| Decades ago, many workers ridiculed the idea of | | | | more sophisticated. Prescription and bifocal lenses |
| wearing personal protection equipment (PPE) on | | | | can even be accommodated with today's safety |
| the job. However, today this equipment is | | | | glasses. |
| oftentimes required by law, as the times, the | | | | Instead of the original plastic, which was easier to |
| technology, and the laws have changed. As a | | | | break, polycarbonate is now used. These modern |
| result, workplaces today are much safer places to | | | | light-weight safety glasses are more impact |
| be. The Occupational Safety and Health Act, | | | | resistant, but not quite as clear as the original |
| passed in 1970, is one of the main laws affecting | | | | types of plastic. Trivex is occasionally used for |
| workplace safety and ensuring healthy working | | | | safety glasses because it is even more impact |
| conditions. OSHA determines the safety | | | | resistant, but it is quite expensive. Modern safety |
| regulations for all U.S. businesses. Their decisions | | | | glasses will protect your eyes much better than |
| regulate the use of hard hats, safety glasses or | | | | earlier versions. |
| goggles, steel-toed boots, harnesses, protective | | | | Safety glasses have replaced goggles for many |
| clothing, and radioactivity badges. Of course, the | | | | applications because goggles have a tendency to |
| type of PPE required depends on the industry and | | | | fog, are uncomfortable, and are hard to see |
| job site. | | | | through. If your safety glasses meet OSHA |
| If you work at a job that could post a threat to | | | | standards, you will see ÒZ-87Ó |
| your health, OSHA will require mandatory use of | | | | stamped somewhere on them, usually on the lens |
| PPE in some form. The employer is responsible | | | | or on the temple piece. Using only |
| for seeing that potential health threats are | | | | OSHA-approved personal protection equipment will |
| addressed in the workplace. The employer must | | | | help ensure that you are adequately protected. |
| educate employees about safety hazards and | | | | Because of advances in the safety industry, |
| supply the necessary protection equipment, along | | | | today's safety glasses are much better than |
| with instructions on using the PPE properly. | | | | those used decades ago. OHSA regulations often |
| If you might be exposed to flying debris at the | | | | require their use to protect employees from |
| jobsite, safety glasses must be worn. This | | | | flying items or caustic liquids that they may |
| includes any form of sparks, dust, or splashes. | | | | encounter on the job site. Workplaces today are |
| Early 1950's safety glasses were thick and not | | | | much safer as a result of these laws. |
| very useful, but today's safety glasses are must | | | | |