Clean & Care for your Safety Spectacles
Eye protection is an important part of workplace safety. However, it is often underestimated. Most eye injuries occur at work as a result of inappropriate eye protection. Many hazards can be avoided by simply covering your eyes with protective glasses.
Those who work in construction, auto repair, welding, lab technicians and manufacturing are more likely to suffer an eye injury.
Dangerous particles or chemicals could be floating around in your workplace. Safety glasses can prevent foreign objects or debris from damaging your vision. Dust, pollen, dirt and wood can irritate your eyes and damage them over time.
Wearing safety glasses is also vital if you work with chemicals or pesticides on a regular basis. Chemicals and pesticides can be dangerous to your eyes and can cause inflammation and blurry vision.
Safety glasses also protect your eyes from the harmful effects of high intensity lights.
If you work in a high risk area, it is imperative to invest in a pair of high quality protective eyewear to protect yourself from eye injuries.
Polycarbonate lens material is predominantly used for the manufacturing of safety eyewear, which is excellent for impact protection. It is, however, prone to scratching when not cleaned properly. It doesn’t help much if you wear safety glasses but can’t see through them due to scratches. The number one reason for scratched lenses is improper lens cleaning.
Proper care, cleaning, and storage are key to make sure your eyewear is long-lasting and high-performing.
Follow these steps to keep your safety glasses clean and scratch-free:
- Gently blow any loose dirt or debris from your lenses.
- Wearers should clean their safety glasses under lukewarm water either by submerging the protective eyewear in water or by placing it under running water. A cleaning solution, specially designed to clean lenses, can also be used.
- It is essential to use some fluid when cleaning your eyewear, as using a dry cloth alone significantly increases the changes of scratching the lenses.
- Refrain from using any soaps or window cleaners to clean your safety spectacles. The chemicals in these cleaners may remove the special lens coating on your eyewear.
- After cleaning your lenses, wipe them dry with a soft microfibre cloth to remove any streaks or residue left behind.
- Never use a shirt, facial tissue, or paper towel to clean your lenses. Most of these fabrics, even though they may feel soft to the touch, contain coarse fibres that can easily scratch your lenses. They can also be damaged by fabric softeners, detergents, dust and dirt particles found in these objects.
- Always include the frames in the cleaning process, since dirt debris often collect on them too. To clean the frames, use a toothbrush with soft bristles, but be careful not to graze the lenses.
- When not in use, store your safety glasses in a microfibre eyewear pouch or protective case. The second most common cause of scratches on safety eyewear is improper storage. Never put unprotected safety eyewear in your pocket.
By following these cleaning steps and techniques, you will keep your eyewear clean, and extend its lifespan, which will save you money in the long run. You will also be able to see better and keep small foreign objects out of your eyes.
It's best to establish a routine for regularly cleaning safety glasses, perhaps at the beginning of your shift or break. Also, inspect your lenses on a regular basis and make sure they remain clean and free of scratches to prevent your vision from being compromised.
We welcome you to contact us so that our knowledgeable staff can provide you with all the information you need concerning safety glasses and how to find the right pair for you.