Canadian Occupational Safety (COS) magazine is the premier workplace health and safety publication in Canada. We cover a wide range of topics ranging from office to heavy industry, and from general safety management to specific workplace hazards.
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16 Canadian Occupational Safety www.cos-mag.com CONSIDER TINT, IMPACT RESISTANCE WHEN CHOOSING THE RIGHT SAFETY LENSES Through different CONSIDER TINT, IMPACT RESISTANCE WHEN CHOOSING THE RIGHT SAFETY LENSES different different 50 years of going beyond • ASME, Div. VII, Section 1 Certified and CRN registered stainless steel tank. • ANSI Z358.1 rated for minimum of 15 minutes of eyewash flushing. • 180 days between service when using Hydrosep ® and potable water. Encon ® is a registered trademark of Encon Safety Products, Inc. Houston, TX. For More Information: www.enconsafety.com/asme 1(800) 283-6266 Design and Service Excellence est. 1964 Pressurized Portable Eyewash CRN All these environmental factors need to be taken into account," he says. Managers must also identify indi- vidual workers' needs. Some will require prescription glasses; others will have such eye health conditions as light sensitivity and colour blindness. IMPACT RESISTANCE The primary quality of safety lenses is impact resistance. Material, thick- ness and dimensions all play a role in allowing the lens to withstand certain impacts without shattering or failing. The most common type of material used for lenses today is a thermoplas- tic polymer called polycarbonate. It is extremely impact resistant and is light- weight and heat resistant. Another material that meets the CSA standard is CR-39, a plastic polymer that has high abrasion resistance, is about one- half the weight of glass and provides more choices for coatings and tinting. Lenses made of Trivex, a brand name of PPG Industries, based in Pittsburgh, Penn., are thin and lightweight but often more expensive than those made of polycarbonate. Safety lenses are made in a variety of tints or shades. In some lighting conditions, tinted lenses will improve workers' ability to see fi ne details. In other cases, workers prefer darkened lenses because they have a specifi c condition, such as light sensitivity. "So, they wish to reduce the light in their environment in order to not have to squint or see a halo effect (a ring or streak around a light)," Shanahan says. However, he cautions, when tinted or shaded lenses are selected, the employer should ensure they are CSA- compliant. Some types of tinting and shading can affect the impact resis- tance of the lenses. Photochromic, or transition, lenses are light-sensitive, changing their tint- ing as light intensifi es or weakens. Polarized lenses help eliminate glare from the sun and maintain visual By Linda Johnson W ade Harding stood holding a plank of wood steady as a co- worker shot spikes with an air nailing gun into the wood. Suddenly, a spike ricocheted off the wood and fl ew towards his left eye. When the 9-cm spike lodged in the lens of his safety glasses, the ironworker in Vanderhoof, B.C., fell backwards and felt the nail graze his eyelid. Later that day, after a visit to a hospital, Harding returned and fi nished his shift. Safety glasses are essential to protecting workers' eyes. Ocular inju- ries can lead to irritation, infection, burns and temporary or permanent vision loss. Knowing how to select the right lenses for a company's glasses can be a complicated task. It starts with check- ing federal and provincial OHS laws that set out specifi c requirements for personal protective equipment. Most jurisdictions in Canada require use of eyewear certifi ed by the CSA Group. All eyewear that meets or exceeds CSA Z94.3, Eye and Face Protectors, is stamped with the association's mark. The next step is a hazard assess- ment. Most eye injuries are caused by fl ying particles and chemicals. They may also be caused by objects, such as a tree branch or chain, swinging from a fi xed position. In addition to looking for potential hazards, managers should consider the nature of the job, says Dave Shana- han, OHS standards project manager for the CSA, based in Toronto. There may be a need for visual acuity, or other special requirements. Truck drivers, for example, have to be able to distinguish certain colours in diffi cult conditions, such as warning lights. The work environment should also be assessed, says Shanahan. "They should look at whether or not the environment is very harsh and dusty, whether or not it's very humid or dry, whether the person will be working in direct sunlight or be working under fl uorescent lights.