EYE & FACE PROTECTION
EYE INJURY AND DAMAGE IS A REAL AND ALL TOO COMMON WORKPLACE RISK, PARTICULARLY IN INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THE INSTANCE OF CHEMICAL SPLASH, FLYING DEBRIS, PROTRUDING OBJECTS OR WORKPLACE MISADVENTURE IS RELATIVELY HIGH. Eye strain and ocular damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation is also of significant concern which is why all our eyewear lines have a minimum 99% protection against harmful UV radiation from the sun. Our safety eyewear range includes a comprehensive array of frame styles, lens shapes and coatings that mitigate risk and increase safety in the vast majority of work application areas. Our products are manufactured and certified to Australian Standards AS/NZS 1337 and comply with all identity marking requirements. WAVELENGTHS AND UV LIGHT The sun emits three types of light waves and without the correct eye protection, each in its own way can seriously affect the eye.
ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT RAYS 5% of the sun’s energy reaches the earth in this form. UV rays (invisible “tanning” rays) can cause serious damage to the unprotected eye including the development of cataracts and corneal blistering. INFRARED LIGHT RAYS 50% of the sun’s energy reaches the earth as heat or infrared. Some IR rays will be absorbed by the cornea creating a drying effect – an issue of importance to
contact lens wearers. VISIBLE LIGHT RAYS
45% of the sun’s energy reaches the earth in what the eye perceives as colour. Blue Light waves are the most difficult to see. When the unprotected eye strains to focus on it, all other colours can be distorted. After two to three hours in bright sunlight, eyes can have trouble adjusting to night vision. The human eye is not able to identify the various elements of a ray – it only sees the results, which are a function of the different wavelengths and their respective light intensity. The human eye can only see wavelengths within the “visible spectrum” (between 380 and 780 nanometres).
WHAT EYE PROBLEMS CAN UV RAYS CAUSE?
MACULAR DEGENERATION UV rays may lead to macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss for older people.
CATARACT UV rays, especially UV-B rays, may also cause some kinds of cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, the part of the eye that focuses the light we see.
PTERYGIUM Another UV-related problem is a growth called pterygium. This growth begins on the white of the eye and may involve the cornea. Eventually, the growth may block vision. It is more common in people who work outside in the sun and wind.
SKIN CANCER Skin cancer around the eyelids is also linked to prolonged UV exposure.
CORNEAL SUNBURN Corneal sunburn, called photokeratitis, is the result of high short-term exposure to UV-B rays. Long hours exposed to UV light without proper eye protection can cause this problem. It can be very painful and may cause temporary vision loss.
28 I PERSONAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT CATALOGUE VOL 2
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