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Glassblowers' ocular health and safety: optical radiation hazards and eye protection assessment
Author(s) -
Oriowo Olanrewaju M.,
Chou B. Ralph,
Cullen Anthony P.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
ophthalmic and physiological optics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.147
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1475-1313
pISSN - 0275-5408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-1313.1997.0_877.x
Subject(s) - eye protection , irradiance , materials science , optics , environmental science , eyewear , radiation , transmittance , radiation protection , optical radiation , optoelectronics , physics , medicine , nuclear medicine
Summary The arms of this study were to investigate the levels of optical radiation exposure in glassblowing and to determine type(s) of protective eyewear commonly used. Radiometric measurements of radiant emissions from different molten glass materials and heating systems were carried out in six installations. Spectral transmittance curves of available protective lenses used at the locations were obtained. Significant variation ( P = 0.0001) in ocular irradiation was obtained. All operations produced irradiances higher than the threshold limit values (TLVs for the visible spectrum (400 to 700 nm). In craft glassblowing which employs furnace systems, irradiance levels exceeding the TLVs for near infrared (760 to 1100nm) were obtained. Molten soda‐lime and quartz glasses emitted substantial subthreshold near UV radiation. This study shows that variation exists in glassblowing ocular radiation exposure due to different glass materials and heating systems, therefore selection of appropriate eye protector should be on an individual basis.