Safety Glasses

Safety glasses are a vital part of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), designed to protect your eyes from a range of hazards. They come in various forms, including spectacles and goggles, to suit different protection needs.

Most safety glasses feature lenses made from clear, anti-scratch polycarbonate, which offers the highest level of impact protection as tested under EN166. Some models use alternative lens materials such as acetate or CR39, which provide general impact resistance and are better suited for protection against liquid or chemical splashes.

For individuals requiring vision correction, prescription safety glasses are available. These include corrective lenses tailored to the wearer’s prescription, allowing the glasses to double as both vision aids and protective equipment. Alternatively, overspecs are designed to be worn over existing glasses with minimal disruption, offering added safety without the need for customised lenses.

All safety goggles feature mandatory lens and frame markings that indicate their protective capabilities and certification. Understanding these markings is key to choosing the right eye protection suited for specific workplace hazards.

Components of Safety Glasses

Understanding the markings on safety glasses is crucial for identifying their protective capabilities and features.

• Manufacturer's Mark: Every pair of protective eyewear will include the manufacturer's mark, sometimes accompanied by a quality certification symbol like a kite mark to confirm compliance with safety standards.
• Colour Perception: A ‘C’ marking indicates that the eyewear maintains normal color perception without distortion, which is important in certain technical or quality control settings.
• Filtering Effect: Safety spectacles with specific filtering capabilities, such as those for welding, are assigned specific codes. For instance, a shade number between 1.2 and 6 indicates protection suitable for welding.
• Mechanical Strength: The symbols S, F, B, A, or T denote the mechanical strength of the glasses. An 'S' specifically signifies increased robustness.
• Surface Resistance: A 'K' on the lens means the glasses offer resistance to surface damage from fine particles or scratching, helping maintain clear vision and extending eyewear life.
• Anti-Fog Properties: A letter 'N' on the lens indicates the eyewear is fog-resistant or anti-misting, which is useful in humid or temperature-variable environments.

Types of Safety Eyewear for Various Environments and Risk Types

Mechanical Risk

Protective eyewear designed for mechanical risk protects against hazards like flying debris, metal filings from tools, and particle projections from grinding work. To ensure proper safeguarding, the F, B, or A symbol must appear on both the lens and the frame.

If these symbols differ between the lens and frame, the symbol representing the lowest resistance determines the overall protection level of the eyewear.

Electrical Risk

For electrical risk, safety eyewear provides protection from live contact and short circuit electrical arcs. The ‘8’ symbol must be indicated on both the lens and the frame to guarantee effective protection against electrical hazards.

Thermal Risk

Thermal risk protection shields eyes from radiating heat, intense heat, and sprays of hot liquids or solids. Protective glasses for this purpose must display the ‘9’ symbol on both the lens and the frame to confirm its thermal resistance. Such eyewear safeguards eyes in high-temperature industrial processes like foundries and glassworks.

Radiation Risk

Radiation risk protection covers various forms of harmful light and energy, including ultraviolet (UV) light rays, infrared rays, and intense visible light from sources like steelworks, surgery, and welding. The specific standard for protection against these types of radiation is typically identified by a unique marking on the safety glasses.

Chemical Risk

Clear safety glasses for chemical risk defends against exposure to chemicals, dangerous liquids, aerosols, gases, toxic dust, and other airborne contaminants. For guaranteed eye protection, the standard marking of 3, 4, or 5 must be indicated on the glasses frame.

Choosing the Right Safety Glasses for Your Workplace

Selecting the right safety glasses is essential for protecting workers and meeting safety standards. The process begins with a careful evaluation of workplace hazards to determine the level of eye protection required.

• Lens Material: Polycarbonate lenses provide excellent impact resistance and durability, making them ideal for protection against mechanical hazards. Acetate lenses offer better chemical resistance but less impact protection, suitable for chemical splash scenarios.
• Frame Design: Frames should fit securely and provide extensive peripheral coverage for maximum protection. Features like adjustable temples and nose pads improve comfort during long wear. Lightweight frames reduce fatigue and encourage consistent use.
• Compatibility: Ensure eyewear fits well with other PPE, including respirators, helmets, or ear protection, to avoid discomfort or interference that might impede protection or usability.
• Regulatory Compliance: Verify that glasses meet applicable local and international safety standards, ensuring legal compliance for workplace safety.
• Special Features: Consider options such as anti-fog coatings for humid environments, UV light protection for outdoor work, or tinted lenses for glare reduction.

Consult a workplace safety expert or refer to national safety guidelines (e.g., OSHA, ANSI, or local Malaysian standards) for assistance in confirming that selected glasses meet specific industry requirements.

Maintenance and Care Tips for Safety Glasses

Proper maintenance and care are essential to extend the lifespan of your safety glasses and ensure their continued effectiveness.

• Regular Cleaning: Clean lenses daily using appropriate lens cleaning solutions and a soft, lint-free cloth. Avoid abrasive materials or harsh chemicals that can scratch or damage coatings.
• Protective Storage: Always store safety glasses in a dedicated protective case or pouch when not in use. This shields them from dust, dirt, and accidental damage.
• Routine Inspection: Frequently check lenses for scratches, cracks, or pitting. Check frames for any signs of bending or breakage. Compromised eyewear should be replaced immediately.
• Timely Replacement: Follow manufacturer guidelines for replacing safety glasses, especially after a significant impact. Even minor damage can reduce protective capabilities.

Industrial Applications - Common Workplace Hazards That Require Eye Protection Glasses

Eye protection is crucial across diverse industries to safeguard workers from specific hazards inherent to various tasks.

• Healthcare: In hospitals and clinics, workers require eye protection from splashes of blood, bodily fluids, and chemicals.
• Laboratory Work: Lab technicians need protection from chemical splashes, fumes, and flying debris during experiments and handling of hazardous substances.
• Welding and Metalworking: Welders and metalworkers face extreme risks from intense light, UV or IR radiation, sparks, molten metal splashes, and flying fragments, requiring specialised eye and face protection.
• Automotive and Assembly: In these sectors, safety glasses guard against flying particles, dust, chemical splashes from lubricants or solvents, and sparks during assembly or repair.
• Cleaning and Janitorial Services: Cleaners need eye protection from splashes of cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, and potential airborne debris.
• Agriculture and Farming: Farmers and agricultural workers require eye protection from dust, debris, chemical sprays (pesticides, fertilizers), and UV radiation during outdoor work.
• Mining: Miners face severe hazards including flying rock fragments, dust, chemical exposure, and intense light, demanding robust eye protection in underground and surface operations.

Your Trusted Safety Glasses Supplier & Manufacturer

RS Malaysia is your trusted supplier and distributor of a comprehensive range of high-quality safety glasses from leading brands such as Bolle Safety, uvex, and Riley. Explore our extensive online catalogue to find the perfect safety glasses, safety helmets, and ear defenders for all your personal protective equipment needs.

To complete your purchase, simply add your desired products to the cart and proceed to our secure, easy-to-use checkout. For all the specifics regarding our delivery services, including estimated arrival times and associated costs across Malaysia, please refer to our dedicated Delivery Information page.