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The number one complaint we hear about safety glasses?  Scratches.  What can one do about it?  Research shows not much. There are many different products that claim to remove scratches, but most reviews are negative.  Just search “Liquid Scratch Removal Kit” if you want to get an earful.  Brusso, Armor etch, and Glass Etching Cream are just a few of the suggestions out there.  Many of these are actually removing the anti-reflective coating where the scratches were located, not removing the scratches from the plastic.

Here are some things you CAN do:

1. Use a carrying case when not in use.
2. Buy scratch resistant lenses (NOT the same as scratch proof!) We have noticed a difference in the coating helping decrease the amount of scratching, but it’s not a perfect world.
3. We’ve noticed that mid-to-higher end safety glasses are less likely to get scratched- the $2 pair is more likely to get scratched.
4. Don’t clean them with paper towels! Use a clothe instead.

I wish I had better news for you. Here, let me make you feel better. You could have bought the $15 Liquid Scratch Removal kit that is worthless to get rid of the scratches in your $7 safety glasses.

If you have some kind of miracle solution, we would love to hear about it. Send us a note.

Technorati Tags: Safety Glasses

Posted in Safety Glasses by Sassy Safety Glasses Queen. The Sassy Safety Glasses Queen is our resident safety glasses expert. She specializes in the news, trends, and fashions of the Safety Glasses industry while dabbling in the world of fall protection.

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It’s interesting the type of photos we see from around the world denoting workplace “safety.”  There’s always an abundance of pictures from China. Always.

The Safety Guru group on Flickr has an interesting collection of safety photos from different contributors in locations around the world. I visit occasionally to see what’s new. Unfortunately I only post photos with direct permission from the photographer so I can’t use the 3rd party photos from that group. But you still can check it out and laugh… or groan.

Today’s photo was provide by P. Adkin which he shot when he was in China.  Thanks so much for allowing us to use your photo.

Stay safe!

Posted in Safety Articles by Safety Frank. Safety Frank is our resident all around safety guy. He specializes in making safety easier to understand though humor, video, and a general irreverence for a very stuffy industry.

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Earlier this month OSHA held a public meeting “OSHA Listens”, asking for public feedback on key issues the agency faces. The following nine questions were the different topics discussed:

• What can the agency do to enhance and encourage the efforts of employers, workers and unions to identify and address workplace hazards?

• What are the most important emerging or unaddressed health and safety issues in the workplace, and what can OSHA do to address these?

• How can the agency improve its efforts to engage stakeholders in programs and initiatives?

• What specific actions can the agency take to enhance the voice of workers in the workplace, particularly workers who are hard to reach, do not have ready access to information about hazards or their rights, or are afraid to exercise their rights?

• Are there additional measures to improve the effectiveness of the agency’s current compliance assistance efforts and the on site consultation program, to ensure that small businesses have the information needed to provide safe workplaces?

• Given the length and difficulty of the current OSHA rule making process, and given the need for new standards that will protect workers from unaddressed, inadequately addressed and emerging hazards, are there policies and procedures that will decrease the time to issue final standards so that OSHA may implement needed protections in a timely manner?

• As we continue to progress through a new information age vastly different from the environment in which OSHA was created, what new mechanisms or tools can the agency use to more effectively reach high risk employees and employers with training, education and outreach? What is OSHA doing now that may no longer be necessary?

• Are there indicators, other than work site injuries and illness logs, that OSHA can use to enhance resource targeting?

• In the late 1980s, OSHA and its stakeholders worked together to update the Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) (exposure limits for hazardous substances; most adopted in 1971), but the effort was unsuccessful. Should updating the PELs be a priority for the agency? Are there suggestions for ways to update the PELs, or other ways to control workplace chemical exposures?

There was some great discussions out in the blog & twitter world in response. You still can watch the different panels via webcast or get a written transcript and comments of the meeting here. What would your advice to OSHA be?

