Safety Knights

What's their reason for not wearing them? That's a big factor. Are they not wearing them they fog up easily? Because they're ugly? Not comfortable on their face/ears? Or is it because they don't understand the hazards and the need for eye pro? All have different solutions.

Personally it was never a problem wearing safety glasses as I am near-sighted and have to wear street glasses anyways. I think it is more a problem getting people to wear safety glasses that do not wear street glasses, and may even more so for those that wear contacts, as they wear contacts so they will not have to wear glasses.

I grew up as a supervisor in a foundry. Arguing with employees about PPE never seemed to be a huge problem in the foundry. The wearing of PPE in the foundry just was inherent with the dangers of the job. If you did not wear safety glasses in a foundry you just were begging to lose an eye! If you did not wear your foundry boots with steel toes and metarsal guards you were asking for a broken foot! You were asking for a cracked head if you did not wear your hard hat! And wearing heat-resistant gloves was never an issue! I may have had to make a reminder or two out on the foundry floor for 10 years over PPE, but I disciplined employees for a lots of things in 10 years but do not ever remember having to do it for PPE!

Later when I was in machining it was more of an issue! But I made my expectations very clear! PPE was required on the job! If they thought a certain PPE should not be required there was a process to possibly change it. But if it was required it was a Safety item there was no debate at all. My simple rule as a supervisor and manager was, I asked once (a reminder)! The second time I reminded but documented my discussion with you! The Third Time I disciplined (in line with your record). Hopefully there was not a 4th time, but then we were talking termination!!!!

As a former HR Manager I understand all the ramifications of discipline! But if you have asked and explained, there comes a time when you must MANAGE!

Hi Sarah, I work for PIP who manufactures safety glasses. Is the problem fogging? Are the glasses too bulky for the wearers liking? Reach out to me and I would be happy to send you some samples of glasses that could remedy your issues. Thanks!

Thanks for your comments everyone. Still looking for some positive reinforcement ideas. I have a client who is having the struggles and we're focusing on positive behaviors to hopefully get them moving in the right direction as there are a few floor folks that are a consistent problem. We restarted the safety committee and put one of the regular offenders on the team. He self disclosed that he just forgets and he takes them off to read. In his case, I think it's either the quality of the glasses or time for readers.

But this is not a new issue and one lots of companies struggle with. Never mind turnover in general. We're working to make safety fun - make a game out of finding unsafe behaviors/conditions and correcting them. With prizes they self identified. So naturally, I wanted to explore ideas that encouraged safe acts, like wearing safety glasses.

Keep the ideas coming!

TO AN EXTENT, exhaust all REASONABLE options to help them with their concerns/complaints, but at some point, they have to be managed. If you bring everything you can to them, then when it comes time for the DA all you have to do is identify the plethora of options or ways you tried to help them. Then at that point, there should be no concern from your end that it wasn't enough. Also, take into consideration if the PPE is even warranted. Can you engineer out the need for PPE? Are their alternatives to the PPE?

I have had many issues with my team members wearing their glasses in the field. I have used one of the crew's guys speak on this issue. He had lost an eye due to a piece of grinding wheel take his eye out. He speaks about the difficulty of navigating the world with his limited eyesight. I have purchased new styles of glasses and will give the team something that they will wear. I still have subs that are on site and don't want to wear their safety glasses they want to wear their fake Oakley or their RayBans because they want to be cool. I will coach them and speak directly to the superintendent's and get no wear quick. My guys have been doing better however its still a struggle.

We had a safety supply company come in with different styles of glasses. They allowed our more resistant folks to try them on and discussed what they did not like and what they liked about different models. They finally found frames they liked and that helped a lot. Colors where important to our women employees.

