Eye Protection Before and After: A Brief History of Safety Goggles
Wasatch Steel 243 W 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84115 (801) 486-4463
Safety glasses were first used during the First World War as the lens of gas masks. From there, these seemingly simple items have been developed over the decades to suit different applications such as welding, racing, home workshops, and other activities.
The Invention It is believed that an African-American inventor named P. Johnson invented and patented an “Eye Protector� in 1880. Then, in 1914, Garrett Morgan patented the gas mask, which had lens made of safety glass. Safety glasses, however, were not used, until after the World War I. The glasses were developed by some construction industries as a protective measure for staff members.
Safety Glass Redesign The Morgan version of the gas mask was then redesigned for use by the US Army during World War I. Morgan was awarded a patent for the smoke protector and safety hood. A refined model of this gas mask won gold medals in two different events two years later. More Safety Glasses In the 1930s, furnace goggles were developed to protect the eyes from the impact of hazards striking from the front. These glasses had a non-corrosive metal frame and fully insulated bridge and temples. This led to the development of nite glare goggles to avoid driving accidents. Several years later, polycarbonate lens were developed and replaced other safety glasses, as it is lighter and stronger.
Types of Glasses There are different types of safety glasses. There are those that fit the hood of what welders and firefighters wear. There are also those that look like a regular eyeglass that feature a larger lens to provide better eye protection. Some have elastic bands and protective lens that cover the entire eye. The safety glasses today are available in different styles to fit certain safety requirements.
Protection Safety glasses are usually made of shatterresistant lenses to protect the eye from any debris. It can also be constructed from different materials with various impact resistances. The general standard suggests that the glass should maintain a minimum of 1-millimeter thickness. Safety glasses differ in the level of protection they provide.
The lack of safety glasses were said to be the cause for increased eye damage. While some people think that eyeglasses may look uncomfortable, they can save vision by preventing most eye injuries.
Resources:
http://www.wasatchsteel.com/contractors.html http://www.theopticalvisionsite.com/education-and-events/history-of-safetyeyewear/#.VHWZ6zSUeRl http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth40939/