Technorati Tags: osha

Posted in Safety Articles by Sassy Safety Glasses Queen. The Sassy Safety Glasses Queen is our resident safety glasses expert. She specializes in the news, trends, and fashions of the Safety Glasses industry while dabbling in the world of fall protection.

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Raymond (a photographer) shared this post and picture with us. (Thank you!)

“Today I’m glad I had my safety glasses on. The group decided to clean up the lab so we organized, swept and mopped the garage. I was refilling the water/cleaning solution and a good few drops splashed up right on the lens of my glasses. Close call, because we use this industrial strength cleaner and degreaser which probably would have done some serious ocular damage.”

Close call stories are a good reminder on why we need to use preventative measures at work and at home. I’ve waded through many photos of eye injuries -they all look painful. There really is no excuse for not wearing eye protection – stylish, bifocals, anti-fog, over-specs, inexpensive, padded,  shaded, small, melon-head size, etc.. there really is something for everyone.

Technorati Tags: close calls, ppe

Posted in Safety Glasses by Sassy Safety Glasses Queen. The Sassy Safety Glasses Queen is our resident safety glasses expert. She specializes in the news, trends, and fashions of the Safety Glasses industry while dabbling in the world of fall protection.

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Hey Luke,

I hear you’re the fall protection expert who’s in the know. Here’s my question for you:
Can I install the anchor points over my roof shingles?

Sincerely,
Ted

This is a common question I get asked all the time and here’s  the answer in a nutshell:

You must secure the anchor directly to the surface of what it is approved for.

Now here’s the reason why:  It all goes back to when manufacturers test the anchors. Manufacturers do their pull out tests on what they approve it for. For example, if they approve their anchor for 3/4″ plywood. What they’re going to do is attach the anchor directly to the Plywood and do the testing and see if it holds up. (I am just simplifying what actually goes on) They approve it.  So now, if you take and put a shingle in between the anchor and the plywood you are changing the parameters and creating a totally different test because the shingle creates a gap that can change the results. Therefore it is not approved to do this in the field.

Why don’t they test it with shingles and see if it holds up? Great questions – it’s because there are so many different roofing materials out there that would make it near impossible to test for everyone. And there is a huge liability by allowing the workers to install these in the field this way – too many different variables means too many risks in these situations.

Technorati Tags: anchor points, fall protection, fall safety advice

Posted in Fall Protection Articles, Safety Articles by Luke Allsage. Luke Allsage is our resident fall protection expert, he knows what you need, where to put it, and how much it can hold. In the rare cases he doesn't know something, he knows where to find it.

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In early February, Terry Thompson, 51, was killed from a 100 ft fall as he worked on dismantling a cell phone tower. He had almost 30 years experience. OSHA and local officials are still investigating.

The same day in Florida, construction worker Daniel Caldwell, 40, died after a 25 ft fall off a roof.

Two weeks ago construction worker David Pink, 25, was injured in a 60 ft construction fall. Pink was taking plywood off the top floor of a building when the wind caught him and he went off the edge head first.

Most recent sources say that Pink’s 30 ft retractable did not engage and when he hit the end of the retractable he flipped and the cable snapped. After the cable snapped he continued to fall another 30 ft, shattering his hip and the side of his face. What saved his life was that he was working across the street from a hospital and the ambulance, as well as a doctor, arrived in minutes. He was able to get to the UW Trauma center immediately.

Most retractables need to be re-certified every 2 years and it was believed this retractable was closer to 3 years. OSHA is investigating this accident.

Most people don’t get do overs. Stay safe! 100% tie-off, check your equipment, keep up to date, train your workers properly! DO what you need to do for everyone to stay safe and alive.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, workplace accidents, workplace safety

Posted in Fall Protection News, Safety Articles by Sassy Safety Glasses Queen. The Sassy Safety Glasses Queen is our resident safety glasses expert. She specializes in the news, trends, and fashions of the Safety Glasses industry while dabbling in the world of fall protection.

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