Occupational risks: assess them properly to select the right protection
Assessing occupational risks is the first step in drawing up company health and safety policy.
The selection of eye protection is part of your duty as an employer. It is important to clearly identify the types of risks present in order to provide each employee the suitable equipment and to check that the risks, directives, standards and markings on the protection are all in line with each other.
To help you with this task, our optics department has selected the best technology and included it in our EXCELLENCE offer: lens materials, design quality, coatings and tints to protect and optimise your employees’ eyesight.
LENS MATERIAL
POLYCARBONATE
The main feature of polycarbonate is its resistance to impact.
This material is by far the most resistant of all. Polycarbonate is 10% thinner than glass and 15% thinner than CR39. But it is a soft plastic and is therefore easily scratched.
An anti-scratch coating is applied as standard to remedy this issue. This material is particularly recommended for protection in the workplace.
Polycarbonate has the added advantage of absorbing all ultraviolet rays from 280 nm up to 380 nm (99.99%).
Lens markings = 1FCE
European standards EN166 - EN170 - EN172
Rating: 1.59
CR39
This is an organic resin lens, which is stronger than glass lens and 50% lighter and which absorbs part of ultra-violet rays.
On the other hand, they scratch more easily. To remedy this, a hard coating is applied to the lens. At equal power, they are thicker than glass or polycarbonate lenses.
Lens markings = 1SCE
European standards EN166 - EN170 - EN172
Rating: 1.50
TRIVEX
Trivex® glass initially has the advantages of polycarbonate and CR39. Indeed, Trivex® is more robust than CR39 and, unlike polycarbonate, is highly resistant to chemicals and solvents.
It is also one of the lightest materials on the market thanks to a density of 1.11g/cm3 which ensures perfect optical vision and filters out 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
Trivex® is however more expensive than other materials and has a narrower correction range than CR39 or Polycarbonate.