Safety glasses and goggles are a type of personal protective equipment (PPE). They are intended to protect the eyes, particularly against UV rays and against projections of solid, liquid, or chemical particles that could pose a risk to vision.

Safety glasses and goggles are a type of personal protective equipment (PPE). They are intended to protect the eyes, particularly against UV rays and against projections of solid, liquid, or chemical particles that could pose a risk to vision.
To ensure that you choose the most suitable safety glasses for you or your employees, assess the eye risks involved in the job. Then identify the best form of protection and find out about the regulations that apply to this type of product. In short, your choice will depend on the following factors:
First of all, it is necessary to identify the risks in the workplace.
Types of Risks:
There are safety glasses in various shapes:
If you need more protection, you should opt for a mask. Chemical-resistant, high-temperature, and impact-resistant masks are available on the market. These are used by welders or in the health sector to avoid contamination by infectious substances.
Types of Safety Glasses:
Safety glasses and goggles are subject to the EN 166 standard, which applies to most eye protection PPE, and some to specific standards, depending on the type of protection they are intended to provide. For example, EN 169 applies to welding filters, while EN 170 and 171 regulate ultraviolet and infrared filters, respectively. In Europe, safety glasses and goggles must have a CE marking, certifying that they comply with current standards. In addition, all applicable standards must be clearly indicated on the glasses or goggles themselves.
The EN 166 standard concerns eye protection against risk factors that could alter vision or damage the eyes, except for radiation of nuclear origin, X-rays, laser emissions, and infrared radiation emitted by low-temperature sources. This standard distinguishes between three optical classes, depending on the intensity of use. There are therefore lenses suitable for:
Protective glasses and goggles must also be marked with other technical characteristics of the lenses, which include letters and, in certain cases, numbers. In the industrial sector, the most common are the following: