Q: The company I work for strictly enforces the wearing of Personal Protection Equipment. I am strongly in favor of this action. My one big problem is that I wear prescription glasses and the wings that go on the temples of my glasses are a real pain. The last time I went to the eye doctor I inquired about prescription safety glasses and they didn’t have a clue what I was talking about. Does anybody make safety glasses with prescription lens?
A: Personally, I can sympathize with your situation. I have astigmatism and without my glasses, I can’t hit a nail on the head to save my life. I also found the add-on wings to be troublesome and don’t feel that they really add protection to the eye. As far as I know, only one company (if there are others please let me know). I not attempting to give away free advertising here, but North Safety Products has an interesting set of safety glasses that may just solve your problem. North’s N-Vision T5655 Series comes with what they call a Flexi-Fit Nose Piece System. You purchase an RX insert that is given to an optician who grinds it to your prescription. The RX insert clips into the safety glasses. You might want to check out their Web site: www.northsafety.com. If other manufacturers show up in my e-mail or snail mail, I’ll be sure and update you.
Q: I have seen several articles and references to LEEDS and Green Buildings. Also, the county I live in has mandated the use of LEEDS in their capitol improvement program. My understanding on the program is very basic, and I am not sure what effect, if any, LEEDS will have in my interior construction business. Can you shed any light on the subject?
A: LEEDS, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is part of the Green Building Council initiative. I took the following from their Web site, www.usgbc.org, and I would encourage you to take an in-depth look at it.
“Mission Statement: The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.
“What is the U.S. Green Building Council? “The U.S. Green Building Council is leading a national consensus for producing a new generation of buildings that deliver high performance inside and out.
“Council members work together to develop LEED™ products and resources, the Greenbuild annual International Conference and Expo, policy guidance, and educational and marketing tools that support the adoption of sustainable building.
“Members also forge strategic alliances with key industry and research organizations and federal, state and local government agencies to transform the built environment.
“Council programs are committee-based, member-driven and consensus-focused.
“As the leading organization representing the entire industry on environmental building matters, our unique perspective and collective power provides our members with enormous opportunity to effect change in the way buildings are designed, built and maintained.”
As far as how this affects your interior construction business, USGBC currently has the “Green Building Rating System for Commercial Interiors” out for public comment. The document is available on their Web site for downloading. Public Comment closes July 13 at 5 p.m. PDT.
About the Author
Donald E. Smith, CCS, is AWCI’s director of technical services. Send your technical questions to him at [email protected], or fax them to (703) 534–8307.
