer terminal won’t damage your eyes | | |
| | Safety glasses that have scratches or pit marks do not need to be replaced | | |
| | Contact lenses provide enough safety so you don’t need safety glasses | | |
| | Face shields by themselves offer adequate eye protection | | |
| | Industrial safety glasses can be made with your own prescription | | |
| | All eyeglasses sold in Dubai are required to be impact resistant | | |
| | The differences between glass, plastic and polycarbonate lenses are minimal | | |
| | You have to make safety eyewear available outside of the normal workplace | | |
| | Serious eye injuries only happen at work during the lunch break | | |
References
Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992
BS 7028: 1999 Eye Protection for Industrial and Other Uses - guidance on selection, use and maintenance.
BS EN 175: 1997 - Specification for equipment during welding and similar operations.
BS EN 166, 167, 168: 2002 - Specification for eye protectors for Industrial and non-industrial uses.
BS EN 165: 1996 - Glossary of terms for personal eye protection.
BS 7028: 1999 - Guide for selection, use and maintenance of eye protection for industrial and other uses.
L25 - Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended): guidance on Regulations.
Links to Products and Services
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Software, Arm and Hand Protection, Frequency Monitoring, Head Protection, Height Safety Equipment, Protective Clothing / Workwear, Protective Footwear, Breathing Apparatus, Respiratory Protection, Safety Knives, Showers and Eyebaths, Signs, Slip / Friction Measurement, Welding, Fabrics and Fibres, Emergency Shelters, Ear Protection, Eye Protection
