There are different types of safety eyewear. The major ones are safety glasses, safety goggles, face shields and welding helmets. Deciding on the best one to use is largely dependent on the hazard you want to protect your eyes from.
As a general guide:
- Safety glasses provide protection against impact hazards such as cement chips, wood particles, metal fragments, work tools, toys, sports equipment and other flying or falling objects.
- Safety goggles provide a tighter fit around the eyes and so are best suited for protection against hazards that can get to the eye even while wearing safety glasses. Examples of such hazards include chemicals and dust.
- Face shields are required when there is a need to protect the entire face from impact hazards. However, on their own, they do not adequately protect the eyes. So, they are worn over safety glasses or goggles.
- Welding helmets are worn to protect the entire face from sparks while welding. For maximum protection, they are also worn over safety glasses or goggles.
