Reflective Safety Glasses

[Cynette]

Reflective glasses have been an issue for many years.

Our team had problems with the lightly reflective tinted glasses a few years ago during Lunacy. That was the year that the glare from the field made it difficult to see the robot for the drive team. We found these wonderful safety glasses to use and received a description from the manufacturer which described them as anti-glare tint rather than reflective. And yes you could see our eyes. We used them for two regionals without a problem and actually got kudos from the safety advisors on the amount of research we had put into the selection of our team safety glasses. However the story took an ugly twist at Champs. The safety advisors rejected our safety glasses for use in the pit. We could wear them walking to the pit, but if you were in the 10x10 square, they had to be clear. We didn't own clear. So off we went to the FIRST Store to buy enough safety glasses for our pit crew. Any guesses on what was for sale in the store? OUR TINTED SAFETY GLASSES! Even with the evidence in hand, we still lost that battle. We have used the clear version ever since, but many of us still prefer the anti-glare version.

Story aside, as an auditor and implementer of international standards, I always have a problem when "guides" become "rules." Guides are suggestions, recommendations, best practices, encouragements, good ideas. Rules are rules, requirements, shalls, must dos (or must not dos) as the case may be.

This is the purpose of the FIRST Safety Manual:

This safety manual is an easy-to-use guide for important safety information and provides FRC participants with a basic set of requirements to maintain a safe environment during the build season and at competition events.

Which is it? A Guide or Requirements?