Safety tip of the week: preventing eye injuries when grinding, sawing, chiselling and drilling

A splinter from a tile, a chip from a plank or a spark from the grinder: grinding, sawing, chiselling and drilling send all kinds of particles flying. A tiny metal splinter or a chemical splash can cause painful and sometimes permanent eye damage. In this safety tip, you'll find out which eye protection suits your job and how to use it properly.

How do eye injuries happen during DIY jobs?

It is often something small:

• splinters and fragments when chiselling or chipping stone, tiles or concrete;
• chips and sawdust when sawing and drilling wood;
• grinding particles and sparks when grinding or cutting metal or stone;
• dust when sanding, drilling and demolishing;
• splashes of liquids and chemical products.

Particles can also come from the side, from above or from below, so protection that only covers the front is not always enough.

Which eye protection suits your job?

• Safety glasses look like ordinary glasses, but are made of impact-resistant material. Choose a model with side protection. They suit drilling, sawing and light sanding.
• Safety goggles fit all around your face like diving goggles and also protect from the side. They are the better choice for lots of dust and grinding particles. Consider the COMOR impact protection goggles from STALCO, designed for grinding, drilling and cutting, with ventilation openings to help prevent fogging.
• A face shield protects your face as well as your eyes, for example during heavy grinding or splashing work. Where needed, wear safety glasses or goggles underneath. A good option is the SPARTAN face shield from STALCO with a polycarbonate visor, designed for jobs including grinding and woodworking.

The packaging or instructions state which risks the eyewear protects against. Glasses that look the same do not always protect against the same things. Check for the CE marking and the stated standard, such as EN 166. Also make sure it fits closely, does not fog up quickly and gives a clear view in every working position. Going to weld? Then you need special welding protection.

Do you wear glasses or contact lenses?

Ordinary glasses are not safety glasses: the lenses and frame are not made to stop a flying particle, and the sides stay open. So choose over-glasses that fit over your own spectacles, such as the NIRO safety glasses from STALCO PERFECT, or prescription safety glasses.

How do you use eye protection properly?

• Put your eyewear on before you switch on the machine or pick up the hammer, and keep it on until the job is done.
• Choose the right protection for each job: goggles for lots of dust or grinding particles, plus a face shield for splashes or heavy grinding.
• Check the lenses before use. Scratched, damaged or fogging up ever faster? Replace the eyewear.
• Clean the lenses as described in the instructions and store your eyewear in a dust-free case.
• Adjust the frame or strap so the eyewear fits closely and does not slip.
• Make sure housemates or helpers nearby wear eye protection too.

💡 Tip: safety glasses on your forehead or in your jacket pocket protect nothing. Keep a pair next to your drill or grinder, also for that one hole that takes "only a moment".

Does the job also make noise and dust? Combine your eye protection with hearing protection and respiratory protection. Note: glasses arms under an earmuff's seal stop it from sealing properly. Also read our tip on hearing protection when grinding, sawing and breaking and our guide to safe working on the construction site.

What do DIYers often ask about eye protection?

When do I need a face shield?

When not only your eyes but also your face are at risk, for example during heavy grinding or when splashes can occur. Where needed, wear safety glasses or goggles underneath.

What should I do if something gets in my eye?

Don't rub your eye. Rinse it gently with lukewarm water. Don't try to remove a splinter yourself, for example with tweezers. Do you think a metal splinter has got into your eye, does your eye hurt, is your vision worse or are you sensitive to light? Then call your GP or the out-of-hours GP service straight away.

Do I need safety glasses for a short job too?

Yes. One splinter is enough to injure your eye, and it can fly off just as easily when drilling a single hole as during a full day's work.

Where can you find the right eye protection?

Saniso, the online DIY store for building and renovating, helps you work safely.

• View our eye protection: safety glasses, safety goggles and face shields.
• Also find other workwear and personal protective equipment.
• Not sure which eye protection suits your job? Contact us.

Saniso – Build your home with Saniso.