Are Steampunk Goggles Safe?

[SpaceBiz]

So when the teaser was released, and I saw the kids in the teaser wearing Steampunk Goggles. One of the FIRST things I did was google to see how much it would cost to buy some Steampunk goggles for use in the competitions this year. But then I wondered if FIRST would consider them safe enough?

So at first they do seem inherently safer than just regular safety glasses or possibly even some safety goggles, but I see a two potential problems with maybe 20% of people in the pits wearing these to fit this year's theme.

1) The lack of peripheral visibility

FIRST doesn't have a problem with mascots walking around the pits (to the best of my knowledge), but a larger quantity of people actually working on mechanical stuff wearing these could be a safety hazard. I am pretty there will be a large enough loss in visibility that I won't have our drive team wear them.

2) Tint in the lenses of the goggles

I think FIRST has some oficial rules on this, but I am not sure they are really enforced to a full extent due to a lack of prevalence. This is again in theory another visibility problem now potentially on a larger scale than before.

For the record, I personally think they are safe enough, in all forms, but hoped CD and maybe FIRST can clear up how we should approach these goggles before I have the business team look at buying a lot of 80 for the competitions.

Thanks!

[NShep98]

I don't know if this is exactly what you'd be looking for, but last year I wore a pair of normal safety goggles that were painted gold with metal pieces epoxied all around it. Everyone loved them at competition, and we're probably gonna make more.

[Ngang]

I had steampunk goggles last year and I asked the pit organizers that exact question. The answer, unsurprisingly is that these types of goggles aren't safe.

They cited what you've said to the tee: the lack of peripheral vision and also a rule that required your eyes to be visible to others (no tint).

[ctt956]

The tint could have a meaning...maybe something will be bright? As for actual event use, no peripheral vision could be an issue, and the tint could limit visibility. If they would comply with the minimum rating FIRST requires, they might be legal. There are steampunk welding goggles, but IDK how much projectile protection they offer. There are clear ones here, but I don't think they're safety goggles.

[bobbysq]

Probably not unless you can find some that someone bothered to rate as Z87.

[Nuttyman54]

For what it's worth, while they may or may not be legal as safety glasses, Steampunk goggles are perfectly legal as forehead protectors.

[orangelight]

Had a friend wear them a the championship once, he was asked to take them off multiple times

[Bkeeneykid]

While it may be fine and dandy that the glasses seem safe enough, the admin manual explicitly states on page 5 of section 4:

Originally Posted by Rule 4.2.1

ANSI-approved, UL-listed, or CSA rated safety glasses required for eye protection

[Bob Steele]

Any safety glasses have to meet the ANSI Z87.1 standards and be UL listed and or CSA rated.
This would include any Steam Punk goggles if you are using them in the proscribed areas.

They do make Steam punk goggles that meet these standards. Here is an example of ANSI rated Steam Punk goggles (according to the website)

http://www.pro-steampunk.com/_p/prd3...ggles-%23bb-57


The safety manual states:

Wear ANSI-approved, UL Listed, or CSA rated non-shaded safety glasses. Lightly tinted Yellow, Rose, Blue, and Amber tints are FIRST approved. Reflective lenses are prohibited,
your eyes must be clearly visible to others. The use of anything other than ANSI-approved, UL-Listed, or CSA rated eye protection is prohibited.

What it means by your eyes must be clearly visible to others is open to interpretation. By their very nature, side shields (which are required) limit the visibility of your eyes to others. In fact any kind of safety glasses limit this.

This should be brought up when the new rules come out. Does visible mean from the front? I think this will be a problem considering the Steam Punk theme.... better ask Frank
and the GDC after the rules come out.

[RoboChair]

You want to be looking for oxy-acetylene welding goggles. Most of them have a shade lens and a clear lens, you can remove the shade lens or get one like shown above that flips out of the way. The ones above are ANSI approved.

[dtengineering]

Steampunk goggles are perfectly safe for well over 50% of the floor space of an event.

Pits and playing field, perhaps not... but everywhere else, enjoy dressing up. https://learn.adafruit.com/steam-punk-goggles/overview

Jason

[littlemissLish]

Originally Posted by SpaceBiz

So at first they do seem inherently safer than just regular safety glasses or possibly even some safety goggles, but I see a two potential problems with maybe 20% of people in the pits wearing these to fit this year's theme.
The lack of peripheral visibility
Tint in the lenses of the goggles
Thanks!

I have the same feeling about people Wearing them as safety glasses/ goggles. As safety captain i feel that they would hurt more than help. The lack of visibility in the pits could be dangerous. My team is not wearing them as glasses/ goggles but as decoration on top of heads/ hats. that way they can still dress the theme and still be safe. I would also like to note that teams sometimes allow their students to wear tinted glasses or goggles, which also hinders visibility. I feel that the Safety Advisers should get onto them about it. but that is just me.

[adciv]

Typically when assessing something new I stay with the question "is it worse than the existing". Steam punk founta do limit peripheral but no more than most safety glasses and no more than what my parents have who wear glasses.

That said, I don't think the steam punk glasses linked to before meet the requirements of rule z87. I think any glasses actually had to have been tested /accredited by those groups. As much as I wish it otherwise, I don't see that steam punk site having met that.

I plan on trying to get the question asked of the gdc.

[MrForbes]

Maybe these would be allowed, they are ANSI approved. They appear to have two lenses, an approved clear cover lens, and an approved shaded lens (which is way too dark for anything but oxy-acetylene weding, although too light for electric arc welding).



https://www.forneyind.com/store/deta...round_shade_5/

they are not "steampunk", since being "steampunk" requires adding a bunch of random junk to something.

But they might be the look you're after, in a way that you can actually use at a competition.

[chapman1]

I was told once by the pit safety glasses police - when I wore my reflective lens safety goggles to an event - that protective lenses must allow other folks to see your eyes. Though I was at first put off by this "rule", upon reflection (no pun intended), I saw that it makes good sense.