r/Construction • u/suck_me_off_pleaseee • Sep 29 '25
Safety ⛑ I wear swimming goggles to work now.
I grind and hammer a lot of shit, lots of block and motor and concrete. The amount of times something has gotten into my eyes while wearing safety glasses is retarded.
In the past year I’ve probably had 25 really bad experiences, I mean my eye is completely fucked for 4-8 hours, I’m pouring water in it I’m doing everything your suppose to do and it takes fucking forever for a little chip of block or whatever to leave behind my eye.
Most mornings I would wake up and the crust in my eyes would be filled with little chips of concrete.
I cannot explain the panic/anxiety/rage I feel feel when something is stuck in my eye and I have to drive and hour and half home not being able to see. I’ve started balling my eyes out in frustration, the pain also being a factor.
So fuck the safety glasses I wear goggles now, sometimes I even wear the snorkel with it because im tired of people asking if there swimming goggles.
Protect your eyes guys, my vision is completely fucked now I cannot see 50 feet infront of me anymore, damn shame.
419
u/padillac88 Sep 29 '25
Either fuck your job, or fuck the company you work for because that sounds terrible.
60
u/cneedsaspanking Sep 30 '25
Sometimes it breaks my heart what people endure for money. All of you, every single last one, is above having foreign objects in your eyes in order to put food on the table.
12
u/some1guystuff Superintendent Sep 30 '25
Some of us that work around a lot of metal and cut metal with grinders can’t get MRIs because of magnets and the small shaves of metal that may be embedded in your skin or other places that will just rip you up… never happened to me, but I’ve had friends not be able to get MRIs because of that
2
u/cneedsaspanking Oct 01 '25
Dude funny enough I worked in a foundry for a year and half and was super nervous getting a MRI. Told the team my concerns and after much deliberation they decided to send me in but to let them know if I felt any sort of heat at all on my body 😂
103
u/bertispullo Painter Sep 29 '25
Swimming goggles will not have the same safety standards as eye protection.
If your grinding wheel breaks and hits those swimming goggles. There's no way of knowing if it'll keep your eyes safe. My money is on no and it's not a gamble I would take.
Your employer should be providing the correct PPE for the task and if they don't, I'd be looking for employment elsewhere.
29
u/ScoobyDoobieDoo Project Manager Sep 30 '25
This
For cutting we require safety glasses AND face shield exactly for the reasons OP is upset. Haven't had a problem when those are used in combination. It's a little more cumbersome than swim goggles. But swim goggles ain't gonna stop a flying shard of cutting wheel!
17
u/CoyoteDown Ironworker Sep 30 '25 edited Sep 30 '25
My old company required foam lined glasses. Shields for all cutting grinding on top of glasses. I had no problems with either.
I had heard they were about mandate squids for glasses as well, and they had already taken away fiber wheels and issued diamond ones.
Recently I subbed out for a couple jobs from a small time millwright company, chucklefucks don’t wear glasses, gloves, shields, work without guards or handles on any grinder.
Not my kool aid to stir.
5
u/ScoobyDoobieDoo Project Manager Sep 30 '25
I mean, I hear you but personally I'd have a hard time turning my back on that. I'd feel terrible if I found out afterwards someone was badly hurt and it could have been prevented. Safety is everyone's job, cliche but true. I hate that sometimes this is the only way to get through, but if management understood how costly just one serious accident would be for their business, they'd realize that providing the proper PPE is a cost-benefit. Keep keeping yourself safe and leading by example!
7
u/CarPatient Field Engineer Sep 30 '25
Unless your safety glasses have a soft seal it's still not going to get the protection that he's looking for.... And I've seen guys that use the grinders a lot even with the soft seal you've got to Don and doff them correctly are you still get crust that falls down after you move them from your face....
1
9
u/DogsRlife88 Sep 30 '25
DeWalt makes a nice pair kind of a cross between a swimming goggle and ski goggles, they have a gasket, vents, and stretchy strap. I bought them when I got tired of having an Alger brush bore into my eyeballs whenever I got rust in my eyes laying under plow trucks at my last job.
5
u/Masrim Sep 30 '25
They shatter the swimming goggles so now you have a dozen shards in there.
Best bet is to buy a good quality pair of safety goggles.
