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ccording to the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks, outdoor workers are three times more likely to develop certain eye conditions than indoor employees. This is because professionals who work outdoors spend an average of 6 hours per day under direct sunlight. Which, in turn, results in too much exposure to UV rays.

Excessive amounts of UV radiation can cause different health problems, with eyesight conditions being among the most common. Not only this, some environmental factors can increase exposure and intensify the impact that these rays have on workers’ vision.

Even the reflection on the safety glasses that employees wear can alter the way their eyes interact with light.

In order to create a safe environment for their workers, managers are starting to rely on polarised safety glasses that protect against the negative effects of UV radiation.

There are many different factors that affect the health of exterior workers’ vision. That said, the most common are floating debris, air pollutants, harmful chemicals, and, of course, UV radiation.

Although air pollution and floating particles pose a big risk, UV rays are by far the most dangerous threat. Recent studies suggest that this type of radiation is linked with pterygium, cataracts, and macular generation. As a matter of fact, it’s estimated that close to 3.2 million people lose their eyesight every year due to conditions related to solar UV exposure.

Furthermore, certain outdoor environmental factors can increase the intensity and exposure to this type of radiation. These include, but are not limited to:

• Atmospheric Composition: The gas composition of the atmosphere directly interacts with UV radiation. This can increase exposure through processes such as absorption, reflection, refraction, and diffusion.
• Inclination of the Sun: The position of the sun and the angle at which it hits the eyes can also increase UV exposure. The effect can exponentially increase depending on the hour of the day, geographical region, and certain environmental factors.
• Cloud Formations: While some cloud formations may reduce UV light, others can actually increase exposure and magnify the effect of this electromagnetic radiation. Light cloud formations work like a magnifying glass, so they can increase the impact UV rays have on the eyes.
• UV Light Reflection: The most common and perhaps the most alarming element that can increase UV radiation is reflection. Water, metal, glass, sand and other surfaces can reflect UV rays, magnifying their effect along the way.
• Physical Traumas: Blunt physical traumas can come from tools, construction materials, and other sources. These can cause lacerations and retinal detachment among other injuries, all of which can be prevented with safety sunglasses.
• Foreign Bodies: Similarly to blunt trauma, foreign bodies can inadvertently float into unprotected eyes and damage the cornea. In most cases, workers try to rub or wash out their eyes instead of seeking medical attention, which can make their injuries worse.
• Chemicals and Other Liquids: There are close to 36,000 cases of ocular chemical burns every year. Besides discomfort and pain, these injuries can produce acute glaucoma and permanent loss of vision, so they should be treated as a medical emergency.
• Abrasion from Rubbing: In many cases, outdoor workers' first reaction will be to rub or scratch their eyes when they get hurt. This can cause more damage or produce new injuries that can be prevented through protective eyewear.

Even though UV radiation seems like the only hazard, there are many other factors that can affect exterior workers' vision. As a matter of fact, up to 20% of workplace eye injuries may result in permanent loss of vision. For this reason, providing optimal safety equipment like an anti-reflective feature is the best way to protect exterior employees’ eyes.

There’s no denying that eye injuries are common in the workplace. That being said, they are far more common in outdoor employees due to the sheer nature of these trades. This means that managers have to take precautions that help minimize the chance of an accident.

Floating particles, chemical burns, and extensive sun exposure are just some of the variables that can affect the team’s vision. These can produce short and long-term damage, so creating a safe environment for outdoor workers should be at the top of any manager’s priorities.

Bolle Safety

Tel: 1300 138 098

Web: bollesafety.com.au

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espite these difficult times, the Australian mining industry is remaining strong. In January this year, adding to its extensive range of robust process instrumentation, Vega introduced the 2020 range of entry-level measurement devices, including basic radar levels and pressure transmitters.

These new radar level switches and compact pressure transmitters have been specifically developed for simple applications. According to Leadbetter, senior managing director at Vega: “We’ve always manufactured products that are suited for more hazardous or robust types of applications, and what we needed to do was come up with a device that still has the same performance, but didn’t have all the features or approval requirements that our standard devices have. It’s what we call an entry-level product.”

Starting with the new range of level switches, the 2020 range is available as a compact device (the VEGAPOINT 11, 21 and 31) or with a tube extension for submersion (the VEGAPOINT 23). These capacitive point level switches have been developed primarily for liquid measurement where only a basic amount of information is needed, for instance, when the liquid level in a tank needs to be monitored. The VEGAPOINT 31 can also be utilised for light bulk solids.

The format of the new range is the same and they remain Bluetooth compatible, so they can be programmed and accessed via a smartphone or tablet. As they are intended for basic measurement applications, they have a limited radar range compared to standard models, but they are just as robust and a much more cost-effection alternative when minimal data is needed. All the devices in this range have hygienic approval and all-around switching status display.

Similarly, the new range of pressure transmitters has also been developed for simple applications. These devices measure hydraulic fluids pressure in water pipes for processes that don’t require a more advanced type of unit. VEGA recreated a similar format to standard models, offering the same reliable performance for simpler applications. The VEGABAR range of compact pressure transmitters is available with either a metallic measuring cell (for high pressures) or ceramic measuring cell (for temperature and abrasion resistance), so they are just as robust as advanced ranges.

The compact VEGABAR range is likely to be fitted before the pump reaches the mine. According to Leadbetter, VEGA has worked with manufacturers at the factory level for installation on their equipment before it reaches the site. For the mine, this means pumps arrive already programmed and ready for work, with VEGA available should the need for a replacement arise.

The 2020 range is an ideal, cost-effective solution for the simple applications in a mining network, which easily integrate with more advanced devices. For more information about which device is best suited for your application, visit VEGA’s website for the VEGAPOINT and VEGABAR specifications.

VEGA employs more than 1,400 people worldwide, 660 of whom work at its headquarters in Schiltach in the Black Forest, Germany.

For more than 50 years, we have been developing solutions to meet demanding measuring tasks across a wide range of industries and environments, including chemical and pharmaceutical plants, food processing facilities, water and sewage treatment plants, landfills, mining, power generation, oil platforms, ships and airplanes.

VEGA

Tel: +61 2 95426662

Web: www.vega.com

Email: info.au@vega.com