In the world of science, there are many different chemicals that can splash into your eyes and cause serious damage. Goggles are an important piece of safety equipment that can protect you from these dangerous chemicals.
What are splash goggles?
Splash goggles are a type of personal protective equipment (PPE) that is worn to protect the eyes from liquids. They form a seal around the wearer’s eyes and can be equipped with ventilation to prevent fogging. Splash goggles are used in many industries, including healthcare, construction, and manufacturing.
There are three main types of splash goggles:
- Direct Ventilation Goggles: These goggles have vents on the top and bottom of the lens to allow air to flow in and out. This prevents fogging, but it also allows liquids to enter the goggles if they are splashed from the side.
- Indirect Ventilation Goggles: These goggles have vents on the sides of the lens that allow air to flow in and out. This prevents fogging and protects the wearer’s eyes from liquids that may be splashed from the front or back.
- Non-Ventilated Goggles: These goggles do not have any vents. They provide the highest level of protection from splash hazards, but they can fog up more easily than other types of splash goggles.
Splash goggles are typically made from polycarbonate, which is a durable plastic that can resist impact and protect against UV rays. Some splash goggles also have an anti-fog coating on the lens to help prevent condensation from building up inside the goggles.
What are the benefits of wearing splash goggles?
Wearing splash goggles can protect your eyes from a variety of chemicals. Splash goggles are designed to fit snugly against your face, creating a seal that will prevent liquids from getting into your eyes. When working with chemicals, it is important to make sure that you are wearing the appropriate eye protection. Depending on the chemical, you may need to wear full-face respirators in addition to splash goggles.
What types of chemicals do splash goggles protect against?
Goggles are tested to ensure that they will protect your eyes from specific chemicals. There are three major categories of chemicals: acids, bases, and particulates.
- Acids are corrosive and can cause eye damage or blindness. They include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid.
- Bases are also corrosive and can cause similar eye damage as acids. They include sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.
- Particulates are tiny pieces of solid material that can become lodged in your eye or under your eyelid. They include sand, dust, wood chips, and metal filings.
Most splash goggles will provide protection against all three categories of chemicals. Some goggles are designed specifically for particulate protection and will not provide adequate protection against acids or bases.
How do splash goggles protect against chemicals?
Splash goggles protect your eyes from contact with liquids, particulates, and vapors. They form a tight seal around your eyes, and the lens is made of impact-resistant plastic. Goggles are typically made from polycarbonate, which is a strong but lightweight material. Some models have vents to prevent fogging. Splash goggles can be worn over prescription glasses.
Are splash goggles comfortable to wear?
Most splash goggles will fit comfortably over prescription eyewear. Some even have foam liners to further enhance the fit and improve comfort. Splash goggles should fit snugly but not tightly to create a seal that will prevent chemicals from getting around the edges of the goggles and into your eyes.
How long do splash goggles last?
Eye and face splash protection is required whenever there is a potential for contact with chemicals that could splash into the eyes or onto the face. Depending on the chemical, exposure to even small amounts can result in serious injury. When working with chemicals, always wear properly fitted splash goggles that provide side and front protection and are made of chemical-resistant materials such as polycarbonate or Lexan.
Goggles should be cleaned and sanitized regularly and replaced when they become cracked, scratched, or otherwise damaged. Depending on the severity of the hazard, splash goggles should be replaced every few months to a year. When storing goggles, make sure they are not exposed to sunlight or extreme temperatures, as this can damage the lens material.
How often should splash goggles be replaced?
Although some splash goggles have an anti-fog coating, fogging is still a problem. Repeated cleaning with alcohol or other solvents degrades the anti-fog coating. In general, splash goggles should be replaced when they become significantly scratched, pitted, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
Also, replace them when the lenses become significantly clouded or when the anti-fog coating deteriorates to the point where it no longer prevents fogging of the lenses.
What are the consequences of not wearing splash goggles?
There are a number of potential consequences associated with not wearing splash goggles. Perhaps the most serious is the potential for chemical burns to the eyes. Without the protective barrier provided by splash goggles, chemicals can come into direct contact with the eyes, causing irritation, redness, and in some cases, permanent damage.
In addition to protecting the eyes from chemical burns, splash goggles also help to prevent other types of eye injuries. For example, flying debris or chemicals can cause scratches on the surface of the eye, which can lead to infection. Splash goggles help to safeguard against these types of injuries by providing a physical barrier between the eyes and potential sources of harm.
Finally, splash goggles help to ensure that chemicals do not come into contact with other sensitive areas of the face, such as the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth. While direct contact with these areas is not likely to cause permanent damage, it can lead to discomfort and irritation.
Wearing splash goggles helps to minimize the risk of exposure and ensures that any chemicals that do come into contact with the face are quickly flushed away.
In Closing
If you work in a laboratory or industrial environment, safety splash goggles should be worn to protect yourself from chemical splashes and debris. Just remember, your eyes are important and not worth endangering.
NEXT UP: Splash Goggles vs. Safety Glasses
