What to look for when choosing modern safety goggles

When you think of goggles, do you think of bulky and uncomfortable rubber things that more of a hindrance than a help? Do you accept that you have to put up with discomfort and impaired vision in order to be properly protected?

If you answered yes to both, read on. I think ToolFreak can change your mind with the Rip-Out Safety Glasses.

It is important to keep in mind the core function of goggles - protection - goggles are nothing but a fashion accessory if they do not perform. Although style is secondary to performance, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t important. In a previous blog we discussed rates of workforce compliance and what the considerations were in this respect. Unattractive aesthetics accounted for 20% of non-compliance.

There is a balance to strike between protection and style to arrive at the perfect safety goggles.

You can not go 100% protection as you would end up with a diving helmet, made of titanium-encased lead with its own oxygen supply. Besides the expense, it would be totally unpracticable and cumbersome for almost all tasks in the workplace.

The minimum protection level that should be achieved before any design choices are made are:

Impact resistance - The workplace can be a dangerous environment with many objects presenting an impact hazard to the eyes.

• Objects being carried about the site
• machines with moving parts
• complex work environments with low light & rough edge

There are many other unpredictable situations could result in serious damage to the face and eyes too. A good pair of goggles will resist impact and lessen the damage caused.

Sharp objects - The lenses of safety goggles have to be strong enough to resist a pointed object travelling towards the eye. Tools, shattered drill bits, machine parts and whatever else that would otherwise result in an accidental piercing eye injury have to be stopped.

Foreign bodies - many industrial processes produce debris that present a hazard to the eye. Swarf from metal working and chips from wood working are both common issues. A good goggle will have all round protection to prevent debris from entering the vicinity of the eye.

Abrasive eye injuries - this type of issue is common for employees that work in environments that generate dust and particulate matter. It is regularly found that where this type of injury is seen, the use of safety glasses or even regular glasses with side shields are the protection of choice. It is important to know the difference. Goggles have a seal around the eyes to protect the them whereas glasses don’t.

Specification for a quality pair of safety goggles

Impact resistance - a specification that speaks for itself. Lenses that do not offer impact resistance do not belong in a pair of safety goggles or safety glasses.

Secure fitting - Ill-fitting goggles will be removed by the user. Comfort around the nose bridge and temples is often cited as reasons to stop using safety goggles. A quality pair of goggles will have an elastic strap, like a pair of swim goggles, fitted. - the best safety goggles will have this strap as a removable option.

So how do ToolFreak Rip-out measure up to the requirements and specifications? 

Rip-Out glasses are rated to ANSI z87+ and EN166 safety standards. These ratings have been met after stringent testing for impact and uv protection at leading labarotries

The Rip-Out model has a foam seal fitted to them. The foam has special properties that make each pair feel like a custom fit. Secure fitting is therefore guaranteed and to make doubly sure, a removable elastic strap is included for greater compression.

Long term users report ultimate comfort to the point they forget they are wearing them and that the comfort is maintained even when used in conjunction with other PPE such as ear defenders.

The only thing left to boast about is how good the Rip-out glasses look. We’ll let the photography do the talking from this point