Riley eyewear saves costs, improves comfort, and enables high performance for world-leading soft drink manufacturer.
Key challenges with the manufacturer's PPE offering were identified, and a more efficient, high-performance solution was developed, reducing the range from nine different products to just three Riley eyewear styles.
The food and drink manufacturing sector is home to several high-risk tasks and operations. Specifically, hazards to workers' eyes include flying objects from machinery or glass bottles, high-humidity environments leading to obstructed vision, and LED strip lighting causing eye fatigue. Eye protection is crucial to protect workers against these risks.
The Situation
For a global leader in the soft drink industry, employing approximately 80,000 workers worldwide, ensuring employee safety was a high priority. To protect its workforce across diverse tasks and environments, the company invested in nine distinct styles of safety eyewear. The range included 5 standard safety glasses, 1 hybrid design and 3 safety goggles.
This extensive range was designed to provide tailored protection for employees across various roles, from assembly line operators to warehouse staff. However, despite the broad selection, some factors were not being met by the selected PPE.
Given the frequent cleaning and sterilization required in the drinks manufacturing industry, safety eyewear needs to be exceptionally durable, with scratch-resistant coatings that withstand these cleaning protocols. Additionally, prolonged exposure to LED strip lighting in manufacturing environments can cause eye strain, showing the need for lens tint options that minimise fatigue.
Another key concern was fogging. Employees transitioning between indoor and outdoor environments or working in high-humidity areas often experience visibility issues, which increases the likelihood of them removing their eyewear and exposure to potential hazards.
The Solution
In collaboration with the Globus team, the manufacturer conducted a comprehensive review of the safety eyewear used across its UK sites. Key challenges were identified, and a more efficient, high-performance solution was developed, reducing the range from nine different products to just three Riley eyewear styles.
The Stream Evo Eco Safety Glasses were introduced as a versatile, wraparound solution featuring impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses and soft, ventilated TempFLEX temple tips for all-day comfort. A variety of lens tints, including the Riley LED shade, were incorporated to minimise eye strain, filtering 50% of blue light from LED strip lighting.
To address the need for prescription eyewear compatibility, the Riley Velia Goggles were selected. Designed with a wide fit, they allow workers to wear them comfortably over their prescription glasses, eliminating the need to choose between clear vision and safety.
For environments demanding extra protection, the new Riley Sparta Compact was recommended as a solution. Weighing just 34g, the ultra-lightweight, adjustable safety goggle ensures maximum comfort for extended wear. Its compact design, along with a detachable head strap, allows for easy donning and doffing.
The Benefits
Riley offers customisation options, with the Stream Evo Eco available with brand logos, and colours for company alignment. Featuring a high-performance, dual-sided anti-fog and anti-scratch coating, these glasses also maintain durability even after repeated cleaning, ensuring long-term use and reducing the number of replacements needed per employee.
The Riley Sparta Goggles also delivered a major upgrade over the manufacturer’s previous models, which frequently fogged on the outer lenses, compromising visibility. With an advanced anti-fog coating applied to both the inside and outside of the lenses, the new Sparta goggles eliminate this issue, ensuring clear vision in all conditions and providing a substantial improvement in overall workplace safety.