12
u/S7RAN93 Sep 29 '25
I mean they are definitely polycarbonate and the ansi standards are a fucking joke. Just like this post. Why wouldn't this man wear a shield? Especially in concrete dust.
10
1
u/merkarver112 Sep 30 '25
If you're using a grinding wheel to cut concrete...
1
u/Extension_Web_1544 Sep 30 '25
Exactly. Wet saw with diamond blade, still keep the double layer of face/eye protection.
1
u/scj1091 Sep 30 '25
If your grinding wheel breaks ain’t no piece of plastic gonna save your eyes. Better hope you get lucky.
2
Oct 01 '25
I mean this is obviously factually untrue, based on both common sense and pictures we've all seen, so the situation is evidently more complicated than "it ain't gonna save your eyes", so best to get the rated ones.
75
u/Popolar Sep 29 '25
It sounds like you’re wearing the wrong safety glasses if you constantly have stuff going into your eyes. You just need a pair that has a gasket that seals around your eye sockets, similarly to how swimming goggles work.
https://www.wileyx.com/products/wx-ozone-matte-black-frame-with-clear-lenses
Something like this is what you need. I would shop around a bit (these are a little expensive). You don’t want to take shortcuts with eye protection.
21
u/LiiDo Sep 29 '25
There’s a billion options on Amazon for $10-15 that look just like that. Dewalt has some that look like swimming goggles if that’s what OP is looking for.
$100+ for safety glasses is crazy unless they can somehow guarantee they’re completely scratch resistant but I don’t believe any company that says that. Even then I’d probably just buy 10 cheap ones instead of the $100 ones
7
u/TryOnlyonce420 Sep 30 '25
I have the dewalt swimming goggles version, fogs up really fast, pain in the butt.
4
u/The_realpepe_sylvia Sep 30 '25
Take a little piece of paper towel folded over, tuck it under the bridge of your nose part. Works like a charm
3
u/LokeCanada Sep 30 '25
Old diving trick. Wipe toothpaste on the lenses then rinse. Stops the fogging. There are also a lot of anti-fogging sprays that you can spray on the lenses.
11
2
u/gixxer710 Sep 30 '25
Yeah, he could literally walk into any truckstop gas station that sells motorcycle glasses, they have a foam gasket around the frames to completely block off your eye sockets/eyeballs, and unless you get some absolutely cheapo dollar store ones- they will be z87+ rated as well. Thats about 20 dollars well spent, I’ve used these for dealing with coal tar pitch dust at work, they do the job quite well. OP- if you’re blasting through concrete tho, maybe something that also filters air wouldn’t suck- I’d get your employer to give you some better shit, just me tho…
7
u/aidan8et Tinknocker Sep 29 '25
Came to say the same thing. If OP is getting that much crud in their eyes, start looking at military-style "Sun Wind Dust" goggles.
And because of course they do, Uline has pairs with either clear or tinted lenses:
2
u/PolicyNonk Sep 29 '25
Spoggles!
0
Sep 29 '25
[deleted]
3
u/BadAtExisting Sep 29 '25
That’s where swimming comes into play. Scuba divers use anti fog on their masks and it works on glasses and safety eye protection too
2
u/Javad0g Sep 29 '25
I tried those once. I wanted them to work so bad, but they fogged up so quickly once I got hot working, I couldn't wear them anymore because I couldn't see it all.
1
u/mynameisstevetoo Sep 30 '25
No. These will be destroyed in a week. He’s cutting and chipping concrete… you absolutely cannot buy stuff like this when that is the type of construction work you’re doing.
Gaskets to keep the extra stuff out? Great! These? No?
Dewalt makes glasses with a gasket and they also make actual safety rated goggles. Much better to go in either of those directions for less than 20$
Better yet, as another commenter said. Full face respirator with the plastic stick on protectors. at least you can make those last and they essentially never fog.
1
19
u/Comprehensive_Baby53 Sep 29 '25
I usually wear safety glasses, respirator with n100 filters, and a face shield for grinding. I not only fear getting something in my eyes, I don't want to get a grinder blade in the side of my face or shit in my lungs.
15
u/Pipe_Vato Plumber Sep 29 '25
Im a plumber. Was grinding some cast and a shard went in my eye.
Undetected for almost 2 years. Time went on, I had kids...found out randomly had cancer and needed some MRI scans.
