Workplace practices

While, theoretically, it would be preferable to design operations to eliminate the need for protective eyewear, this is impractical. The mobility requirements of the tasks make the use of additional screens difficult, if not impossible. A move to robotic welding operations would avoid human exposure, but this carries with it high set-up costs and the social costs of reduced employment. In the absence of other solutions, workplaces should ensure that protective eyewear used for metal work of any kind should fit so that the gap between the face and the eyewear at any point where particulate material can enter is no greater then 1 mm. Workers should be given instruction in the correct choice of eyewear and its adjustment to achieve an adequate fit.

For production line operations, employers may need to examine the feasibility of air supplied visors for workers undertaking repetitive spot welding, and grinding and buffing operations. This would provide incentives for workers to use this type of device by improving ventilation and providing positive pressure to reduce the entry of small particles.