Eye Protection and Lampworking

A recent inquiry to the Information Center asked whether the use of didymium lenses was adequate for protection while lampworking glass.  "Bifocal" (1/3 didymium, and 2/3 welding lenses) type glasses were also discussed.  We have always recommended against using didymium lenses for any kind of furnace or kiln work, but in order to clarify this question on lampworking glass (using a torch to melt and combine glass), I spoke with Clifton K. Genge, CSP, the Program Supervisor for Safety and Health at Corning Glass Inc.  He confirmed my statement that ordinary didymium glasses will not provide adequate protection during lampworking.  He mentioned that the bifocals will only function protectively if the worker is sure to use the darker section "when the glass reaches higher temperatures," and if the dark shade is the proper filter type.  He stated further that if Corning workers are working with molten glass, they should wear "Furnace Glasses" with shade designations of 3.0 - 5.0, as per transmission requirements from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z87.1-1989.  Note that this filter shade range is darker than the recommendation printed in our data sheet “Eye and Face Protection”, which recommends welding glasses with a shade number of 3 for glassblowing.


Art Hazard News, Volume 17, No. 1, 1994

This article was originally printed for Art Hazard News, © copyright Center for Safety in the Arts 1994. It appears on CAR courtesy of the Health in the Arts Program, University of Illinois at Chicago, who have curated a collection of these articles from their archive which are still relevant to artists today.