PIP Consumables Catalogue JULY 2024 ED1 DIGITAL V3 - Flipbook - Page 120
PRO CHOICE SAFETY GEAR
PROTECTIVE
EYEWEAR
The most common diagnosis for eye related injury compensation claims in Australia and New
Zealand was from a foreign body on the external eye.1.7. In New Zealand eye injuries accounted
for 3% of all ACC claims in 2019 and is set to be about the same result for 2020 calculations.2
Why wear eye protection?
Industrial related eye injuries are commonly caused by
chemical splashes, metal or plastic debris hitting the eye, tools
accidentally striking the face, and improper use of equipment.
Legislation decrees that approved safety glasses or eye
protection must be worn in a wide variety of
workplace environments.
There are more than 9000 claims for workplace eye injuries
each year costing over $3 million 3 a ogure which does not
take into account lost productivity.3 In New Zealand, eye injuries
accounted for 3% of all ACC claims in 2019 and is set to be
about the same for 2020. Use of correctly otting safety eyewear is
one way to protect the eye from injury.2
Pro Choice Safety Gear has an ever changing range of safety
specs with the latest technology, materials, designs and
colours, which meet the required safety standards.
Our Certioed range also includes protective goggles
and face shields.
What is Ultraviolet Light (UV)?
Ultraviolet is INVISIBLE light produced by the sun and artiocial
sources. It is the main cause of skin cancer and eye diseases.
PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR
Ultraviolet radiation (UV) covers a range of wavelengths split
into three groups 3 A, B and C 3 that are invisible to the human
eye and can9t be felt by the skin even at very dangerous levels,
but do need to be protected against. At peak times there is
signiocantly more UV in New Zealand and Australia than at
comparable latitudes in Europe or North America.4 Solar UV
is not as intense in NZ as in northern Australia, but it can be
more dangerous if in cooler temperatures if people are less
conscious of the risk.6
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" UVA is the most common and penetrates most deeply,
passing through the cornea to reach the lens and retina inside
your eyes.
" UVB penetrates less deeply but can cause sunburn,
wrinkling, premature ageing, and skin cancers.
" UVC is potentially the most dangerous, but UVC from the sun is
blocked by oxygen and ozone in the atmosphere. It is produced
by arc welding or inadequately shielded UV lamps.5
" It9s not just the sun that can damage our eyes. Artiocial
sources as above, and the UVA and UVB from tanning beds
and water treatment can be as dangerous.5
Sunlight can afect your eyes more at higher altitudes, and
when renected of water, white sand, ice or snow.
What9s the damage?
Too much exposure to UV light raises your risk of eye diseases
and other problems. Here are a few of the eye conditions you
can avoid by wearing sunglasses:
" Cataracts and eye cancers can take years to develop. Each
time you work in the sun without eye protection, you increase
your risk of serious disease. People of all ages should take
precautions whenever they are outdoors.
" Growths on the eye, such as pterygium, can show up in our
teens or 20s. Road workers, Trades people such as roof tilers
and concreters, surfers, skiers, oshermen, farmers and others
who spend long hours under the midday sun or near rivers,
oceans and mountains are at risk.
" Snow blindness, a form of photokeratitis, can quickly develop
after exposure to UV renections of of snow, ice, sand or water.
1) Eye Health In The Workplace 3 Comcare 2012. 2) ACC, Injury Statistics Work Related Claims 2020, Table 2/39 (www.dropbox.com/sh/zvc92r4kpq0kmp3/AABdgZfKn8nDgV9w5rFYK5sHa?dl=0).
3) www.sitesafe.org.nz/guides--resources/practical-safety-advice/eye-safety/. 4) Published papers: 1. Seckmeyer, G., and R. L. McKenzie (1992), Increased ultraviolet radiation in New Zealand (45°
S) relative to Germany (48° N), Nature, 359, 135-137. 2. Seckmeyer, G., B. Mayer, G. Bernhard, R. L. McKenzie, P. V. Johnston, M. Kotkamp, C. R. Booth, T. Lucas, T. Mestechkina, C. R. Roy, H.
P. Gies, and D. Tomlinson (1995), Geographical diferences in the UV measured by intercompared spectroradiometers, Geophys. Res. Lett., 22(14), 1889-1892 3. McKenzie, R. L., G. E. Bodeker,
G. Scott, and J. Slusser (2006), Geographical diferences in erythemally-weighted UV measured at mid-latitude USDA sites, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 5(3), 343-352. 5) Ben Liley, Atmospheric
Scientist, National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA). 6) Zaratti_etal_UVI_Scale_pps_2014.pdf. Background supplied by Ben Liley, NIWA.doc (www.dropbox.com/sh/
grvc6y2ofe4lubh/AADBtMvr0wy_prh8wN3zRMLIa?dl=0). 7) Auckland Eye 3 https://www.aucklandeye.co.nz/about/blog/7-most-common-eye-injuries/
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