hi i work for a large chemical company, as a safety rep .we have a problem where the company wants us to wear safety glasses across the whole site initally this is good but in the warehouse where they work at different heights and with computer screens and glaring lights as they look up, it is a problem .we looked into it and the whole company agreed it was a special place where the company could make a exception as long as they were not in close proximity of any chemicals. now they seem to want to renege on this and we need to put a questionaire together to back up what we have done without bias so we need a standard questionaire or at least questions to ask the workforce.problems people are having are headaches and eyestrain people drive forklifts looking upwards all the time and have computer screens close to their faces.

As stevel says, in construction mandatory eye protection is the norm. There are may types of safety glasses available and a good supplier should be able to help. There is no doubt that for some activities safety glasses can be difficult to wear and perhaps those using VDUs should be excused from wearing them, particularly if they use prescription glasses. Alternatively, the company could provide prescription safety glasses for those who require them - not cheap. The use of eye protection should only implemented where there is a real risk and affords sensible protection - not necessarily a blanket rule. As for the questionnaire, I suggest a Likert 3 point scale type (Agree, Don't Agree or Disagree, Disagree) with statements or questions, I prefer statements as a rule. What questions/statements to include would have to be given some thought and based on the tasks as well as the working environment. There are some do's and don'ts when designing a survey. For example, ideally to avoid bias you need a variety of negative and positive statements. Q1. 'I find wearing safety glasses gives me a headache' = Negative Q2. 'I am able to work normally when wearing safety glasses' = Positive

Strongly agree with Ron on this issue. It seems that wearing PPE is becoming a “facility solution” instead of a more in-depth solution exercise. Is the regular replacement of PPE at end of the day is more economical on the long run when compare to investment in overall protective asset? It is also an “acceptable norm” for the mutli-national group I’m presently working even in no risk area / situation.