Injuries are a commonplace event in workplaces. This is particularly true of construction and industrial settings. Among such mishaps, eye injuries are more likely to happen. According to the data of the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) about 20,000 workplace eye injuries occur annually. The same data highlights that 60 % of such events occur in the manufacturing, construction, and trade sectors.

Physical injury including loss of eyesight is the main concern. On the other side, it incurs a huge financial liability due to lost work days and medical expenses. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates such losses in the range of USD 300 million annually.

The whole point of these data sets and insights is that it is a necessity to safeguard employee eyes in workplaces with appropriate safety gear. The following sessions highlight such must-have safety gear and important standards.

Types of Eye Safety Gears for Workplaces

  1. Safety Glasses

These lightweight and comfortable glasses are designed to protect eyes from flying debris, particles, and minor impacts. To serve this purpose a safety products supplier in UAE makes sure that they are made of high-quality impact resistant materials. Sometimes its designs include side shields to ensure protection from sideways. In the case of outdoor work tinted safety glasses are preferred for protection from UV rays.

  1. Goggles

Goggles are designed to seal the eyes against dust and splashes. They have adjustable straps to ensure a snug fit. Such a design aims to offer complete protection for eyes from chemical exposure or flying particles from power tools. This makes them ideal for workplaces such as laboratories, chemical plants, and woodworking shops.

  1. Face Shields

Face shields offer complete protection for the face including the eyes. Since they are transparent they offer a clear vision while protecting individuals from chemical splashes and other flying debris. Usually, they are used in metalworking and chemical handling along with other safety gear like goggles. They can also be found to have use in healthcare settings to safeguard service providers from bodily fluid exposures.

These are some of the must-have safety gear for protecting the eye from workplace hazards. However random purchase of items is not recommended as it affects their quality. It is best to procure them from a safety products supplier in UAE who adheres standards of their products.

Standards in Eye Protection Gears

  • ANSI/ISEA Z87.1: The Z87.1 standard is a collaboration of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA). Since this standard details the requirements for the design, performance, and testing of eye protection gear products labeled for them can be trusted to offer protection from the impacts of radiation and chemical exposure. “Z87” or “Z87+” are markings to look out for compliance.
  • EN 166: Here we have a European Standard accepted internationally to gauge the mechanical strength, optical clarity, and resistance to impacts offered by an eye safety gear. Since it classifies safety gears into different levels it is easy to choose the appropriate product for a workplace setting. When choosing an eye protection gear from a safety products supplier in UAE if a “CE” mark is found it means that it adheres to these safety standards.

Thus you have a picture of a list of must-have products and standards to ensure eye protection in workplaces. Now it is time to find a reliable supplier who delivers quality products. Find General Trading is one such supplier that can be relied on to supply essential eye safety products that adhere to standards. Feel free to reach out to us for further queries.