Rather than taking a chance on your eyesight, invest in a pair of safety glasses or goggles and ensure that you have 20/20 vision for the rest of your life.
According to Prevent Blindness America, each year over 700,000 workers sustain eye injuries while on the job, and another 125,000 sustain injuries while at home. More than 40,000 eye injuries were reported among youth and adults in 2016. Many more likely occurred but were not reported.
It is important to find a pair of safety glasses or goggles that fits your needs, as they are estimated to prevent up to 90% of eye injuries.
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What Makes Safety Glasses Safe?
Many occupations necessitate that employees constantly wear goggles or other forms of eye protection. The first iteration of protective eyewear was awkward and unwieldy to put on. Some modern designs of safety goggles are even quite stylish.
OSHA requires workers to wear the appropriate PPE whenever their health could be at risk. Workers are required to wear goggles and face shields when working in environments where they may be exposed to hazardous materials or particles that could cause injury to their eyes or face. All eyewear that carries the ANSI Z87 mark is guaranteed to meet or exceed OSHA standards. There are minimum levels of impact and penetration resistance that must be met for eye protection devices, and ANSI outlines these and other requirements in their standard.
Lenses are required to be labelled as either Basic Impact or High Impact depending on how they fare in these tests, as outlined in the standard. A steel ball with a diameter of one inch is dropped onto the lens from a height of fifty inches to simulate a drop. For high impact lenses, the “high velocity” testing is obligatory. Here, 1/4″ steel balls are “shot” at velocities between 150 feet per second for goggles and 300 feet per second for masks and shields. The High Impact standard must be met by all eyewear frames, face shields, and caps.
The device must have an obvious label indicating the extent to which it protects against impacts. The Z87 and the manufacturer’s logo will be etched into the lenses of even the most basic Impact eyewear. High impact safety glass lenses will be indicated by a plus sign after the Z87. (Please note that there may be additional markings on some lenses/windows. Shaded lenses may be marked with a number, such as 3.0, 5.0, etc., to indicate the degree of darkness. An “S” designation indicates a lens is intended for a specific use. A “V” sign could be present on a lens with a color-altering feature.
In either its integrated or detachable form, the side shield coverage has been expanded by 10 millimetres in the rear thanks to a new impact test protocol. The use of wraparound lenses or other integral or attached component side shield devices is strongly recommended but not required by this specification. Further, OSHA does mandate lateral shielding on eye protection devices whenever a flying particle hazard may exist, and flying particle hazards are present in practically every industrial setting. All over-the-counter safety glasses currently on the market satisfy OSHA and Z87.1 standards for side protection.
Clearly, not all glasses are created equal when it comes to safety. Eyeglasses are one example of personal protective equipment that may be required and should be provided to employees by their employers.
According to statistics compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly three out of five workers who suffered eye injuries were not using proper eye protection. It is essential that workers wear suitable protective eyewear for their jobs and individual needs. The ANSI/ISEA American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices Z87.1-2015 is a good starting point for your search for protective eyewear, but it is not a prerequisite. Due to the extensive selection of frames and lenses, you can find the perfect eyewear for your profession. Examples of these features include lens coatings, lens tints/colors, welding filter shades, and frame dimensions.
Lens Coatings
Safety glasses’ durability and versatility can be improved with lens coatings. You can buy just one of these coatings, or you can buy a set to maximise its effectiveness. An anti-scratch coating is one potential improvement. The purpose of this coating is to protect the lens from being damaged by grinding operations and other high-impact activities. In addition, it serves to shield glasses from the potential damage of scratches while they are being stored. Some of these coatings are permanently bonded to the lens, while others are applied to the surface of the regular lens for added durability.
Safety glasses can have anti-fog coated lenses for enhanced performance. Workers report that fogging is the most significant issue they face when wearing safety glasses. This lens coating is ideal for use with half-mask respirators, when there is a sudden change in temperature, or when working in humid conditions. Although no anti-fog coating can eliminate fogging entirely, it can be mitigated by wearing eyewear with a fog-free lens that is positioned away from the face and supplementing the lens coating with an anti-fog cleaner or spray.
