2010

For several years, some demining groups have been defying the IMAS and wearing goggles at appropriate times, such as when demining with long rakes in areas with small anti-personnel blast mines. Changes to the IMAS in 2009 make it acceptable for deminers to wear 5mm polycarbonate eye protection when the risk assessment suggests that this would be appropriate.

The IMAS are specific when they state that industrial safety spectacles, or any eye protection that is less than 5mm thick do NOT meet the requirement. They also require the lens of the goggles to be held in a frame that prevents blast ingress from beneath.

The manufacture of a 5mm polycarbonate lens for goggles is a simple process. We are currently working on making goggle-frames that are safe, comfortable and cost effective.

Some of the goggles sold as "Combat" goggles do not have 5mm lenses. An example is shown below. This example is not suitable for use in Humanitarian Demining because it does not meet the requirements of IMAS 10.30 (2009).

Until our own designs are optimised ready and proven, we can only supply "bought-in" imports, at a cost that does not meet our usual requirement for economy. If you are interested in these, please contact us for an up-to-date quotation.