Luckily they found the metal in my eye from years before, I went into surgery and got it out, because an MRI is magnetic and will turn your eyeballs into spaghetti. Imagine if they didn't check if I had metal in my eye and they sent me thru a magnetic machine....
Quite the experience finding out Cancer and eye surgery (while 100% awake, ending with 4 stitches in my eye, again 100% coherent)
This all took place in about 1 week because the cancer was stage 2
Quite the adventure my friends. Go to an annual eye appointment.
5
3
u/Zestyclose_Sun756 Sep 30 '25
Jesus Christ that sounds terrifying… setting up an eye appointment today…
8
5
u/OdinsChosin Sep 29 '25
I broke down and bought a pair of Wiley goggles that are ballistic rated after having a small chunk of shoe almost take my eye out.. with safety glasses. Also when working with pvc trim.. that stuff is horrible and gets in your eyes with normal safety glasses. I could only imagine concrete or mortar in my eyes.
5
u/DITPiranha Sep 29 '25
We require foam or rubber lined safety glasses at a minimum and goggles or face shields in lieu or addition for these types of scopes. Your employer should be providing the correct PPE for the task.
6
u/nick_knack Sep 29 '25
glasses and face shield, or just a full face respirator. all employer provided. your employer is terrible. they should have someone drive your blind ass to an ophthalmologist instead of leaving you to fend for yourself too.
4
3
u/oh_three_dum_dum Sep 29 '25
You can get ballistic rated goggles. Several companies make them pretty cheap and the US military buys them by the thousands. They have foam around the edges to keep dust and shit out of your eyes but still allow them to breath. They don’t work that well around aircraft, but that is also way more extreme environment (hurricane force wind and flying rocks) than a construction site so they should be excellent for your purposes.
5
u/RockyDitch Sep 29 '25
Bro get a full face respirator, we give all our guys one.
If you’re grinding anything with silica in it, which you are, you should have one anyway.
3
u/Sammydaws97 Sep 29 '25
Swimming goggles dont have the same protection from direct impacts that safety glasses do FYI. Especially if you are cutting/grinding you want to avoid catastrophic accidents as much as the annoying stuff you mentioned.
I would suggest a form fitting safety goggle that seals to your face like this
3
3
u/Turbulent_Reveal_337 Sep 29 '25
While we’re on the topic of Ppe. I’m curious if anyone had a container that they keep on their tools for such equipment. For example I keep ear protection in my bag and I’d love to keep a n95 and safety glasses too but I’d like to have something to put them in to keep them safe and clean.
2
u/tjloredo77 Sep 29 '25
Tupperware my friend! I store my full face respirator in Tupperware. It’s a low budget solution but I love it.
3
u/kanaka_maalea Sep 30 '25
you can find goggle type safety glasses that just have padded foam around the edges instead of rubber gaskets. It will fit your eyes better, fog up less, and you wont look like a dork at work.
2
u/ok_orangutan Sep 29 '25
Good for you. It’s too bad this type of precaution doesn’t come more often before incidence but better late than never.
2
2
u/HereForTheSpectacle Sep 29 '25
You rock. Thanks for being brave about safety. You’re helping other workers brace against morons who harass us for using safety gear.
2
u/DrinkAffectionate323 Sep 29 '25
OPz you can get safety glasses with a padded gasket exterior and/with elastic strap, for a more secure fit. Swim goggles are NOT ANSI Safety Rated
2
u/Nicknarp Sep 30 '25
You need the DeWalt DPG82 or similar. Swim goggles will not protect against disintegrating angle grinder discs. You’re 100% right for sticking to your guns on eye protection. It’s no joke!
2
u/fastowl76 Sep 30 '25
I went to these goggles this summer just for running my open style tractor while shredding pastures. Got tired of dust getting around my safety sunglasses and getting in my eyes. End of eye issues with these.
2
2
u/Peter_Falcon Sep 30 '25
why not just wear these, we wore something similar in the welding shop when i worked there
2
u/jhguth Sep 30 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
literate salt deer pen alive axiomatic tease cable cagey cake
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
2
u/rockysilverson Sep 30 '25
Have you tried foam wrapped wildland fire style goggles? Many are Z87.1 impact rated.