Anti-static coatings are another option. These coatings decrease the amount of dust and dirt that adheres to windows. They work well in hazardous environments where dust and dirt could settle on the lens and reduce visibility.
To reduce visibility, a coloured mirror coating can be applied. When it comes to reducing glare, clear lenses with a thin mirror coating are the best option, especially for workers who frequently move between bright and dim settings. In sunny weather, you should wear lenses with reflective coatings.
Lens Tints/Color Options
Nowadays, most safety glasses have polycarbonate lenses, which can be found in a wide range of colours and tints. For the best possible vision, it’s important to select a lens colour that corresponds with the activity being performed.
There are two phrases that are commonly used as guidelines when deciding on the best lens colour and tint. First and foremost, there must be a way for light to pass through in order to see (VLT). The percentage of incoming light that actually passes through the lens is used to quantify this. Light in the ultraviolet and infrared spectrums is absorbed in a different way. The longest wavelength, in nanometers, at which the lens is capable of absorbing UVA, UVB, or IR light (nm). Make sure your glasses have the appropriate VLT and UV/IR absorption by checking the specs.
Clear lenses are commonly used indoors and in low-light outdoor settings.
Sunglasses typically have grey tinted lenses. They are used in environments where prolonged exposure to bright light could cause eye strain. Grey lenses improve colour vision, but they should not be worn when lighting is dim because they block too much of the visible light spectrum.
Brown, bronze, and espresso-colored lenses are visually similar to grey lenses and can be used as sunglass lenses in high-glare settings. The light requirements of this lens are too high to make it useful in dim conditions. These lenses typically conform to the requirements for traffic signal recognition (TSR) colours. The term “tinted self-refracting” (TSR) lenses refers to tinted lenses that do not significantly alter the colours you see around you. Those whose jobs require them to work with vehicles or paint will find these glasses to be a useful tool. Standards for TSR lenses can be found in ANSI Z80.3-2015, Non-Prescription Sunglasses and Fashion Eyewear Requirements.
Workers who frequently switch between bright and dim environments or who need to reduce glare in the office can benefit from indoor/outdoor lenses. Clear lenses with a slightly mirrored surface, known as “indoor/outdoor” lenses, can be worn in both indoor and outdoor settings to reduce glare. Not a photochromic (self-darkening) lens, unfortunately.
Amber or yellow lenses are recommended for low-light conditions. This lens tint lessens the effects of blue light, which enhances contrast. This lens lets in too much light to be useful at night.
Light-blue lenses are used to cut down on glare from the yellow light given off by most industrial and sodium vapour lighting. Simply put, the eyes can become fatigued and irritated from being exposed to too much yellow light.
Lenses with a red or vermillion hue enhance contrast without altering a person’s ability to distinguish between specific colours. They’re commonly used in various sorts of inspections that rely on precise colour perception.
Photochromic lenses change from transparent to opaque depending on the light conditions. Because of this, you won’t have to worry about finding a new pair of glasses every time the sun goes down.
Dark green lenses are the ultimate protection from the sun’s glare and harmful UV rays. This shield won’t protect your eyes from flying debris when you’re using a torch for cutting metal, a gas torch, or an electric arc welder.
Welding Filter Shades
These filtered shade glasses are mandatory safety gear for any welding process including soldering, torch cutting, gas welding, and electric arc welding. Filter shades should never be used as everyday sunglasses or while driving due to their distorted colours and decreased light transmission. Standard protective eyewear typically comes in 3.0 or 5.0 tint.
OSHA’s rule for eye and face protection, 29 CFR 1910.133(a)(5), specifies that the type of filter lenses to be used is task-specific. Check out Grainger’s Quick Tips #109 for more advice on selecting the appropriate welding shade. The ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2015 Eye and Face Protection Selection Tool is the latest and most thorough set of criteria for choosing eye and face protection for welding applications.
