– Where are your safety goggles? – this has been, and still remains the most common question I ask workers when doing a safety inspection. Some of you have heard it from me more than once, and some have received write-ups. Did you know that about 2000 people injure their eyes on the job every day? And about 200 of these people take several days to recover before they can come back to work, some without an eye?
Vision is one of the most important senses for your productivity. It is important to protect your vision. Also, it is our company policy that eye protection must be worn for all field work, and that you have your goggles within reach at all times when on the job.
If your safety goggles are worn out or scratched (or you’ve lost them) – request new ones using this form, and pick them up from the shop. If you are out on the jobsite and your goggles become unusable or unsafe for any reason – notify your foreman or PM, and an arrangement will be made to provide you with new ones ASAP. You are not to do work that requires eye protection until you have eye protection.
Some examples of work that requires eye protection:
- doing any work above your face. falling debris is an ever present danger.
- doing any cutting, drilling, blowing things out with air, dusting, etc.
- opening enclosures, equipment covers, etc.
- doing work in confined spaces.
- working with wiring.
There are many other conditions that require safety goggles! If you are not sure whether safety goggles are required for any particular task – they probably are.
Also note that prescription glasses are not a replacement for safety goggles! You must wear safety goggles over your prescription glasses.
Work Safe!