Latest data from the Health and Safety Executive shows that there were 160 workplace injuries in the UK in the year 2012/13 alone which led to a loss of sight in one eye. And, according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) an estimated 1000 eye injuries occur every day at the workplace across Europe.
European legislation demands that employers provide the correct personal protection for the workforce. Eye protection must be provided for employees to protect them against chemical, environmental, radiological or mechanical irritants and other hazards in the workplace.
Workplace hazards to the eyes are particular to industrial sectors such as food processing, automotive and aerospace; for example, in metal manufacturing a prime concern might be metal slivers or dust getting in the eyes.
However, across all sectors more than 90% of eye injuries are preventable if the proper eye protection is used. While the worker must be protected, he or she must also be able to perform the required tasks effectively and without restriction. That is why the role of comfort in eye protection cannot be underestimated, across the range of industrial sectors.
Discomfort created by badly-fitting equipment may lead to non-compliance with safety regulations; protective eyewear won't protect workers if it stays on top of their heads!
Kimberly-Clark Professional Jackson Safety Eye and Face Wear range has been developed in a bid to address the employer’s need to increase worker compliance, while protecting the workforce and improving safety and profitability throughout the workplace. Jackson Safety eyewear products have been designed to be comfortable to wear and are available in a range of sizes, providing each member of the workforce with effective protective equipment designed to maximise productivity and performance.
The eye protection range features slip-stop temples to reduce slipping while increasing worker safety, while an anti-fog coating is said to increase wearer visibility. According to Kimberley-Clark, the range is lightweight and comfortable in design, which allows it to be worn for a whole shift with minimal impact on the wearer. Design features include impact resistance, durability and anti-scratch coatings in a bid to help extend the life of the glasses and reduce the employer’s costs.
The Jackson Safety range includes the Nemesis V60 Rx, the V50 Calico, the V40 Hellraiser, the V30 Nemesis, the V30 Nemesis anti-scratch, the V30 Nemesis VL, the V20 Purity, the V10 Unispec and the V10 Element, all with differing specifications.
Kimberly-Clark Professional's describes its flagship V30 Nemesis range as 'the most popular product in the range offering sleek, sporty style'. It has soft touch temples for added comfort and every pair includes a neck cord. The lens is anti-fog rather than just anti-mist, offering permanent fog-free vision to help efficiency and productivity.
The V30 Nemesis VL version has a frameless ultra-lightweight design, a no-brow design which increases upward and peripheral vision and a compact profile which accommodates smaller faces. It also offers slip-stop temples to reduce slipping and includes a free neck cord.
All Jackson Safety eyewear comes with a range of lens options, depending on the industrial application. These include a clear lens, the highest optical clarity which allows maximum visible light transmission and is ideal for indoor applications. There is also the option of Smoke Lens for outdoor use when bright sunlight and glare cause eye strain and fatigue. Alternatively an Amber Lens offers light gathering properties and is said to provide high visibility and good contrast in low light conditions.
Other lens options include specialist welding lenses and mirrored lenses which reflect and reduce the amount of light and heat that passes through when working outdoors. All eyewear options are styled to suit male and female wearers and offer 99.9% UVA/UVB protection in accordance with European Standard EN166:200.
Kimberly-Clark Professional believes it can give employers a fresh perspective on eye safety as part of its Efficient Workplace programme. This is an innovative program that combines lean manufacturing principles with industry best practices to drive continuous improvement in efficiency, safety and occupational health. It starts with an onsite Hazard and Waste Walk to spot issues that impact on safety and efficiency across a business and the programme is designed to help businesses uncover opportunities that can make a big difference, driving greater health, safety and productivity and improving worker safety.