Lens Sizing
Manufacturers typically create one universal sizing for eyewear to accommodate a wide variety of facial shapes. When a one-size-fits-all solution isn’t feasible, however, it’s common to find other options for safety glasses’ dimensions, allowing for greater wearer comfort. ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2015 uses a small and medium European head form size for its testing. Some frames even have temples that can be bent for a custom fit.
Over-the-glasses eyewear, also known as OTG, is intended to be worn in addition to a user’s existing pair of prescription eyeglasses. These eyewear’s lenses and frame are made to work with a wide variety of corrective lenses.
Safety glasses come in both wide and narrow designs, the former being better suited to men and men with wider faces.
How Do Safety Glasses and Goggles Differ From Regular Eyeglasses?
Common eyeglasses are referred to as “dress eyewear” by opticians, while safety eyewear has higher standards for impact resistance. This stricter requirement applies to both the lenses and frames of safety glasses.
To protect one’s eyes, one can choose between prescription and non-prescription (or “plano”) eyewear.
Standard prescription eyeglasses, despite their size or the strength of their frame and lenses, do not qualify as safety glasses unless they meet certain criteria.
A number of different types of eyewear, including prescription and nonprescription eyeglasses, goggles, face shields, welding helmets, and full-face respirators, are all covered by the ANSI standard for eye safety.
ANSI Standards for Safety Eyewear
The following are some of the most notable changes to the ANSI requirements for safety glasses:
- Primary impact testing typically does not include lens evaluations (not mounted in a frame). In order to classify glasses as high impact, both the frame and the lenses must pass a rigors evaluation.
- Non-prescription lenses, which are used in the vast majority of high-impact testing, are physically weaker than prescription lenses made from the same material but featuring a thicker design.
- Today, thinner prescription safety lenses are acceptable as long as they pass the required high-impact testing. (Historically, all prescription safety lenses were mandated to be a minimum of 3 mm thick, making them significantly larger and heavier than regular eyeglass lenses.)
- Currently, you can choose between low-impact and high-impact safety lenses.
- The “drop ball” test is the industry standard for measuring the impact resistance of glasses. A steel ball, one inch in diameter, is dropped onto the lens from a height of fifty inches to perform this procedure. A lens is considered acceptable if it is free of chips and cracks. Each and every one of your glass safety lenses must go through this process.
- Nonetheless, only a statistical sample of a large batch of plastic safety lenses needs to be tested.
- For the high impact test, a steel ball measuring a quarter of an inch in diameter and travelling at a speed of one hundred fifty feet per second is fired at the lens. The lens must be securely fastened in its holder and show no signs of damage, such as cracks or chips.
How to Assess Ratings of Safety Eyeglasses and Goggles
Wow, that was impressive. To determine whether or not a lens has passed the high velocity test, look for the “+” symbol that indicates approval at high impact.
Expandable
Your local hardware store should carry a safety barrier like this. It can be put on over smaller eyewear, but fogging is often an issue. In summation, these safety glasses don’t fog up, but their side shields don’t offer as much protection.
In order to qualify for this logo, prescription lenses must be the same thickness (as measured at the lens’s thinnest point) and come from the same manufacturer and coating(s).
Symbol formed by intertwining Vs and Ss. Common lens markings on safety glasses include the letter “V” (for “photochromic”) and the letter “S” (for “shock resistant”) (indicating the lens has a special tint). Tinted safety lenses may be marked with a percentage that indicates how much light they let in.
Safety glasses with the right amount of tint should be worn whenever one is working with molten metal or performing tasks like soldering, brazing, cutting, or welding. Shade levels for torch soldering can be anywhere from 1.5 to 3.0 (light to moderate) to 10 to 14. (very dark shades for electric arc welding).
Safety glasses should never have any kind of temporary writing on them. Lenses that do not meet the high impact standard must be marked with a warning label that can only be removed by the wearer.
Testing of Frames for Safety Eyeglasses and Goggles
The frames of safety glasses are subjected to the same rigors testing whether they will be used for low or high impact. Controls for the structure include:
Massive transmission of kinetic energy. In this test, a one-inch-diameter steel projectile is dropped from a height of fifty inches through a tube and onto a safety lens inside a case. The “brain” of the picture is a fake skull. The lens must be held firmly within the lens-holding portion of the frame and must not be able to fall out of the frame.
