Quick answers
Why should I wear safety goggles at work?
They protect your eyes from dust, metal chips and flying debris, chemical splashes and fumes, and knocks from tools or machines. With the right filter lens, they also cut harmful UV light from some welding and cutting work.
Which safety goggles are best for chemical splashes?
Indirect-vent goggles, whose covered vents keep splashes out but let some air in. For vapours or the highest chemical risk, use non-vented goggles, which are fully sealed.
How should safety goggles fit?
Snug but not painful, with the strap adjusted so they cover the whole eye area, sides included, with no gaps. If they slip or leave gaps, try another size or model.
How do I clean and store safety goggles?
Wash the lenses with mild soap and water or a suitable cleaner, dry them with a soft cloth, check for cracks and scratches before use, and keep them in a case away from heat and direct sun.
One chip of metal from a grinder or one splash of acid from a battery can cost a worker an eye. Safety goggles cost very little by comparison. They protect your eyes from flying particles, dust, chemical splashes and, with the right lens, the harmful light from welding and cutting. Whether you work in a lab, on a construction site, in a fabrication shop or around chemicals, here is how to pick the right pair and use it properly.
What goggles protect you from
- Flying particles and dust. Metal shavings, wood chips, concrete dust and grit thrown up by grinding, drilling, chipping or cutting.
- Chemical splashes. Acids, alkalis and solvents can burn the eye badly. Goggles also give some protection from irritating fumes.
- Impact. A tool that slips, a broken drill bit or debris flung out by a machine.
- UV and other harmful light. Welding, gas cutting and laser work give off light that can damage the eyes. This needs filter lenses made for the job.
Ordinary spectacles and sunglasses are not safety eyewear. They do not stop splashes or blows from the side.
Types of safety goggles
| Type | How it is made | Where to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Direct vent | Open vents let air through to cut fogging, while still stopping larger particles | Dusty work and larger debris. Not for liquids. |
| Indirect vent | The vents are covered, so splashes cannot get in but some air still moves | Chemical splashes and liquid sprays |
| Non-vented | Fully sealed all round | Vapours, fine dust and the highest chemical risk |
| UV filter | Lenses that filter out harmful UV light | Work with UV light, such as some welding and cutting jobs |
Arc welding usually needs a welding helmet or shield with the correct filter shade, not goggles alone. Laser work needs eyewear rated for that particular laser. Ask your safety officer or the equipment maker.
How to choose, wear and look after them
Choosing
- Start with the hazard: dust, splash, vapour, impact or light. Then pick the type that matches it.
- Buy eye protectors that meet a recognised standard. In India, eye protectors are covered by BIS standards such as IS 5983, so check the current edition and the marking on the product. Imported goggles may carry ANSI Z87.1, which is a US standard.
Fit
- Adjust the strap so the goggles sit snug, but not so tight that they hurt.
- They must cover the whole eye area, including the sides, with no gaps.
Cleaning and checking
- Clean the lenses with a soft cloth and a suitable cleaner, or mild soap and water, and let them dry. Wiping dusty lenses on your shirt scratches them.
- Check them before every use for cracks, scratches and a loose strap, and replace them if you find any.
Storage
- Keep them in a case or a clean, dry pouch, not loose in a toolbox.
- Do not leave them in strong heat or direct sun for long, such as on a vehicle dashboard.
Goggles are one part of the protection
- For heavy grinding, pouring chemicals or other high-risk work, wear a face shield, helmet or respirator as the job needs, together with the goggles. Check that everything fits together without pushing the goggles out of place.
- Employers should train every worker on which goggles to use, how to wear and look after them, and what they cannot protect against. Wearing them should be the normal habit on site, for supervisors too.
- Get your eyes checked regularly, especially if your work carries a lot of eye hazards.
If something gets into the eye
- Chemical splash: rinse at once with clean running water for at least 15 minutes, holding the eyelid open, and get medical help.
- Dust or a metal chip: do not rub the eye. Do not try to pull out anything stuck in it. Cover both eyes lightly and go to a doctor.
- For a serious eye injury, call 108 or 112, or go straight to the nearest hospital, and tell the doctor what chemical or material was involved.
Before your next shift
Hold your goggles up to the light. If you see scratches, cracks or a stretched strap, get a new pair before you start work. And if your workplace handles chemicals, find out today where the nearest eyewash station or clean water tap is.
What needs attention
- Goggles protect against flying chips, dust, chemical splashes and, with the right lenses, UV from welding and cutting
- Direct-vent goggles suit dusty work; indirect-vent goggles keep out splashes; non-vented ones seal against vapours
- Ordinary spectacles and sunglasses do not stop splashes or side impacts
- Goggles only protect if they fit snugly and cover the sides of the eyes with no gaps
- Scratched or cracked lenses blur vision and weaken protection
Controls that reduce risk
- Match the goggle type to the job: dust, splash, vapour or welding light
- Buy goggles that meet a recognised standard; in India, look for BIS-certified eye protectors
- Issue goggles to each worker and replace them when lenses are scratched or straps loosen
- Keep an eyewash bottle or station near any area where chemicals are handled
- Train workers to wear goggles for the whole task, including clean-up
Common unsafe practices
- Pushing goggles up on the forehead 'just for a minute' while grinding or chipping
- Using vented goggles for chemical or acid handling
- Welding or watching welding without a proper filter lens
- Sharing goggles without cleaning them
- Carrying on with scratched, fogged or cracked lenses
Leave a comment