UV Light PROTECTION

iain_herts · 28-07-2005, 19:39

hi guys/girls. need some help well for the past few months iv been haven bad eyes which i belive is due to UV LIGHT from a machineat work.
any1 on here know about safty glasses. im thinking of getting a pair from http://www.safetysupplies.co.uk/trolleyed/3/ .

the 1's i thinking of is Uvex Skyper 9195with glare and UV protection.

would u think these be ok or do u recommend any different 1's.

thanks for any help

iain

tabatha · 28-07-2005, 19:49

Why not explain the problem to your works health and safety officer...
He/She should be able to help....

iain_herts · 28-07-2005, 19:50

i would be 1 she's the manger and 2 she's off on mantury leave but wot i am gonna do is get a pair and they can have the bill for them

Matthew · 28-07-2005, 20:01

They should provide you with them if I am right if you are working with machines like that.

iain_herts · 28-07-2005, 20:05

yeah they should do under PPE we do have safty glaases but they are not UV Protector one's. we have 3 UV drying lamps at work which all have the shouilding on them but the 1 that is casueing this it slightly diffent from the other's and its only 1 that is causeing this.

Raistlin · 28-07-2005, 21:12

You need to discuss this with your employers.

They are responsible (as has already been stated) for your health and safety at work, there are a number of issues here that they need to adress.

1: They need to provide you with the appropriate protective equipment. This means that it has to be appropriate to the exact risk being posed by the lamps. You cannot just go and buy some yourself, they may not do the job.
2: Your employers are responsible for everybody's health and safety at your work place. They may need to consider providing protective equipment for more people than just you. They may even need to consider replacing the equipment.
3: If you sort this out yourself then they may conclude that you are (in some way) absolving them of their responsibility. Other people may suffer as a result. They may not even be aware that there is a problem.

The fact that your H&S person is away at the moment they still have an obligation to sort this out. If that means that they have to get someone in from outside of the company to carry out the assessment then that's what they must do.

28-07-2005, 21:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raistlin

You need to discuss this with your employers.

They are responsible (as has already been stated) for your health and safety at work, there are a number of issues here that they need to adress.

1: They need to provide you with the appropriate protective equipment. This means that it has to be appropriate to the exact risk being posed by the lamps. You cannot just go and buy some yourself, they may not do the job.
2: Your employers are responsible for everybody's health and safety at your work place. They may need to consider providing protective equipment for more people than just you. They may even need to consider replacing the equipment.
3: If you sort this out yourself then they may conclude that you are (in some way) absolving them of their responsibility. Other people may suffer as a result. They may not even be aware that there is a problem.

The fact that your H&S person is away at the moment they still have an obligation to sort this out. If that means that they have to get someone in from outside of the company to carry out the assessment then that's what they must do.

spot on - I was also thinking that if the UV from the lamp is sufficient to cause eye problems, it may also be sufficient for other risks - skin cancer being one....

Minbu · 28-07-2005, 21:37

You need to make sure the lenses have both UVA and UVB protection.

UVB rays are the ones that burn the skin and can damage the eyes. Although not all experts agree, there is some research that suggests that daily exposure to UVB in very bright sunlight over a period of many years may cause cataracts, a gradual clouding of the lens of the eye.

UVA rays are primarily absorbed within the lens of the human eye, though there are no documented disorders of the human eye from UVA.

Standards for lenses place limits solely on UVB and UVA rays, but bear in mind that these are voluntary, not mandatory. According to these standards, lenses must block at least 70% of UVB and at least 60% of UVA. To best protect your eyes, look for lenses that provide at least 98% protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

(Taken from: http://www.allaboutvision.com/sunglasses/spf.htm)

Ramrod · 28-07-2005, 21:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by iain_herts

hi guys/girls. need some help well for the past few months iv been haven bad eyes which i belive is due to UV LIGHT from a machineat work.
any1 on here know about safty glasses. im thinking of getting a pair from http://www.safetysupplies.co.uk/trolleyed/3/

Well you can't go wrong for that price..............

iain_herts · 28-07-2005, 23:13

thanks all for ur help well be going in 2morrow to have a word

Minbu · 28-07-2005, 23:32

Protection from UV radiation (both UVA and UVB) is important as eye tissue does not develop a tolerance to it. Damage by repeated exposure to UV is incremental and irreversible. Incidentally, some medications can also increase your sensitivity to UV radiation, such as tranquilizers, anti-hypertensives, diuretics and antibiotics. If you are exposed to UV in the course of your work, your employer is legally obliged to provide or pay for adequate protection.

iain_herts · 28-07-2005, 23:37

we do have safty glasses but they are NOT UV rated but will mention to them that i want some UV rated ones supplied

Raistlin · 28-07-2005, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by iain_herts

we do have safty glasses but they are NOT UV rated but will mention to them that i want some UV rated ones supplied

Might also be worth tackling them to see if they will replace the lamp that is causing the problem - if they won't replace it, it may be possible to have it modified in some way.

This would prevent anybody transiting through the area on a regular basis from being exposed to the risk as well.

Obviously I don't know the setup there, but I would say that the best form of risk mitigation in this case would be to replace/modify the lamp.

Minbu · 28-07-2005, 23:47

I agree with Raistlin, the best long term solution would be a UV filter on the lamp.

Graham · 29-07-2005, 00:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by iain_herts

for the past few months iv been haven bad eyes which i belive is due to UV LIGHT from a machineat work.

Just as a suggestion to check the hypothesis, if you have or can borrow a set of Reactolite or similar photochromic sunglasses, take them into work (keep them in the case until you get to where you actually work) then put them on as if you were working.

If they start darkening then it's a pretty good bet that you are getting UV light into your eyes.

If not, it may still be light related (eg if the environment is brightly lit but where you work is darker you could have a problem because your eyes are adjusting to let you see the dark area where you work, but your peripheral vision is picking up light leakage from around you) but you'd have to give some more details.

Alternatively see an optician or have a word with Alanmelon on these forums who is an optician