Durability. In order to be used in safety gear, a frame must first be certified as durable by passing a series of tests for things like corrosion and flammability.
High-Velocity Impact.
For this test, we’ll be shooting a steel ball with a diameter of a quarter of an inch at the lens and frame at a speed of 150 feet per second from a distance of just under 10 inches. Several iterations of the experiment are conducted (using new frames and lenses each time) using a wide range of impact conditions. It’s important that you meet these standards because they’re very similar to the ones for the high mass impact test.
How to Assess Standards for Frames Used in Protective Eyewear?
Non-prescription safety eyewear with fixed lenses must be marked with the manufacturer’s name and the designation “Z87” (basic impact) or “Z87+” on both the front of the frame and one temple (high impact).
Prescription safety glasses must be engraved with the Z87-2 standard and the manufacturer’s trademark on the temples and front.
What Type of Safety Lenses Do I Need at Work?
Determine whether low-impact or high-impact gear is necessary for your job from your company’s safety officer.
Some jobs may necessitate the use of shields, goggles, or even full face masks. OSHA is a good resource for managers and business owners looking for advice on purchasing safety glasses for their staff. Visit OSHA’s page specifically for face and eye protection for more details.
The International Safety Equipment Association also released a manual titled “Eye and Face Protection Use and Selection Guide” in 2003 to go along with ANSI Z87.1-2003. The group’s website features a purchase option for this guide.
A pair of safety glasses that pass the high impact standard is a wise investment if you’re going to be freelancing in an industry that can be dangerous to your eyes.
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Which Safety Glasses Are Best for Home Use?
Buy some sturdy frames and high-impact lenses if you’ll be working with independent contractors, as eye protection is a must.
If you don’t need or wear corrective lenses, you can find a variety of safety eyewear at your neighbourhood hardware store, home improvement centre, or sporting goods store.
Wrap-around styles and lightweight polycarbonate construction are hallmarks of today’s protective eyewear. You should look for models with a high impact rating because they offer the most safety. (The chassis will be labelled “Z87+,” which will give you a hint.)
For those over the age of 40 with presbyopia, there are options with a bifocal reading section in the lower half of the lens.
For prescription safety glasses from an ophthalmologist or optical store, you’ll need a valid eyeglass prescription written by an accredited eye care expert. Wearing safety glasses with a high impact rating is crucial for your safety. There will be a plus sign and the manufacturer’s logo on the lenses. The “Z87-2” marking will be found on the inside of the nose bridge and temples.
To ensure clear vision at any distance, people over the age of 40 who wear bifocals or trifocals can upgrade to safety-rated progressive lenses.
When using a power trimmer, lawn mower, or other such equipment, it’s important to wear protective gear to prevent injury from flying debris or larger objects.
What Types of Safety Glasses Are Best for Sports?
Protective eyewear should be worn just as it would be at home. It’s recommended to purchase an elastic band that can be secured around the temples if you intend to wear safety glasses while engaging in physical activity.
When participating in shooting or hunting, you should always wear protective eyewear. Select wraparound glasses with matte finishing and anti-reflective coated lenses to lessen eye strain from reflections.
Safety vests for hunters are available in both the traditional black and more concealing camouflage patterns. When wearing prescription safety glasses, it is just as important to ensure that the sides provide adequate protection for your eyes as the lenses.
If you engage in activities such as hunting, golfing, or anything else that necessitates clear vision, you may want to consider purchasing a tint tailored to your sport. Adding a yellow or amber filter to your camera can boost contrast when shooting.
In order to prevent damage to your eyes from fish hooks, which is one of the most common causes of sports-related eye injuries, it is recommended that you wear wraparound safety glasses with a polarised tint while fishing. Eliminating the glare will do more than just improve your visibility on the water; it will also help ease any discomfort your eyes may be experiencing.
