Eye Protection
October 1, 2021
We do too many jobs without properly protecting our eyes. Just think of the eye hazards in our work:
- Flying dust and grit
- Welding arcs
- Sparks and slag from welding and cutting
- Abrasives from sandblasting
- Chemical splash
- Pipe and wire sticking out of walls
- Ties and wire hanging from ceilings
- Sun and wind
We have all had dust and dirt in our eyes. Some of us have been hit in the eye by chips of wood, concrete and stone.
A little bigger, a little faster – these particles could leave us with limited sight or none at all.
Identify Controls
You’ve only got one pair of eyes. Make them last a lifetime.
Wearing the right protection can prevent most eye injuries.
Basic protection is safety glasses with side shields. Look for the CSA logo on the frames, whether the glasses are prescription ornon-prescription. For welding, eye protection must also be marked with the shade number.
Follow the tips below:
- Don’t wear contact lenses on site. Dust and other particles can get under the lens. If you must wear contact lenses for medical reasons, wear appropriate eye protection as well.
- Keep your safety glasses on when you wear other protection such as a welding helmet or face shield. Why? Because when you lift up the visor or shield, you may still be exposed to flying chips, dust or other hazard
- Match your eye protection to the hazard. Goggles that protect you from dust may not protect you from splash or radiation.
- Make sure your eyewear fits snugly.
- Clean dirty lenses with water or a lens cleaning solution to float the dirt away instead of scratching it into the lenses.
- Get your eyes checked every couple of years to make sure that problems have not developed or gotten worse.