Safety Glass
The making of a pair of safety glasses involves using the proper material for the frames and the correct lens material. Frames are usually shatter-proof or impact resistant and in some cases chemical or heat resistant. Lenses need to be shatter-proof or impact resistant, chemical resistant, and occasionally tinted to protect the eyes from harmful light sources. The requirements for safety glasses lead to the use of plastics. In some cases, prescription glasses can be used in place of traditional safety glasses if the lens is plastic.
Safety Lenses
As the requirements for safety glasses shift with the task at hand, so do the many types of lens materials. Plastic is probably the cheapest way to go, but sometimes an industry requires something with a high resistance to impact, maybe something lighter weight or even more rigid. Polycarbonate is much sturdier than the standard plastic used in lenses. It is lightweight and has a natural level of ultraviolet protection. The optics of Trivex lenses are better than a polycarbonate lens and just as impact resistant.
Additional Safety Lens Treatments
Since there is a wide range of variations in safety glass needs, there are various treatments or coatings that can be applied to safety lenses. This allows variation of the standard materials without the additional cost of manufacturing a specific type of lens. Anti-reflective, scratch-resistant and ultraviolet coatings or treatments can be applied to a lens.
Buying Safety Glasses
Basic, non-prescription safety glasses are manufactured in large quantities and sold alongside equipment that may require them. Stores providing construction equipment, chemicals, welding tools and lab equipment will sell them, too. Full wrap safety goggles or glasses will protect the eye much better than regular eyeglass styles. Knowing the requirements of the task at hand can indicate what type of glasses are necessary.
Best Made Safety Glasses
OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has outlined basic eye protection requirements for all U.S. manufacturers and businesses pursuing any activity that could cause damage to a participating employee. These requirements acknowledge the possible damage from various gases, metal, vapors, chemicals, loose or flying debris and radiation. Suggestions include side-shields (clip-on or slide-on), full wrap glasses or accommodations for prescription wearing workers that fit over the existing glasses or are made specially for the employee. Varying degrees of color lenses may be needed to block harmful light sources, but most are made with a clear lens.
