Eyewear from uvex

uvex knows that personal protective equipment (PPE) is personal and one size does not fit all. What suits one person, may not suit another. It may seem obvious, but correctly sized PPE can help avoid accidents, reduce discomfort and increase productivity. If employees find their PPE uncomfortable to wear, chances are they won't wear it.

Over the past two years we have seen a resurgence of single-use plastics and increased spending on disposable items due to the threat of infection. However, many organisations are now considering the environmental impact and want a more sustainable approach within businesses.

In addition to the environmental impact, buying low-cost imported safety eyewear can actually cost your company more in the long run. Although a basic pair of safety spectacles may meet the European standard, their performance often falls short when subjected to the demands of the real-world environment.

The combination of uncomfortable nose bridges, bad design, inadequate anti-fog and scratch-resistant coatings, tight fitting side arms that pinch, sharp edges and rigid plastics, means eyewear becomes a hindrance, not a help, and without a proper fit, wearers will constantly push their eyewear on top of their head or down on their nose. Personal protective equipment should fit the individual. Inadequate fit will result in large gaps that will allow dust and debris to get in. If safety eyewear is unwearable, compliance drops.

uvex designs wearability into every piece of eyewear they make. But what does that actually mean?

Wearability equals compliance.

If your protective eyewear doesn't fit properly this is not only frustrating, it can lead to discomfort, eye strain and may actually increase your risk of injury.

uvex has a wide range of safety eyewear including spectacles and goggles, with many designs adapting to the wearer’s facial features to ensure maximum protection (correct fit without gaps) and wearer comfort.

Through the investment in technology and unique in-house manufacturing techniques, uvex is able to design and deliver a product that not only protects against mechanical hazards, fits well, but is ultimately comfortable for continuous wear. uvex also offers a range of lens shades and coatings to ensure you find the right solution for your workplace applications and lighting conditions - this allows wearers to focus on the task at hand and not get distracted by their PPE, helping to minimise risk and increase wearer compliance.

Protective eyewear is often used in harsh working environments, so the lenses are usually coated to increase their efficacy and longevity. This coating is more important than you might think and is a key factor in ensuring the eyewear is worn - and protects the wearer. For maximum effectiveness, lens coatings should offer resistance against fogging and scratching.

Investment in better quality PPE can help. Buying low-cost imported safety spectacles will calculate to be the more expensive way of protecting your employees.

Apart from direct cost reduction, there are many significant knock-on benefits to reducing the usage of safety eyewear by purchasing better quality products. Fewer orders will be needed, so less stock will need to be held on site, reducing storage costs and keeping cash within the business.

Using longer-lasting safety spectacles also means increased production time, as employees do not waste time going back and forth to replenish their glasses. Workers are also more likely to wear their protective eyewear if it does not keep failing, thus minimising risk, improving safety and increasing concentration on the job. Finally, better quality products have a longer life meaning there is less waste going to landfill.

Partnering with a manufacturer such as uvex that undertakes a fit program, ensures employees also buy in to a new culture when it comes to PPE. The uvex fit program ensures that every worker finds safety eyewear that is truly fit for purpose and them. This proven process ensures employees feel part of the selection process, resulting in them taking personal ownership of the product. Together with a care and maintenance program, uvex has case studies that prove that not only does the product last longer resulting in cost savings, employees feel more valued, motivated and compliance increases. This helps drive down injuries and possible compensation claims.