Those who work in mining understand the risks of the occupation. But even with the risk of injury, mineworkers may still fail to wear the proper safety equipment, including safety eyewear. With the right eye protection from RSEA Safety, you can reduce the risk.
Common reasons that mineworkers fail to wear proper eyewear protection can be the lack of quality and visual disruption. With recent enhancements to mining safety eyewear's overall quality and comfort, more mining operations favour wearing the equipment while they work.
Still, mine safety officers and supervisors find it challenging when mineworkers don't comply with company regulation and policy. The Australia standards offer advice on the selection, care and occupational use of protective eyewear and are the best source of information to keep your workplace safe.
Recommended practices for PPE eye protection
Following best practices for PPE eye protection for your workplace will help reduce the risk of injury with potential hazards such as radiation, chemical splashing, dust, and harmful gasses. PPE eye protection must meet the Australia standards for protection against radiation generated in welding and allied operations, ultraviolet radiation and infra-red radiation.
More now than ever, trusted PPE eye protection brands consider all the reasons that a mining worker might not want to wear protection and willingly risk the chance of injury. Eye protection now meets various needs and concerns, including reduced eye fatigue, unrestricted side visibility, ventilation gaps, protection from infectious fluids & chemicals and glare elimination.
Whether it's safety glasses or safety goggles, here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the right pair for working in the mines.
Fit
For PPE eye protection to keep you safe, it must fit properly. To make them more comfortable, brands have added soft-touch nose and temple pads with soft ends at the end of the arms for a pressure-free fit. You should also look for side protection to protect against flying particles and a seal around the eyes to prevent fogging and microscopic mobile particles from entering.
Materials
For the best prevention against injury, it's important to consider the materials. Most PPE eye protection will use a polycarbonate lens which is a thermoplastic with excellent durability and strength. They are ultra-lightweight and have built-in impact protection to prevent injury from external forces.
Clarity
One of the biggest reasons mining workers won't wear eye protection is the lack of optical clarity in different conditions such as fog and glare. Now there's anti-fog treatment with premium PPE eye protection brands on the inside, anti-scratch treatment on the outside, and 99.9% UV protection to reduce glare and keep your visibility at 100% always.
With various applications and conditions, it's always best to test the effectiveness of the glasses' features. Ensure that you try them in all areas of the mining operation, including underground, will save you the hassle of mining workers not wanting to wear them due to any of the reasons mentioned above.
With improved optical clarity and light-weight materials, finding the right pair of PPE eye equipment to help reduce your risk of injury should be a priority. Consider RSEA Safety as the resources to provide the proper PPE eye protection for your mining operation, whether large or small.
