The initial move to selecting the correct protection is the awareness of the law requirement. To put it simply, safety glasses should be hardy enough such that they prevent the impact of an object on the eye. The official set of rules under which these products are tested is ANSI Z87.1-2020. When you see a pair of glasses that bear the mark “Z87” on them, you can be confident that it has successfully passed these significant safety tests.
The most effective method of not incurring huge fines imposed by OSHA is purchasing approved equipment. It also makes your team know that you are concerned about their health. Buyer tip: never forget to request your supplier to give you a test report as a way of convincing you that the glasses are genuine. One time I witnessed the termination of a massive project due to the lack of the right stamps on the glasses. By verifying these details at the initial stages, time is saved and the job progresses.
Understanding the “Z87” vs. “Z87+” Impact Ratings
The most significant sign to look at in case the team works with flying debris is the plus sign. The simplest type of Z87 rating indicates that the glasses are capable of being bumped. But a Z87+ rating indicates that the glasses succeeded in a far more rigorous test, the high-impact test.
Thought of the moment You are always in a hurry one day: See the + sign on the lens or on the arm of the frame. I have also experienced buyers who have bought thousands of pairs of them believing they were safe to use only to realize that they had purchased the basic version that was not powerful enough to support their power tools. The presence of that small symbol is something to check everyone out of a colossal headache in the future.
The importance of the + to Grinding and Metalwork.
In case the job will entail metal grinding, sawing, or cutting, the plus rating does not act as an option, but as a mandatory requirement. In order to obtain this rating, the glasses should be able to survive a shot by a steel ball that is traveling at a speed of 102 miles per hour. That speed is even more at 170 miles per hour in the case of goggles.
In my case, the attempt to save a couple of cents and purchase simple Z87 glasses to work in metal shops is a risky compromise. An ordinary lens can break in case it is struck by a metal chip at a high speed. A single injury may cost a firm thousands of dollars on medical treatment and time. The best solution to insure the safety of the workers as well as the budget is to select the high-impact version initially.
Decoding the “Alphabet Soup” of Safety Ratings
The lenses have a secret code in the form of the letters and numbers that indicate what the glasses can do. These marks inform you whether the equipment can resist splashes of liquid, bright light, or dust.1 The simplest method of ensuring that you have the right protection to the right job will be to understand these marks.
Direct Answer: Seek out a particular code, such as, liquid D3, or, sun protection U6. One more tip: check not only the lens but the frame as the codes are usually in very small letters around the hinges. The comparison of such marks with the job eliminates errors that may cause injury.
What the Symbols Tell You about Your Job
There are various dangers in different work areas. A table can make your choice of the suitable gear within seconds.
| Marking | What it stops | Best used for |
| D3 | Liquid splashes | Handling of chemicals or wet paintingt |
| D4 / D5 | Dust and fine dust | Sanding wood or mining |
| X | Foggy lenses | Exposure to working in hot or wet environments. |
| U [2-6] | UV (Sun) light | Construction and road construction outdoors. |
| W [1.3-14] | Welding light | With a torch or an electric welder. |
In my case, a great number of people forget about the X mark. I once was working with a team in a warehouse that was very humid and their glasses kept fogging. Since they were blind, they removed their glasses. This is a huge safety risk. They were able to use the anti-fog lenses of the type used in aircrafts, which were marked X, and remained safe during the day.
It may seem easy to purchase one type of glasses and share it among all people, however, it is preferable to have a mixture. As an illustration, the construction site should have lenses that are U rated to the people outside and D4 rated glasses to the people who cut the wood indoors. Giving an individual the correct code demonstrates that you are an expert of safety.
Global Procurement: ANSI Z87.1 vs. EN 166
The safety regulations vary with the location of work. The companies in the United States and Canada seek ANSI Z87.1 mark. The CE EN 166 mark is mandatory by the law in Europe and the UK. Although the two marks indicate that the glasses are safe, they are tested differently.
Direct Answer: ANSI is to be used on North American jobs and EN 166 on European projects. To gain an advantage, it is a good idea to purchase glasses with both marks, which are so-called dual-certified. This simplifies the process of stock management a lot since the same pair of glasses may be sold to the consumer all around the world.
Why the Testing Is Different
The American test (ANSI) pays much attention to the efficacy of the glasses in preventing fast-moving objects. The European test (EN 166) is more concerned with how transparent the lenses are and the manner in which they are operated at variance of temperature.
- ANSI: Ideal in high-speed tool impact.
- EN 166: Optimal optical quality and special mechanical strength.
In my case, these codes confuse most international purchasers. At one point, I was employed by a distributor delivering ANSI glasses to a French project. The workers would not be allowed to use them on the site due to the lack of the successful mark, which is the CE, despite the glasses being of incredibly high quality. Before shipping, the local rules can save you a lot of money and time to check them.
