If you're at a worksite that uses heavy tools or machinery, you know the risk that flying debris, whether it be liquid, wood, or metal shavings, has on your eyesight which you will want to protect at all costs.
You might have a prescription for your eyewear, so is it beneficial for clip-on or permanent shields if your glasses are compatible with them?
If you only have one set of glasses, you might need them to use outside of work, but is your eye safety compromised with a detachable set of side shields?
In this article, we'll break down what each type of fitting offers and the potential benefits and drawbacks of each to help make your decision easier, so you can work with confidence. Read on to learn more about these side shields and how they can improve your work day.
What Do Detachable Side Shields Offer?
Very much like the name suggests, you can get clip-on shields on safety glasses that you can get as standard or as a prescription alongside prescription glasses or other safety glasses, which makes it ideal if you want to wear your safety glasses outside of work.
Depending on where you order your safety glasses, you can buy a set of side shields as an accompaniment, and the styles of most safety glasses make them good enough to pass for streetwear frames, so you don't have to make compromises in either area.
This way, when wearing the side shields, you'll see that they offer lateral eye protection, so intrusive light can be mitigated when working under long and high-pressure jobs that require your attention.
What Do Permanent Side Shields Offer?
This option allows you to have a set of glasses that have the side shields attached to the temple of the frame and are locked so they can't be removed without causing significant damage to the structure.
You might find this option more convenient as on some job sites, you might have to wear your glasses to get inside, and you know that your glasses are compliant with the more recent ANSI Z87 standard.
When looking online or in person for these types of frames, you'll usually know for certain if they fit these standards as this is the main reason they are made for, unless you have a hobby or interest that you might find these frames would benefit you.
Benefits Of Each
The main advantage of detachable side shields is that you have more options for the look and feel of them, and in some cases, you can go for different colors to compliment the style of your safety glasses.
This cannot be done with shields that are permanently attached. In fact, this can be so useful that you can even accommodate safety glasses that have a curved lens while still meeting osha requirements.
They're also very easy to attach and click into place, so you know there aren't going to be any stability issues when you apply a good deal of pressure on them.
You'll also find that these types of side shields will fit practically any rim type and shape, so you won't have to spend ages looking around for a pair of glasses to fit the side shields.
With the permanent side shields, you'll find that you have more convenience, and you can have this feature with or without prescription lenses or prescription safety glasses, as you might only want them to provide you with safety coverage or use them for light reading.
You might also find that these kinds of removable side shields can be fitted in a way that doesn't radically change the look or comfort of your glasses as they might do for detachable ones.
Many safety glasses have wraparound frames that are great for occupational safety but don't exactly look amazing.
You'll also have more confidence that these fittings are more likely to fit in with safety compliance instead of clip-on, which will have to be marked in specific ways to fit the implemented safety standards and to work effectively with prescription safety glasses.
Drawbacks Of Each
The first issue with the clip-on side shields is that they are pretty lightweight and small, they're prone to getting lost easily, and so you won't be meeting the safety requirements of your job's site if you don't use them with prescription safety glasses.
For example, if the employer has provided you with these removable side shields and you lose them, you might be compliant to a degree and can be found at fault if an accident were to occur.
This is why managers or employees prefer the permanent side shields so everyone is reassured that safety compliance is being met when it comes to prescription safety glasses.
A potential downside, like any type of this sort of protection, is that they aren't impervious to all kinds of impact, so if your permanent side shield glasses are damaged in any way, you'll have to replace them entirely.
This can be an inconvenience if these are the main pair that you use outside of work as well, and they can no longer be ensuring safety.
You might also find that these kinds of protective eyewear can be dislodged easier as there's nothing fastening them down, and they might not cover you for hazards such as liquids that can find a way through your glasses.
What To Look For In Safety Glasses
Now you know what types of shields are available, some features of your glasses will determine how effective they are for you and can even go further than a standard pair in terms of protection.
Below are some features that you should look out for when deciding which type of safety glasses will work best for you.
Lens
You can find some glasses that have features such as tints and coatings that can protect your eyes from UV radiation and any loose material that may otherwise scratch the lens of your glasses.
You can also find anti-fog lenses so that you can use them in more expansive areas of your workplace, as it's always best to be covered for a wide range of situations in your work.
Frame
You want a design that is flexible and durable under a heavy workload while offering you comfort, and it's worth looking for types that are shatter-resistant.
You also want a pair that matches your face shape, so you might have to be willing to try on a few designs to see which ones fit best and don't slip as much.
Design
You also want a pair of glasses that are stylish if you decide to wear them outside at work, so you should look into a pair that is lightweight yet designed to be worn for extended periods of time.
Conclusion
You should always consider things like the length of time that you're going to be wearing your glasses and the amount of comfort that they provide.
It's never a bad idea to discuss with a manager what options you have that fit into safety standards that are likely going to exclude some forms of protective coverings that you might not have considered.
It would help if you also looked at what forms of eyeglasses are covered by your insurance, as you might be covered with some forms of eyeglasses.
Whichever option you decide, you can go about your day knowing that you have good coverage of protection, especially if you're working in heavy industries like construction that pose an array of hazards to your eyes. Thank you for reading.