The Importance of Safety Glasses on the Worksite

Eye injuries are all too common in the workplace: the US Bureau of Statistics reports over 20,000 eye-related workplace injuries a year. Such injuries cost employers $300 million annually in lost productivity, workers compensation, and medical treatments, and approximately 20 percent of eye injuries result in temporary or permanent loss of vision.

Multiple factors cause workplace eye injuries, including airborne dust and particles, sparks from tools or power equipment, flying objects, ultraviolet radiation, and chemical contact. Properly fitted safety glasses and eyewear could prevent up to 90 percent of all eye injuries, making safety glasses some of the most important personal protective gear (PPE) on the market.

Safety Glasses Standards

Safety glasses standards are set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). ANSI Z87.1-2003 covers current safety glasses standards, which require:

• Frames and lenses be stronger than regular glasses
• All safety glass lenses be impact resistant
• All frames be heat resistant and prevent lenses from being pushed into the wearer's eyes
• All safety glasses be correctly fitted

Most of the best safety glasses have lenses made from plastic polycarbonate for increased strength and durability. Protective eyewear that conforms to ANSI safety glasses standards must carry the manufacturer's marking, along with a “+” sign if the lenses are impact rated. Additional markings on safety glasses include:

• "V" for photochromatic lens
• "S" for special purpose tinted lenses
• "W" and shade number for welding glasses
• "U" and scale number for ultraviolet filters
• "L" and number for visible light filter
• "R" and scale number for infrared filters

Types of Safety Glasses and Eyewear

The type of safety glasses you need will be determined by your work environment--the best safety glasses for a warehouse will be very different from the polarized safety glasses needed for outdoor work sites. Here are some of the best safety glasses and eyewear for specific situations.

Low Light Environments

The best safety glasses for low light environments have tinted amber lenses to remove blue light. Such glasses often protect against accidental welder’s flash burns, such as the Rad-Atac Safety Glasses from Radians. 

Manufacturing and Construction Safety Glasses

Manufacturing and construction safety glasses have to protect against a wide variety of threats, including impacts, dust and airborne particles, welding flash burns, and chemical exposure, with exact requirements depending on job responsibilities and the work environment. Examples of construction safety glasses include:

• Radian’s Mirage Small Foam Lined Safety Glasses: Designed to protect against airborne particles, debris, and eye irritants while offering impact protection.
• Radian’s Rad-Sequel Safety Glasses: Made from impact resistant polycarbonate with anti-fog lenses.
• Radian’s Clear Lens Mirage Safety Eyewear: Offers impact resistant and wraparound lenses for an improved orbital seal.
• Radian’s Light Blue Rad-Atac Safety Glasses: Provides both impact resistance and protection against accidental welding flash burns with a 1.7 infrared filter.