Prescription safety glasses play a vital role in protecting your eyes. Without them, you could easily suffer a serious eye injury that could cause loss of vision. Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer eye injuries at their work and most of these injuries could have been prevented by wearing the right protective eyewear. It, therefore, is a good idea to learn more about these eyewear items so that you can protect your vision and work safely at the same time.
Glasses Must Conform to Certain Standards
The first thing you need to realise about this kind of safety eyewear is that it must conform to certain standards. Conforming to ANSI and OSHA standards ensures perfect protection for your eyes. Regular eyewear is not designed to protect your eyes and is at best only capable of correcting your vision and making your look more attractive. Even the best prescription glasses are not safe unless they conform to certain safety standards.
OSHA Standards
In the US, OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration lays down the standards for safety eyewear at the workplace and in educational environments. OSHA has incorporated many of the standards set out by ANSI or the American National Standards Institute. This institute has laid down the standards of safety for several products including safety eyewear.
ANSI Z87 stamp
When choosing your prescription safety glasses, you must make sure that it bear the ANSI Z87 marking. There are two types of ANSI Z87 marking. One is the one that does not have a plus sign and it implies that the frames are tested and passed for basic impact resistance. The other type is the one with the plus sign and it implies that the frames are tested and passed for high impacts.
Pick the Right Lenses
Another thing to note when choosing your prescription safety eyewear is they should have the right lenses. You can choose between lenses tested and passed for basic or high impact. It all depends on the type of work you do.
High Impact Lenses
High impact lenses are required by carpenters, plumbers, and pipefitters as well as by machinists, millwrights, and laborers. In certain kinds of activities, you might also require a side shield to protect your eyes more fully. You may also require full-face protection. It is up to your employer and safety officers to determine what kind of protection is required for your work. Working as independent contractors, you should opt for safety eyewear that has been passed for high-impact resistance. Be sure to choose your lenses and frames very carefully and if possible, you should go with high-impact frames and lenses for maximum protection.
Polycarbonate Material
It makes sense to use prescription safety glasses that are made from lightweight polycarbonate material. This material offers benefits like comfort and is available in many nice frame options including wraparound frames. You can even pick a pair with a bifocal segment for reading in the bottom portion of the lenses. This kind works well for those suffering from presbyopia.
The bottom line is that you need to choose your prescription safety glasses according to the type of work you do. Whether it is for working at home or in the workplace, you need to choose your eyewear very carefully. At SafetyGearHut.com, you can buy the best safety eyewear at the most affordable prices. |
