safety goggles
Safety glasses are designed to protect the eyes from harmful influences such as strong light , UV radiation , laser light , chemicals , dust , splinters , microorganisms (e.g. droplet infection ) or the effects of the weather. They are therefore mainly used in work and sports. Safety glasses from both areas are basically structured like optical glasses . The most common forms are single- or double-lens glasses, which, like conventional optical glasses, are fixed over the ears by means of brackets. With the goggles, the eyes are also protected by a circumferential seal. An adjustable headband ensures a tight fit. So-called clip-ons are also attached to optical glasses or one or two-lens glasses. In the professional work environment, however, corrective protective goggles , a combination of protective and corrective goggles, are mandatory by the professional associations . They combine the compensation of an optical ametropia with the protection of the eye.
work environment
Protecting your eyes while working is important. External influences can often irreparably damage the eyesight. This can happen from one moment to the next (e.g. due to flying particles) as well as creeping (e.g. due to insufficient protection from UV radiation ). That is why all protective goggles must meet the special requirements of the European standard EN 166 and be certified by an accredited testing institute (PPE protection class II). When it comes to goggles, it is often the additional equipment that counts. In BGR 192 ( trade association rules for safety and health at work ) it is pointed out that additional influences must also be observed. Classic protective goggles can offer up to 100% UV protection when meeting the requirements of DIN EN 166. Correspondingly, damaged glasses or parts must be replaced (see 1000-hour glass and automatic welding protection filter ).
Protective goggles are used, for example, in the working environment of natural stone , wood and metal processing companies, chemical laboratories - also called chemists ' goggles there - in health care as protection against infection , for laser treatments and as protection against splashes during operations.
For wearers of optical glasses, there are larger protective glasses that can be worn over such glasses, otherwise protective glasses are the same size as conventional glasses. During electrical and autogenous welding , the eyes of the person performing the work must be protected by protective goggles, otherwise the most severe burns of the conjunctiva (so-called flashing ) of the eye can occur.
Glasses that are worn when using lasers are mostly made entirely of plastic . They only have lenses, some of which are heavily tinted , where protection from excessive light or radiation is important.
Labelling
Protective goggles for professional use must have a marking specified by the EU (cf. EN 166 in conjunction with 89/686 / EEC (replaced by the PPE regulation from 2016 (PDF) )). If the lens and the frame are made of different materials, both must be labeled independently.
- Applicable standard: EN 166
- Filter protection level 1.1 to 16
- Identification number of the manufacturer
- Optical class: 1, 2, or 3
- CE mark and product name (on the product)
Laser safety glasses
Laser safety goggles protect the eye from laser radiation and are one of the most important protective equipment when working with lasers . In principle, the laser safety goggles represent an optically narrow-band filter, which must be matched to the respective wavelength (color) of the laser light used and to the power of the laser. Light components with a different frequency than that of the laser are less attenuated and allow restricted vision. Laser safety goggles, which attenuate green light with a wavelength of 532 nm, for example, appear red-orange when looking through them.
A further distinction is made between full protective goggles and alignment goggles: Full protective goggles filter the respective wavelength as strongly as possible, up to a specified upper limit power. In the case of invisible laser radiation such as infrared , only full protective goggles are used. Alignment protection glasses are used in the area of visible light and allow a larger part of the laser light to pass through the lens, but with a lower intensity for the eye. This makes it possible for the operator, for example, to carry out adjustment work on the optical table with visible laser light - this would be impossible with full protective goggles, since the operator could no longer perceive the respective laser light through the protective goggles. In the case of alignment safety goggles, in addition to matching the respective frequency (color) of the laser light, matching the safety goggles to the power of the laser is essential.
Military environment
In the military environment one speaks of tactical protective goggles. In addition to protection against light, dust and other environmental influences, protection against splinters and projectiles is the main focus. Various protection classes, such as the ANSI standard used in the United States or the NATO standard STANAG , define projectile sizes and speeds that the specially hardened plastic glasses can withstand. There are different versions of tactical goggles; from sunglasses with inserts and temples to models that fit close to the face, which are attached to the head with a circumferential stretch strap. Compatibility with the helmet used within the military unit is also important.
Protective lens types
The following three types of protective screen are most commonly used in practice:
- Clear (maximum light transmission, use in buildings or at night)
- Gray / "Smoke" (minimum light transmission, for bright or sunlight outdoors, against glare and mirror effects with the highest possible color fidelity, use in strong sun and glare)
- Orange / "Vermillion" (medium light transmission, for color and depth recognition, reduces glare in bright light and cloudy conditions, use in tactical environments because red digital displays / markings remain legible)
Yellow protective lenses (medium light transmission, high-contrast view in twilight and haze) are increasingly being replaced by orange lenses. The Bundeswehr no longer uses them after incidents in Afghanistan because the yellow color of the fuses for street bombs (IED) that were stretched across the street were not recognized.
Other types are also in use:
- Brown (similar effect to gray with minimal color change)
- Green (flight area)
- Polarizing (minimal light transmission, reduces reflected and dazzling light)
- Phototropic (protective panes are bright indoors and at night and automatically turn dark in sunlight)
- Laser protection (different colors, protection by reflection or absorption)
sport and freetime
As a sports glasses a made during sporting activities for wearing goggles with shatterproof glasses holds. Sports glasses are used, in particular, for protection against the effects of the weather in many outdoor sports. They are individually tailored to the respective sport.