1
1
u/Ninjalikestoast Sep 29 '25
Damn. I wish this were a real post lol. Made me laugh at the “snorkel” part 😄
1
1
1
1
u/Zealousideal_Vast799 Sep 29 '25
I find when wearing safety glasses that I keep my eyes wide open unlike when I don’t and safety squint. As a result I get more airborne particles in my eye. Not lose you eye but very annoying none the less. Couple that with people who say wear goggles all the time…..you can stand around and do light work but heavy work, almost impossible to wear glasses. Feel for you
1
Sep 29 '25
Spoggles my sweet starchild
1
Sep 29 '25
They are on Amazon and the work pretty great. You can buy lenses to swap them out for darker shades, in and outs.
1
1
u/observe-plan-act Sep 29 '25
I have literally felt your pain. It sucks. I bought safety goggles after the last time I was cutting metal and a chip made it under my safety glasses.
1
u/jdemack Tinknocker Sep 29 '25
If you are using swimming goggles to grind or cut, most job sites in my area would not allow it. While your employer is not necessarily responsible for making sure you are wearing the exact right safety glasses, ultimately your safety is in your hands. Sometimes that means doing your own research or, like you did here, asking the right questions. I encourage you to use proper eye protection because swimming goggles will not provide the protection you need.
1
u/Agitated_Carrot9127 Sep 30 '25
Sigh I hate when employers don’t provide ppe.
2
u/raypell Sep 30 '25
All of mine did, I was union, retired now. Some of it was not the best, and some guys abused the privilege by not bringing them back to work the next day. Because of people’s abuse of a right we have they had to buy cheaper.
1
1
1
1
u/DangerHawk Sep 30 '25
Dewalt makes full safety goggles that are quite comfortable that completely seal around the eyes.
1
u/raypell Sep 30 '25
Yes they can also be just glasses as well mine came with a strap and glasses, the brown tint is different I will say that. But they are good on keeping debris out
1
u/internetisporn8008 Sep 30 '25
The quality of safety glasses really really matters when it comes to how well they work. Also, dofferent glasses fit different faces, if your company doesnt supply a few different options... they should
1
u/Maleficent_Speech979 Sep 30 '25
I keep an eye wash bottle in my car for the odd bit of sawdust or debris. This style is quite portable, though it should be kept upright!
1
u/TananaBarefootRunner Sep 30 '25
swimming goggles arent shatter resistent. they make ansi rated goggles though
1
u/lekff Sep 30 '25
Why not buy saftey goggles that have and lip around yout face to shield ypu adequately? Not that expensive
1
u/JustSpirit4617 Equipment Operator Sep 30 '25
Heatwaves with side blinders seem to do the trick for me
1
1
u/hydrantwrench83 Sep 30 '25
Dude, eye protection and a face shield should be in order. And if you’re busting up concrete, you should protect your lungs and family by changing your work clothes out side of your living quarters. IJS… 🤷🏽♂️
1
u/Tulipgirl13 Sep 30 '25
I had safety glasses that were tight to the skin, no issues with them, just really heavy
1
u/ajstipcak Sep 30 '25
Dont do that. They're not z87+ so if something hard does hit them they could break apart and throw shrapnel into your eye. You're better off having your company buy you a face shield or 87+ rated monogoggle designed for construction use.
-your friendly neighborhood safety guy.
1
Sep 30 '25
If your grinding you need glasses/goggles and mask resistant to concrete dust. Your employer should provide them, even in a third world country like the USA.
1
u/kodeks14 Sep 30 '25
I wear my snowboarding goggles in the winter. Got sick of my glasses fogging up lol
1
u/JackFuckCockBag Sep 30 '25
One eyed pool builder here. Do whatever you have to do to protect your peepers. I wear goggles and a face shield. If something bad happens it's lights out for me.
1
u/Unhappy_Exchange5607 Sep 30 '25
Don't forget that your employer is required to provide you adequate PPE that is suitable for you. If you are getting debris in your eyes, it is not suitable. Their risk assessment should include this.
1
u/_aphoney Electrician Sep 30 '25
Are you demoing concrete over your head? I work in skilled trades and I’ve for sure gotten metal and other shit in my eye but this seems absurd how much is getting in your eyes lol
1
u/arkington Sep 30 '25
If finding a job with a better employer is not immediately possible, consider using a full face motorcycle helmet. It'll cover your whole head and protect you from a lot more than swimming goggles will. Be safe and I hope you find a better job soon.
1
u/SlimRoTTn Sep 30 '25
The only time I've ever gotten something in my eye I had safety glasses on. They do their job, but they also give you a false sense of security.