Alternatively, you could look into getting photochromic lenses, which change their tint based on the amount of light entering the eye. Consult an optician or other eye care professional for guidance on tints that will best serve your needs.
Players should be aware that the paintball pellets fired from paintball guns can cause severe damage to the eyes and head if they are not properly protected. Eye and ear protection, as well as a high impact safety rating, should be standard fare for paintball helmets. This is because some firearms can launch paint pellets at speeds of over 180 mph.
Even if a game hasn’t started yet, you must always wear your protective head gear while on the paintball field.
The lenses and frame materials used in safety glasses are fairly standard, despite the wide variety of frame colours, styles, tints, and coatings available.
What Are the Materials of Lens?
Safety glasses can be made from four different materials. All of these choices provide adequate eye protection, and some even go above and beyond the minimum requirements, but there are some subtle differences between them that need to be taken into account.
- Glass lenses are scratch-resistant but can be heavy and misty. If there is even a remote possibility of collision, you shouldn’t wear glasses with glass lenses.
- Lenses made from polycarbonate material are considerably more durable than their glass or plastic counterparts.
- Compared to polycarbonate, NXT/Trivex is stronger, more scratch-resistant, and more photochromic.
- Oakley’s Plutonite is a carbonate derivative that has undergone extensive refinement on the company’s end.
Lenses made of polycarbonate continue to be the standard, but Trivex glasses are gaining popularity. Both offer 100% protection from harmful UV rays and are up to ten times more impact-resistant than glass lenses.
Frame Material
As a result, safety glasses require frames that are much sturdier than regular glasses. Different types of safety frames may or may not have side shields made of shatterproof materials. Nylon frames, for example, are commonly used in sports goggles due to their low weight and high flexibility.
Conclusion
Buy some goggles or safety glasses and you can count on having perfect vision forever. Over 40,000 eye injuries were reported among youth and adults in 2016, and over 700,000 work-related eye injuries occur annually, per Prevent Blindness America. Lenses must be labelled as either “Basic Impact” or “High Impact” depending on how they perform in these tests. Every item of headwear, including glasses and face shields, must be up to the High Impact standard.
A plus sign will appear after the Z87 to designate lenses made from high impact safety glass. Whether or not a lens has the ability to change colours is indicated by the presence of the “V” symbol or the “S” designation. Due to a revised standard for simulating collisions, the rearward extent of the side shields has been increased by 10 millimetres. When there is a risk of flying particles, OSHA requires eye protection to have side shielding.
Employers have an obligation to provide any necessary PPE to their workers. Eyewear is one common form of PPE. Lens coatings such as anti-scratch, anti-fog, anti-static, coloured mirror, and reflective can enhance safety glasses. Lenses with anti-scratch coatings are protected from damage caused by grinding and other high-impact activities, and windows with anti-static coatings attract less dust and dirt. Glare can be minimised by choosing sunglasses with reflective coatings, which are ideal for sunny days, or by selecting clear lenses with a thin mirror coating. There is a wide variety of tints and colours available for polycarbonate lenses, and it is important to choose a lens colour that is appropriate for the task at hand.
To see, light must have a path through, and this is measured by the fraction of incoming light that makes it past the lens. Lenses with no tint are typically used indoors or in low-light outdoor settings, while those with a grey tint are worn in places where prolonged exposure to bright light could cause eye strain. Lenses in brown, bronze, or espresso can be used as substitutes for grey ones in high-glare environments. Lenses with a low level of tint known as tinted self-refracting (TSR) will not drastically change the colours you see. Light-blue lenses are used to reduce glare from the yellow light emitted by most industrial and sodium vapour lighting, while amber or yellow lenses are recommended for low-light situations.
Red or vermillion lenses enhance contrast without altering a person’s ability to distinguish between specific colours and are therefore recommended as mandatory safety gear for any welding process. Over-the-glasses eyewear is designed to be worn on top of a user’s current pair of prescription eyeglasses, while dark green lenses offer the maximum protection from the sun’s glare and harmful UV rays. Manufacturers typically create one universal sizing for eyewear to accommodate a wide variety of facial shapes, and the Eye and Face Protection Selection Tool is the most up-to-date and comprehensive set of criteria for selecting eye and face protection for welding applications. The wider styles of safety glasses are more comfortable for men and men with wider faces. The ANSI standard for eye safety encompasses several varieties of eye protection, such as glasses (prescription and nonprescription), goggles, face shields, welding helmets, and full-face respirators.
