The Different Types Of Eye Protection

For those who work in hazardous environments with machines, chemicals or high-energy light, protecting eyes from dangerous particles is so important. Under Regulation 4 of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulation 1992, it is mandatory to provide appropriate protective eyewear to employees who work in dangerous environments. These environments include: construction sites, laboratories, fisheries and mechanical workshops, just to name a few. 

There are 3 different types of eye protection available, each with different safety requirements. 

The 3 different types of eye protection are:

1. Safety goggles
2. Safety glasses
3. Face shields

1. Safety Goggles

Safety goggles provide the highest level of protection and sit directly on the face, sealing the wearer’s eyes and protecting them from splashes and particles. By encasing the area surrounding your eyes, safety goggles prevent dangerous particles, foreign objects or chemicals from irritating and damaging your vision.

Safety goggles can be vented or non-vented, take a look:

Vented Goggles

Vented goggles protect the wearer from moderated quantities of liquids with no vapour or mist danger. Several types exist. For example, the common, hardware-store goggle has holes drilled into the plastic. This is unsuitable for laboratory work because liquids can get through the holes. Vented laboratory goggles have a series of buttons embedded into the plastic. These buttons house a baffle plate that allows air to pass but present a physical barrier to liquids.

Non-Vented Goggles 

Non-vented goggles protect eyes from vapours, mists, fumes, or other hazards where eyes must be completely covered. 

2. Safety Glasses

Safety glasses may look similar to normal glasses, but their lenses are much stronger. In fact, they have shatter-resistant lenses made of materials like polycarbonate or propionate plastic with side shields. They are specifically designed to be impact resistant, and the frames are built to keep the lenses from being pushed into your eyes.

If you need protection from large, physical objects such as wood chips, these are a great choice. These also work well to filter out laser light to prevent laser burns which can otherwise cause permanent blindness. However, safety glasses provide little to no protection against vapours and liquids. 

3. Face Shields

Face shields are not stand-alone eye protection. They protect the entire face and can provide protection against impact, spraying, chipping, grinding or chemical splashe, which can cause instant skin damage.

Face shields will protect your face but do not fully surround your eyes, and for this reason are frequently used in conjunction with other forms of eye protection.

What To Look Out For When Wearing Eye Protection

Safety eye protection is frequently exposed to harsh environments and can decay over time so it is important that you inspect your eye protection before putting it on. Look for any scratches, dents, cracks or brittleness, and replace the item promptly if you do detect wear and tear. 

Here at Morsafe, we stock an extensive range of PPE equipment for your workplace. To find out more, visit our website or contact us at 01686 611 377.

Written by Kate, for Morsafe Supplies.