DCHAS-L Archives, Sep 03 2020 - Re: [DCHAS-L] Goggles & Face mask=fogging

Goggles that are splash guard can include vents, but those vents must be indirect. You can suspend the goggles in question on a ring stand and put colored tissue paper inside them, then squirt the outside of the vent with a water bottle. If the tissue paper gets wet, the color darkens so it's easy to see, and it means the vents are not indirect. I'd make students test goggles if they bought other than what the campus shop stocked. Many so called splash guard goggles fail to have indirect vents so are not actually splash guard. I also would check the fit on that student's face, since if not sealed at the sides that's another direct pathway for splashes to get in.

I have noticed that indirect vents sometimes are counterproductive since the student's moisture laden exhalations go in the vents and the goggles fog. But some student's, usually those who are more heaviest, sweat in the goggles, so even ones with no vents sealed fully to the face will fog up because the sweat is produced on skin inside the seal. I don't know a good way around that. I'd allow students to go to a designated no-chemicals present area by the coat racks to remove, dry and recoat the goggles with anti-fogging spray. Some students had to do so multiple times in a two hour lab.

Stay safe out there.

Meg Osterby

On Thu, Sep 3, 2020, 10:02 AM James Keating <james.k.keating**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com> wrote:

Barbara,

There are face shields available that include a small, battery powered, fan that keeps the face shield from foggy. This type of face shield also provides far better protection than cheaper options. These shields are typically equipped with chin covering protecting against splash from all directions.

Goggles typically have vents to mitigate fogging. However, that is another subject. If the task has such a high risk for eye damage that goggles are necessary then why include holes in the sides or top of those goggles?

For high risk eye exposure I require employees to wear both safety glasses and a face.

Over the past 40 years I have personally worn and observed employees wearing all manner of face and eye protection.

Most fogging of safety glasses is a result of dirty glasses and moist exhaled air traveling up and under the glasses fogging the inside. Glasses that fit snuggly against the cheeks help reduce the effects of this moist breath. The outside of the lenses rarely if ever fog.

PPE is always the last resort for hazard control and when necessary should include only the appropriate devices regardless of the cost.

Jim Keating

On Wed, Sep 2, 2020, 11:13 AM Barbara Foster <bfoster**At_Symbol_Here**wvu.edu> wrote:

DCHAS Colleagues:

Has anyone found a workable solution to the problem with face mask+goggles= fogging in student chemistry labs?

Thanks for your assistance.

BL Foster

/ Barbara L. Foster

College Safety Officer

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

West Virginia University

DCHAS Fellow - American Chemical Society

304-293-2729 (desk)

304-276-0099 (mobile)

http://safety.eberly.wvu.edu

MOUNTAINEER VALUES: Service / Curiosity / Respect / Accountability / Appreciation

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