The True Cost of Non-Certified “Lookalikes”
It is a major risk to buy the cheap glasses that appear to be safety equipment. Such “lookalikes may possibly save a few dollars in the present, but the costs in the future are much greater. They fail to meet the official test, which genuine safety gears have to undertake to ensure the eyes are safe.
Direct Answer: The cost of fake safety glasses is high since they are a cause of injury and legal penalties. One of the useful tricks: the name of a manufacturer and a safety code are always imprinted on the frame. Lacking a stamp, then the glasses probably do not meet a professional work place.
The case of why Cheap Glasses are a poor investment.
The factual information indicates that in the working environment, eye injury among the employees makes business incur over 300 million dollars annually in terms of healthcare expenditures and work time. When a safety officer discovers that a group of people is wearing counterfeit clothing, the company runs a risk of hefty fines amounting to more than 16,000 dollars in case of one incident.
I once spotted an employee wearing inexpensive sunglasses which resembled safety glasses. A little bit of wood struck the lens and rather than halt the wood, the lens broke. This caused him to go to the hospital due to the broken plastic. Had he worn real certified gear, the glasses would have remained intact and he would have been at the workplace in a few minutes.
The genuine safety glasses are produced using a special substance known as polycarbonate. This is quite robust and is not broken into sharp pieces. One is always willing to spend a few extra dollars to get a pair that is ANSI certified as a pair of safety glasses as opposed to risking a life changing accident.
Maintenance: When to Pull Glasses from Service
The safety glasses are similar to the tires of a truck, they wear off and have to be changed. One of the most frequent errors is the attempts to employ them too long. These glasses should be replaced frequently according to the safety regulations in order to ensure that eyes are indeed safe.
Direct Answer: Replace scratched, pitted, and loose parts of glasses. One hint you may have, not very long, is that when the lenses are cloudy, or pitted with sparks, they cease to be safe. I will always remind customers that a new pair of glasses is extremely inexpensive but a medical emergency is very expensive.
Three Clues That It is Time to Get a New Pair.
It is also good to service the gear after every few months. The following are the key items to consider:
- Pitting: The Z87+ lens has a single deep scratch and this makes it have a weak point. The lens might break down in case a fragment of metal strikes it and scratches the surface. When the lens is not smooth it should be in the trash.
- Stretched Straps: Straps should be tight in case of wearing goggles with chemicals (D3 rating). When the elastic is untied, the seal is ripped. This implies that there can be leakage of dangerous vapors or liquids.
- The 2-Year Rule: Plastic frames get brittle and easily broken with time due to the sun even though they may appear perfect initially. I suggest a complete replacement of all equipment at least once in 18-24 months in the high workplaces.
In my practice, employees tend to use the old glasses since they do not want to request new glasses. You can ensure that the team is always covered by being able to store a new supply in the warehouse. Maintaining the gear is no less important than purchasing it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are regular prescription glasses suitable for providing eye protection?
No, ordinary glasses cannot be used at the workplace. They fail to comply with the high speed impact regulations and can break into sharp objects. A person should wear ANSI Z87-2 certified prescription safety glasses or put on over-the-glass (OTG) goggles straddling the top of the personal frames to remain safe.
What is the meaning of the H mark on the safety frames?
The H is the abbreviation of Small Head Size. They are manufactured to fit small or thin faced persons. The fact that there are no gaps between the frame and the face is very important. In case the glasses are excessively large, dust particles, and sparks may fly through the open spaces and lead to an injury.
Is the latest 2020 edition of the rules mandated by OSHA?
OSHA gives the companies the opportunity to adopt the gear that complies with the 2015, 2010, or 2003 regulations. Although, the 2020 version is the most appropriate in a modern business. I will never recommend purchasing any products other than the latest ANSI Z87.1-2020 products since it guarantees the maximum protection, and the company is ahead of any changes in law.
Conclusion
Purchase of safety equipment is not all about a check box. It is concerned with the correct protection relative to the individual hazards of the workplace. To individuals purchasing in large quantities, it is worth concentrating on the Z87+ high-impact rating and some of the marks such as D3 splash or X anti-fog to ensure the workers are safe and the business complies with the law.
Direct Answer: Good safety glasses are a good investment as they prevent injuries and last longer. A tip that can be of help: the higher the quality of the eyewear, the slower the lenses are prone to scratches, and thus you will not need to replace them as frequently.
In my case, the workers keep putting their sweaty, clean glasses on their faces when they have them. I have witnessed numerous works where low-priced equipment was discarded in the trash after a single day of use due to its inability to be comfortable. The best thing to do is purchase quality certified equipment that will not only shield your team but also your budget.
