Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approved eye or face protection must be worn whenever there is a danger to the eye or face. Safety eyewear is an essential piece of personal protective equipment, but all too often workers wear the wrong kind or, even worse, don't wear it at all.

Types of Protection

Whether you are exposed to flying particles from drilling or scaling, UVA/UVB rays, welding light, or electrical arcs, each task and worksite is unique and will require careful selection of proper eye protectors. Working with your supervisor, you must determine your eye protection needs.

Safety glasses provide minimum protection and are for general working conditions where dust, chips, or flying particles may present a hazard. They are available in a variety of styles and provide side protection in the form of shields or wraparound arms. Lenses should have an anti-fog treatment.

Goggles provide higher impact, dust, and acid or chemical splash protection than safety glasses. Moulded goggles are suitable when workers are continually exposed to splash or fine dust, and should have indirect venting. For less fogging when working with large particles, direct-vent goggles are recommended.

Face shields protect the full face from injury and offer the highest impact protection and shelter from spraying, chipping, grinding, chemicals, and bloodborne hazards. A face shield is considered a secondary safeguard to protective eyewear; it should never be worn without safety glasses or goggles.

Welding goggles prevent exposure to harmful radiation when arc welding, gas welding, or burning. These protectors come in various shades, so wear the right one for the job. Never wear Oxyacetylene welding goggles when arc welding.

Prescription Safety Glasses

If you wear prescription glasses, check whether they qualify as safety eyewear:

• Glasses must be CSA approved.
• Glasses must have side shields.
• Lenses must be made out of polycarbonate or plastic.
• Look for the manufacturer's logo moulded or etched into the top outside edges of the lenses.
• Look for "Z87" on the temple pieces.

Proper Fit and Care is Critical

In order to get the maximum benefit from safety eyewear, your glasses need to fit, be kept clean, and stored properly when not in use so they are not damaged.

Don't Take it Off

Choosing the right safety eyewear is important, but remember it can't protect you if you're not wearing it. Wear eye or face protection at all times when hazards are present.

At Gama Safety, we remind all workers that proper eye and face protection is not optional it is a critical part of staying safe on the job. Always select the right protective equipment for the task and wear it consistently.

Training Center: 122-2544 Douglas Road, Burnaby BC. V5C 5B4, Canada.

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