- Sunglasses reduce the transmission of light to the wearer's eyes. Its primary purpose is to protect the eyes from the unpleasant or harmful effects of sunlight, especially UV radiation .
- Ski and snow goggles lie on the face and protect against flying snow and harmful UV radiation.
- Cycling glasses are located just in front of the face, have a relatively large area so that the field of vision is not restricted, and protect the eye from excessive wind and the associated dehydration as well as from foreign objects such as flies . The frames of such glasses are suitable for traffic. So there are no thick edges on the sides.
- The lenses of swimming goggles usually surround the eyes individually and prevent contact with the water. This means that no chlorine or foreign bodies floating in the water can reach the eyes. They also improve vision underwater.
Sports glasses are subject to strong fashion influences and have set fashion trends themselves . In order to enable spectacle wearers to wear such glasses, many manufacturers offer special corrective lenses that are usually attached behind the actual lens.
Condensation of moisture on the lenses
The condensation of moisture on glass panes is also called fogging . Since athletes sweat more when they practice sports, sports glasses are exposed to very high levels of vapor. In bad weather and low outside temperatures, the moisture condenses on the inside of the pane in small droplets, which completely restricts the view. So-called anti-fogging systems have been developed against this phenomenon, which rely on passive ventilation and the prevention of droplet formation by reducing the surface tension of the water. Instead of the water droplets, a thin, transparent film of water is created. Commercially available dishwashing detergent can be used as a home remedy to prevent windows from fogging up because it contains surfactants, which also counteract the surface tension of the water. The washing-up liquid is applied undiluted and thinly to the clean window with a soft cloth and dried for a few hours. Applied in this way, detergent ensures a clear view for several hours.
Prescription goggles
Prescription safety glasses are a combination of safety and prescription glasses. They combine the compensation of an optical ametropia with the protection of the eye against mechanical, chemical or optical influences. If there is a corresponding risk potential in everyday work, the employers' liability insurance association rule (BGR) 192 prescribes their use in practice.
field of use
There are many dangers to the eyes in everyday working life - from chemicals to splinters and swarf. Adequate safety measures must also be taken for employees with ametropia so that the eyes are not injured. The BGR 192 states: “Commercially available prescription glasses have no protective effect. Therefore, the company must also provide suitable eye protection for insured persons with ametropia. ”Prescription safety glasses offer a reliable option for eye protection while correcting the ametropia:„ [It] is recommended to use prescription safety glasses because they combine the protective function and the corrective effect. Experience has shown that the affected insured can wear corrective protective goggles without any problems and, moreover, regularly take better care of them. "
function
According to GUV-R 192, corrective safety goggles are "safety goggles - usually frame glasses - which are equipped with safety lenses with an optically corrective effect." They are adapted to the ametropia (for example short- sightedness or clarity ) of the respective wearer and at the same time offer protection against the various dangers in the work environment.
The lenses of prescription safety glasses are designed in such a way that they guarantee a much higher break resistance than standard glasses. At the same time, the frame is also tailored to the requirements of the respective workplace - for example with particularly large viewing areas or protection devices against splashes on the sides. In addition to the pure safety concept, wearing comfort is also taken into account: the employee only wears the glasses if the frame is well and comfortably seated, neither disturbing nor pressing - and only then do safety measures and corrective effects take effect.
The optician helps both with the adaptation to the individual optical parameters of the spectacle wearer and with the search for the right frame . He not only has to adapt the prescription safety glasses to the personal needs of the employee, but also to the conditions in everyday work, i.e. to the potential dangers. In addition, the prescription safety glasses must be certified according to DIN EN 166. Only those who comply with this standard and mark the optical glasses accordingly can also call themselves "suppliers of corrective protective goggles".
Interim solutions
There are also temporary devices that protect people with ametropia at work - but these are not long-term solutions: “For short-term work lasting a few minutes, e. B. basket, over glasses or visors are worn. However, combinations with goggles or over-the-glasses tend to fog up, which can lead to additional hazards and are therefore often rejected. In addition, such combinations often cause annoying double images or reflections. "
Assumption of costs
The employer bears the costs for the prescription safety glasses. Also BGR 192: "According to § 2 of the PPE -User Regulations, the entrepreneur must provide the insured with eye and face protection if the risk cannot be prevented or reduced in any other way." The costs for the corrective safety glasses are a long-term investment, which pays off: "This eye protection is expensive to purchase, but in almost all cases this is compensated for by the considerably longer period of use." In addition, the company can benefit from the fact that the employees can work protected and with full eyesight, because that way the failure rate and associated costs are reduced, while the quality of the work improves. This has also been confirmed in studies.
Web links
- BGR 192 "Use of eye and face protection"
- Reservists' association on the new shooting training concept
Individual evidence
- ↑ Trade association Metall Nord Süd: Use of eye and face protection BGR 192 . Ed .: BGM. Updated version February 2006 edition. February 2006.
- ↑ a b Trade association rules for safety and health at work - use of eye and face protection (PDF; 357 kB)
- ↑ a b DIN EN 166 from Beuth Verlag
- ↑ Ekbert Hering, Rolf Martin (ed.): Photonics . Springer, 2007, ISBN 978-3-540-29708-6 .
- ↑ With a clear view: Anti-fogging agents in the laboratory test ( Memento of the original from January 27, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b c BGR 192 (2001). Use of eye and face protection . Consulted on November 26th, 2010 ( PDF ( Memento of the original from February 27th, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this note. )
