As a safety manager, the last thing you want is an eye injury on the job due to compliance being compromised – especially when these injuries are easily some of the most preventable. In fact, over 90% of eye injuries can be prevented simply by wearing safety eyewear.
And yet, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in the U.S., 2,000 work-related eye injuries happen every day. What’s worse, three out of five injuries happen because safety eyewear isn’t being worn or because improper eyewear is being worn at the time of the injury.
So, why aren’t workers wearing their eyewear?
Finding and choosing the right protection can be tough, and there’s no question that most existing safety glasses on the market are uncomfortable, restrictive, fog up fast, and are even unattractive. Plus, they’re usually treated as a “one size fits all” solution instead of taking into consideration different face shapes, applications, work environments, and more.
For safety managers who are tasked with making sure employees are wearing their safety eyewear when it’s required as well as supplying them with the right pair they need on the job, these factors make it tricky. The wrong safety eyewear can lead to workers avoiding protection when they need it most, and eventually, an injury.
Top four considerations for your safety eyewear
The solution to your generic safety eyewear problems? Finding a pair with the perfect balance of comfort, fit, performance, and style – this balance is called Wearability®, and it’s only from HexArmor®.
1. Comfort
Safety eyewear needs to be comfortable, with no pressure points on your nose bridge, against the sides of your head, or behind your ears. Look for frames that include a combination of hard and soft components for added comfort that can be worn all day.
2. Fit
One size frame does not fit all, so it’s important to find safety eyewear that checks all the boxes:
- Fits close to your face without gaps
- Fits securely on your head without significant pressure points
- Stays in place when moving head up and down and side-to-side
- Allows for full, unobstructed peripheral vision
3. Performance
Performance features are extremely important. In the lenses, look for a wide-angle, wraparound lens design with smooth optical quality – this helps reduce blind spots, eye fatigue, and headaches.
The main lens features you’ll want are permanent anti-fog and scratch-resistant coatings, as not only must the coatings perform, but you need to be confident that the coatings won’t stop performing - no matter how many times they’re washed.
4. Style
The need to look and feel good in your safety eyewear is human nature. So, make sure the eyewear you choose makes you feel not only protected – but confident. Confidence in style is a big factor in Wearability® and leads to compliance.
The bottom line – HexArmor® can help
When Wearability® is designed into the frames, workers will keep safety eyewear where it should be: on their face and over their eyes.
HexArmor’s safety eyewear line offers complete, consistent, wearable protection across the board. We're committed to high-comfort design and technology, permanent anti-fog coatings that do not wash off, uncompromised scratch resistance, and complete protection no matter the task – all factors that will positively influence compliance. Learn more about our safety eyewear technology here.
Have questions on how HexArmor® safety eyewear will help with compliance in your workplace? Reach out to one of our Safety Solutions Specialists at 1-877-MY ARMOR or send us a message.
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