Safety In The Workplace

Safety and comfort is paramount in our work environment and employers and employees have a responsibility to comply to guidelines ensuring adequate safety measures are followed to prevent incidents and injury.

Eye protection is one of the essential aspects of safety in the workplace and the type depends on our occupation and work conditions.

Safety specs are to be worn in industrial settings, factories and laboratories as there is a likelihood of exposure to flying objects, debris, dust and chemicals. All safety specs must conform to standards which are similar worldwide. In most countries it is mandatory that safety specs are worn in these environments.

The safety specs are either metal or plastic with side shields for added protection. The lenses are either toughened plastic or polycarbonate.

Polycarbonate lenses are the safest and strongest  – unbreakable!

The materials are tested under different conditions and then graded if they meet the standards.

These specs are made at an approved factory where a protection guarantee certificate is issued.

Any repairs required are sent to the factory to ensure the protection guarantee is valid.

Each country has it own markings that confirms conformity to standards. However, the kitemark is a global symbol that indicates that the product is of the highest calibre and conforms to ISO standards.

ISO specifications are agreed by international experts to outline the standards for safer working conditions safeguarding against injury and danger in the workplace.

Photochromic or UV filtered safety specs is strongly recommended for outdoor occupations to protect against uv radiation, reduce the risk of retinal damage and formation of cataract.

During COVID-19 lockdown, many of us had to work from home which led to increased duration on use of digital screens.

This prolonged use has caused symptoms of headaches, dry eyes, soreness and redness in our eyes as well as neck, shoulder and back pain.

These group of symptoms is collectively referred to as digital eyestrain or computer vision syndrome.

On average remote working has increased screen time to around 8.5 hours per day as opposed to 6.75 hours when working in the office. This has been down to less regular breaks, eating lunch whilst working and not moving around as much as we would in an office environment.

Regular breaks from screens can significantly reduce the symptoms of digital eyestrain and this can be done by following the 20-20-20 rule.

The 20-20-20 rule is meant to be adhered by all screen users ~ every 20 minutes, look away at a distance of 20 feet (ideally look out of the window) for 20 seconds.

It is also advisable to blink (during the 20 seconds) to reduce dry eye symptoms.

Adjustments to office space can certainly help reduce computer vision syndrome.

• adjust the height of the screen to your eye level.
• place the screen between 62-75cm away from you on the desk.
• adjust your chair accordingly so you are at eye level to the screen.
• change screen settings ~contrast, brightness and zoom.
• ideally work near the window for natural light if possible.

If any of these adjustments have not helped, having an eye exam is advised to investigate the root cause of your symptoms.

Click here to read about ‘The Eye Exam’.

Mild myopia, astigmatism and presbyopia may be associated with computer vision syndrome and if this is found, your Optometrist will recommend specs.

The lenses advised will either be single vision or occupational specs. Sometimes varifocal lens may be suggested depending upon your work settings.

More about lenses

You may be recommended to have spectacle lenses with Blue filter antireflection coating to help reduce symptoms but there is no clinical evidence to support this.

If you have any questions, please get in touch.