Selecting Safety Eyeglasses For Work

When working with any type of hazardous material that may get into your eyes you need to wear safety glasses or goggles. These will protect you from dust, particles, chemical fumes, or flying objects depending on the hazards at your particular job. It doesn't matter if your job requires a face shield you still need safety glasses. They have made great improvements on the style and comfort of safety glasses in the last few years. They come in several attractive styles, colors and even prescription for those who need it. Many look so stylish that you cannot tell they are safety glasses at all. Most companies that deal in hazardous materials will either provide you with a pair or give you the information on how and where to get them. There are several types usually available but make sure you know which ones are best in your work place.

There are large and small ones that have smoked lenses but may not be used if you are in the welding field

There are the one size for everyone that has plain clear lens band with adjustable temple to fit any face size

There is the one size for all made to be worn over prescription glasses that are like the ones above

Safety glasses are made to resist impact and are much more durable than just regular glasses you see everyday. The ANSI has set the safety glasses requirement so that you can be hit with a quarter inch steel ball on the lens at 150 feet per second and the glasses still not break and keep your eyes safe. Those or way more powerful than plain prescription glasses and are designed for protection. The frames must be stamped with Z87 to prove they have met the standards for heat resistance and strength. The design is meant to be comfortable, look good, and keep you safe on the job.

The most important thing to know about safety glasses is that they only protect you from impact if you are hit from the front. So most standard safety glasses also come with side shield that offer some limited protection from debris or splashing of chemicals through the sides. If you work in such a hazardous environment that you have threats from all directions including from the top and bottom need to wear goggles or a face shield instead that offer all over protection. Inspect your safety wear often to make sure it has no weaknesses, scratches, or cracks that could cause them to break or let in materials. If they do or are bent, loose or uncomfortable, have them replaced. If you are wearing scratched or vulnerable safety glasses, they are now a safety hazards them selves. You also need to know what temperature your glasses will be used in. if you are in a room that is warm or put off a lot of heat as you work you don't want your glasses to keep fogging up on you as you work. You can get a special pair of safety glasses that have polycarbonate lenses and frames or lycarbonate shield from an eye doctor. If you require this type of eyewear inform your employer they should provide you with all the necessities to keep you safe at the job.

There are two types of safety glasses your employer may have to provide depending on your job, basic or high impact. The OSHA regulates what type of safety glasses must be worn on what job site. If you work where there is a lot of debris and flying materials you will be required to wear high impact glasses or goggles. If you work with hazardous chemicals where fumes and splashing is the major source of danger then you will use the basic model that keeps the chemicals out of your eyes. If you still manage to have something happen and get an eye injury or get something in you eye, you must follow your works eye cleaning and treatment policy. Make sure you go right to an eyewash station and begin irrigating the debris or chemical out of the eye if you can. For any injury that includes impalement of the eye it self seek immediate medical attention.