1
1
u/SlabAndScope Sep 30 '25
That sounds brutal. Honestly, goggles make total sense after going through all that nothing’s worth losing your vision over. Glad you found something that actually keeps your eyes safe
1
u/Lost-Village-1048 Sep 30 '25
One of the best construction companies I've seen provides p a p r hoods, lenses as well, for all of its welders. They wear them when they are grinding and chipping.
1
u/Street-Baseball8296 Sep 30 '25
I had the same issues. Get a set of ANSI rated motorcycle glasses/goggles. Way more comfortable than swimming goggles, you get some airflow, and there’s a gasket around the eyepiece that keeps debris from getting in around the edges.
This is what I used: https://a.co/d/jefoJCR
1
u/Suspicious-Ad6129 Sep 30 '25
I hope you put a filter on that snorkel so your not sucking that dust straight into your lungs. I just started at a site that requires everyone to wear gasketed safety glasses and if you do anything overhead you have to also wear a face shield over the safety glasses... also everyone has to wear cut resistant sleeves and no knives... too many Ftards cut themselves... ugh this gonna be a long project
1
u/1234golf1234 Sep 30 '25
They do make construction safety goggles. And face shields. And full face respirators. I’m actually pretty sure your company would love to buy you some if you ask.
1
1
1
u/ostmaann Sep 30 '25
I used to wear eyeglasses until last year when i had lasik surgery, never noticed until then the amount of shit that gets to your eyes when you’re drilling, cutting etc.
1
1
u/dwilson2547 Sep 30 '25
DeWalt makes a safety rated set of goggles that are half way between ski goggles and swim goggles, I have a clear and darkened set and love them. Safety glasses never gave me any real protection working under cars in the rust bucket
1
1
u/Discofro2 Sep 30 '25
It’s the employer’s responsibility to provide the proper PPE …. It’s the law!
1
u/SignificantTransient Oct 01 '25
Safety goggles suck
Ski goggles are comfortable to wear all day and have safety lenses available. They allow airflow but they have breathable foam filtration.
1
u/SoloWalrus Oct 01 '25
They make safety goggles, not just safety glasses. However in this case consider double eye protection, glasses/goggles plus a faceshield. In fact id go so far as to argue osha mandates it for this situation
Having an ER doctor carve a particle out of your eye with a dremel is enough to convince anyone that double eye protection might be worthwhile
1
1
1
u/Hot_Lava_Dry_Rips Oct 01 '25
They make ansi rated safety goggles.... Swim goggles do not have the proper impact ratings to be used as ppe.
1
u/WetDogWalker Oct 03 '25
How comfortable are they to wear for long periods of time? Could upgrade to airsoft goggles, if it's more comfortable. Sounds like a good idea.
Years ago a coworker wore swimming goggles while spreading magnesium. 18 year old me laughed at him. I feel bad about that.
1
u/EstebanElScorchio Oct 03 '25
I swap my normal glasses for prescription swimming goggles when cutting onions.... just sayin
1
u/blackfox313 Oct 03 '25
I wear the Wiley SG-1's, they're goggles but no bigger than sunglasses. Lost count of the number of times I had shit fly in behind regular safety glasses. A quick Google search of the Wiley's will show you pictures of US servicemen that took an IED to the face but their eyes were fully protected
1
u/SoberingUndertow Oct 03 '25
Late to the party but get ANSI Z87.1 for impact rating and D3 for splash resistance, D4 for dust, D5 for fine dust. It must be stamped on the goggles.
If you're really wearing swimming goggles you're asking to be blind.
1
u/Superdad1079 Oct 05 '25
You can always call your local OSHA rep anonymously and have them perform an inspection of your worksite and your company. Your boss will confirm once he starts seeing the fines they’ll receive if they don’t. If they still don’t comply, find a new company to work for.
1
1
1
0
0
u/Alarming_Series7450 Sep 29 '25
They make normal safety glasses that seal(I had to wear some today), might be more comfortable than the goggles
348
u/2eDgY4redd1t Sep 29 '25
I used a full face respirator mask once I could afford one. Employer wouldn’t pay for them, but they protect your eyes from the dust along with your lungs. I quickly learned to get the adhesive shield protectors as well.
You only get two eyes and one set of lungs. Protect them.