Sarah not to trying to be funny, I just try to keep things simple. Here is what we went through and how we addressed the issue.
Problems:
*they hurt
*they fog up
*they get dirty

Solutions:
* went to glasses with an arch frames that did not put pressure on the temples
* found impregnated anti fog lenses
* provide lens wipes in the plant

We used the “concerned workers” to test out various brands and styles that were in our budget. This got them to buy into the fact that we actually cared and were not just checking the OSHA PPE box.
We used various vendors to get samples. I was comfortable asking for 6 pairs because we were using 6 “Concerned workers.
We have updated the glasses over the past 2 years
Good Luck

Sarah, Not sure this would be applicable to your situation, but one client of mine had a similar issue and wanted to avoid the disciplinary approach. We informally polled people and the basic discontent was that the glasses were uncomfortable and just plain looked ugly. So we came up with the idea to offer some "cooler" safety glasses. The company offered every employee the glasses that were being offered, but for the folks that did not want those glasses, the company would cover a set cost any allowed people to choose their own as long as they met Z87. The end result was most everyone wore their glasses and there was less loss. Sort of made the EEs owners of the glasses. Not everyone got on board, and eventually disciplinary approach was needed. But only a couple chose not to get aboard.

One of the complaints that I tend to get is fogging issues. What I have done in the past is work with various vendors, obtaining samples to trial. Like others have stated, getting input from the employees what they like, what they don't like. etc.. I even had a vendor send me samples of transitional style safety glasses for my techs who work off mobile trucks to trial. Because they are working on mobile refrigeration units, they are looking up into the sun many times. These allow them some tint similar to sunglass style safety glasses when in the sun but change back to clear when out of the sun. I've even used a pair when I am going back and forth from in the shop and out during inspections. Trialing can be a win win as the employees get to provide their input (and get free safety gear) and the vendors get feedback. (an example is some glasses we are trialing currently, some employees are saying the design is holding sweat inside the glasses giving a fishbowl effect. The feedback sheets I am then sending on to the vendor to help them and to see if there is any other designs they can share with us.)

Sarah,

It seems several people have provided good insight to this situation and I just have to back up a lot of what is already being said.

I see you've mentioned the employee takes them off to read and forgets to put them back on... is there perhaps a prescriptions safety glasses program already in place? This might be good so that they don't have to take their glasses off for the different tasks they are performing. Or bifocal safety glasses/prescription safety glasses.

Another thing is to invest in more durable safety glasses that are scratch resistant and fog resistant. Yes, it's more expensive but they last longer than the cheap brands so you won't have to spend as much replacing. Bring in a few different types of safety glasses for the safety committee member's to trial and have people sample them. Then they can vote which ones they like.

Then finally I know some folks are not a fan but once you've exhausted the options of trying to accommodate and reward there are those that just don't want to wear them and can be difficult... (my brother-in-law is a prime example). He can be stubborn but he was never reprimanded for it so he continued to do what he did. Sometimes accountability is needed and we need to course correct. If it continues to be an issue at some point it is just down right insubordination.

Hope this helps

Sarah, The key to getting them to wear safety glasses is to finding a comfortable pair and everyone likes. You cannot buy one style for Tom and another for Paul. I would also show the importance of wearing the proper PPE instead of just saying you MUST wear this.

I had a problem with temporary ppe at a pump manufacturer i worked at. We were having work done in the facility and it was loud work (concrete cutting, excavators) working inside so everyone in a certain area had to have hearing protection. I had one employee who would give me ahit anytime I said something to him. Something about being half dead anyway or having damage anyway. I was like so do I but we're not gonna make it worse! So put your ear plugs in.

I wasn't getting a lot of fun and positive feedback so I used ChatGPT to help. It suggested a safety bingo to reinforce positive behaviors. For those who also may be struggling this this, here's the bingo card it created for me (specifically focused on safety glasses/PPE). What do you think about this?

I see the poll idea, but I didn’t see bringing in a vendor that offers a lot of options for a meet and greet/show and tell (oops, Robert did post this).

If you use Grainger, I have always found their reps are excited to come out with a case of different glasses, gloves, and other PPE, safety knives, etc. as a showcase for the workers. The workers get to choose what to wear so they already have some buy in and I think they are more likely to use it. Of course, you meet with the rep beforehand to make sure all the options are within budget. Best of luck!