The impact resistance of glasses is typically measured using the “drop ball” test, and non-prescription lenses are physically weaker than prescription lenses made from the same material but featuring a thicker design. As part of the high impact test, a steel ball is fired at the lens at a speed of 150 feet per second; the lens must remain intact and securely fastened in its holder to pass. Check for the “+” symbol that denotes high-impact approval when evaluating safety glasses and goggles.
Safety glasses are required to have a V and a S intertwined symbol on the temple, and they must be the same thickness as prescription lenses. Both the letter “V” and the letter “S” are frequently used as lens markings (indicating the lens has a special tint). When working with molten metal or performing tasks like soldering, brazing, cutting, or welding, it is important to wear tinted safety lenses with a percentage marking that indicates how much light they let in. Never put temporary markings on your safety glasses, and make sure they pass a battery of corrosion and fire tests to prove their durability. Frame Evaluation for Protective Eyewear Both low- and high-impact versions of safety glasses go through the same rigors testing process for their frames. Massive energy transmission, high-velocity impact, and structural durability are some of the design goals.
The lenses of safety glasses must be securely fastened within the frame’s lens holding portion. Both the front and one temple of a pair of non-prescription safety glasses must bear the manufacturer’s name and the designation “Z87” (basic impact) or “Z87+” (high impact). The Z87-2 standard and the maker’s trademark must be engraved on the temples and the front of prescription safety glasses. With the publication of ANSI Z87.1-2003, the International Safety Equipment Association also published a guide titled “Eye and Face Protection Use and Selection Guide” that same year. If you work as a freelancer in a potentially hazardous industry, investing in a pair of safety glasses that meets the high impact standard is a good idea.
If you’re over 40 and suffering from presbyopia, you may want to consider a pair of glasses with a bifocal reading section in the lower half of the lens. When operating power tools such as trimmers, mowers, and weed whacker, it’s important to always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from flying debris and other potential dangers. Wraparound glasses with matte finishing and anti-reflective coated lenses are recommended, as well as an elastic band that can be secured around the temples, to reduce eye strain caused by reflections. Hunting safety vests come in both the standard black and the more covert camouflage. Adding a yellow or amber filter to your camera is a good idea if you plan on going hunting, golfing, or doing anything else that calls for unobstructed vision.
If you’re going fishing, it’s best to wear polarised safety glasses so that the glare doesn’t bother you as much. You could also consider getting photochromic lenses, which adapt their colour to the amount of light hitting the eye.
Paintballs can cause severe damage to the eyes and head if the player isn’t wearing protective eyewear. Paintball helmets should come standard with features like ear and eye protection and a high impact safety rating. Polycarbonate lenses are stronger, scratch-resistant, and more photochromic than glass lenses, but glass lenses are more durable and don’t fog up as easily. These glasses are becoming increasingly popular because Trivex lenses are up to ten times more impact-resistant than glass lenses and provide complete protection from UV rays. Safety glasses have frames that are much more sturdy than regular glasses and may or may not have side shields made of shatterproof materials.
Content Summary
- Rather than taking a chance on your eyesight, invest in a pair of safety glasses or goggles and ensure that you have 20/20 vision for the rest of your life.
- Each year over 700,000 workers sustain eye injuries while on the job, and another 125,000 sustain injuries while at home.
- It is important to find a pair of safety glasses or goggles that fits your needs, as they are estimated to prevent up to 90% of eye injuries.
- Some modern designs of safety goggles are even quite stylish.
- The Z87 and the manufacturer’s logo will be etched into the lenses of even the most basic Impact eyewear.
- High impact safety glass lenses will be indicated by a plus sign after the Z87. (
- to indicate the degree of darkness.
