Electricians face a number of hazards in work environments that make thorough safety preparation and precaution absolutely necessary. To begin with, many electricians face potential risks associated with drilling and sawing through hard materials in order to access wiring or re-wire electrical systems. However, in addition to these basic risks, electricians also commonly come into contact with hazards such as sparks, small fires, and sudden, unexpected shrapnel that can result from other hazards. This is not to make the job sound too dangerous, but rather to emphasize the need for proper safety procedures.
In particular, it is absolutely vital for practicing electricians to protect their eyes. Each of the hazards mentioned previously - chipped material, flying shrapnel, sparks and small fires, etc. - is perhaps most threatening to the eyes and face. In the worst cases, these hazards can even permanently impact vision if they come into contact with bare eyes. For this reason, it is always recommended - and indeed, sometimes even required - for electricians to wear protective eye gear, whether that mean goggles, hazard glasses, or even occasionally full face masks.
Still, it is not necessarily enough to purchase the protective gear. Electricians also must take care to make sure that they make proper use of it once they have it. Here are a few basic guidelines concerning popular issues with the proper use of protective eye equipment.
If you are an electrician and typically depend on eyeglasses for purposes of corrective vision, a switch to Acuvue contact lenses may be worth considering. Contacts solve a wide range of vision issues, including near-sightedness, astigmatism, and all of the other common deficiencies, and they make it far simpler to manage protective eye gear.
Be sure to wear your protective eye gear as securely as possible. Many workers who rely on this sort of gear become tempted to loosen goggles and safety glasses for the sake of comfort. However, hazards for electricians can be sudden and significant, and it's important that your safety goggles or glasses are fitted tightly over your eyes so that no hazard can get in.
Finally, store and clean your safety gear properly. It's very important to keep your goggles or safety glasses from being damaged, so that they can achieve their full desired effect. Additionally, keeping them properly cleaned and maintained will make it easier to use them with clarity, and therefore make it more appealing to wear safety gear while working.