Information on Safety Goggles

Workplace eye injuries are more commonplace than you might think. About 10 percent of eye injuries cause missed workdays. Permanent or temporary vision loss is caused in 10 to 20 percent of injuries occurring at work, according to The Vision Learning Center website.

Causes

• Safety goggles can protect against many work hazards, including eye injuries from flying bits of glass or metal, chemicals in the air and harmful radiation, according to the preventblindness.org website. Safety goggles should be worn by persons in areas that pose eye hazards or wherever there may be a chance of eye injury.

Designs

• Safety goggles come in a variety of shapes, sizes and construction materials, according to the website Safety Ed. The wraparound style, the design of most safety goggles, protects your eyes in addition to your peripheral vision. Safety goggles are even available as sunglasses used for any type of outdoor activity.

Types of Safety Lenses

• Polycarbonate, glass or plastic safety goggles are three types of safety lenses that meet the eye protection requirements, according to the preventblindness.org website. Polycarbonate lenses are not as likely to fog, are lightweight, are stronger and more impact resistant than glass or plastic and protect against welding splatter. Glass lenses can be used around harsh chemicals, are available in a person's corrective prescription and are not easily scratched. Plastic lenses are very similar to polycarbonate lenses as far as eye protection; however, both types of lenses are not as scratch-resistant as glass.

Goggles vs. Glasses

• Safety goggles are different from safety glasses in their basic design, according to the All About Eye Safety website. Although safety glasses may look similar to normal glasses, they are constructed to be impact resistant and protect the eyes against flying particles. However, to encompass the entire eye area as safety goggles do, safety glasses need to be equipped with tinted lenses or cups and side shields, which may be cumbersome.

Regulations

• Employers are required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards to provide workers with the appropriate eye protection, according to the eyesafety.4ursafety.com website. Safety goggles offer the best protection against eye hazards even when wearing welding helmets or face shields. Research shows that most eye injuries occur at the workplace, with the cost of workers compensation, medical expenses and lost production time amounting to millions of dollars every year.