- In either its integrated or detachable form, the side shield coverage has been expanded by 10 millimetres in the rear thanks to a new impact test protocol.
- All over-the-counter safety glasses currently on the market satisfy OSHA and Z87.1 standards for side protection.
- Eyeglasses are one example of personal protective equipment that may be required and should be provided to employees by their employers.
- It is essential that workers wear suitable protective eyewear for their jobs and individual needs.
- Due to the extensive selection of frames and lenses, you can find the perfect eyewear for your profession.
- Safety glasses’ durability and versatility can be improved with lens coatings.
- An anti-scratch coating is one potential improvement.
- Safety glasses can have anti-fog coated lenses for enhanced performance.
- To reduce visibility, a coloured mirror coating can be applied.
- In sunny weather, you should wear lenses with reflective coatings.
- There are two phrases that are commonly used as guidelines when deciding on the best lens colour and tint.
- Make sure your glasses have the appropriate VLT and UV/IR absorption by checking the specs.
- These lenses typically conform to the requirements for traffic signal recognition (TSR) colours.
- The term “tinted self-refracting” (TSR) lenses refers to tinted lenses that do not significantly alter the colours you see around you.
- Dark green lenses are the ultimate protection from the sun’s glare and harmful UV rays.
- These filtered shade glasses are mandatory safety gear for any welding process including soldering, torch cutting, gas welding, and electric arc welding.
- The “drop ball” test is the industry standard for measuring the impact resistance of glasses.
- To determine whether or not a lens has passed the high velocity test, look for the “+” symbol that indicates approval at high impact.
- Common lens markings on safety glasses include the letter “V” (for “photochromic”) and the letter “S” (for “shock resistant”) (indicating the lens has a special tint).
- The frames of safety glasses are subjected to the same rigors testing whether they will be used for low or high impact.
- Determine whether low-impact or high-impact gear is necessary for your job from your company’s safety officer.
- Wearing safety glasses with a high impact rating is crucial for your safety.
- When using a power trimmer, lawn mower, or other such equipment, it’s important to wear protective gear to prevent injury from flying debris or larger objects.
- When participating in shooting or hunting, you should always wear protective eyewear.
- In order to prevent damage to your eyes from fish hooks, which is one of the most common causes of sports-related eye injuries, it is recommended that you wear wraparound safety glasses with a polarised tint while fishing.
- Consult an optician or other eye care professional for guidance on tints that will best serve your needs.
- Eye and ear protection, as well as a high impact safety rating, should be standard fare for paintball helmets.
- Even if a game hasn’t started yet, you must always wear your protective head gear while on the paintball field.
- The lenses and frame materials used in safety glasses are fairly standard, despite the wide variety of frame colours, styles, tints, and coatings available.
FAQs About Metal
What Type of Glass Is Used in Safety Glasses?
Clear Glass – Clear glass has been used since the dawn of the safety industry. Its optical quality is higher than that of any other material used through out the optical industry. Unlike plastic lenses, Clear Glass is naturally scratch resistant and has the least amount of distortion than any other lens material.
Which Polymer Is Used for Safety Glasses?
Polycarbonate is the most common material used for lenses in safety glasses. It’s easy to see why-it’s lightweight, stronger than plastic, impact-resistant, and has better fog resistance than other materials, too.
Can Safety Glasses Be Made of Glass?
Yes, safety glasses can have glass lenses. However, they usually don’t. First, it’s important to note that glass is rarely used in modern safety eyewear because it’s not as impact resistant as other lens materials.
Is Tempered Glass a Safety Glass?
Also known as “safety glass”, tempered glass is often used in car windows, shower doors, glass tables, and other installations where increased safety standards are necessary. While the manufacturing process does make tempered glass more resistant to force, it is not shatterproof glass or unbreakable in any way.
Can Wearing Plastic Safety Glasses Damage Your Eyes?
Workers are worried whether or not it’s healthy for their eyes to be looking through a “plastic” (aka polycarbonate) lens all day while on the job; it’s a valid concern. The short answer is no – wearing safety eyewear cannot damage your vision.