Eye Protection

At minimum, impact-rated safety glasses meeting the relevant standard for any work involving trimming, mowing, chipping, or chemical handling. Tasks throwing debris at high speed, like string trimming and chipping, warrant glasses with side protection or goggles. Match the protection level to the hazard, and require it consistently, not just on big jobs.

Safety glasses protect against frontal impact and are comfortable for all-day general work. Goggles seal around the eyes, protecting against dust, fine debris, splashes, and particles that can get around glasses. Use glasses for general tasks; switch to goggles for chemical mixing, heavy dust, and high-debris operations.

Tinted lenses cut glare and sun for outdoor work, reducing eye fatigue across a long day in bright conditions. Amber lenses enhance contrast in low light and overcast conditions. Clear lenses suit shade and indoor work. Stocking a few lens types lets crews match eyewear to the day's light.

For crews moving between temperatures, exerting heavily, or wearing other gear, anti-fog coatings prevent the fogging that makes workers push glasses up onto their heads, defeating the protection entirely. The most common reason crews remove eye protection is fog, so anti-fog lenses directly improve actual compliance.

Yes. Over-the-glasses (OTG) safety glasses and goggles are sized to fit over prescription frames, and prescription-compatible options exist for crew members who need vision correction. Providing OTG options ensures workers who wear glasses are not tempted to skip eye protection because it does not fit comfortably.

Replace eyewear when lenses are scratched enough to impair vision, when frames are cracked or loose, or when coatings have worn off. Scratched lenses are both a visibility and a safety problem, since a deep scratch weakens impact resistance. Eye protection is inexpensive relative to an eye injury, so replace freely.