When it comes to safety eyewear there is no single perfect solution. Depending on your application and task, several properties come into play: You need the right protective eyewear model, suitable lens material as well as matching lens tinting and coating.
How should safety eyewear fit?
The best safety glasses for you are the ones that fit you best. For too long, safety eyewear has been treated as “one size fits all.” When your safety glasses fit poorly or incorrectly, you’re putting yourself at a higher risk of injury. Head and face shapes vary considerably so it’s impossible to find one pair that works for everyone.
The general issue and fitting of safety spectacles should be conducted by a person who is competent to select and fit the correct size and type of eyewear for the wearer.
Choose the style and type of frame that suits you and the environment you are working in. The design of the eyewear determines the closeness of fit, field of vision, protection, and wearability of the eyewear. Some models feature lens angle adjustment and adjustable side arms to allow customisation of the fit of the frame.
1. Size and Fit
Ensure that the safety eyewear properly fits the wearer's face and provides adequate coverage to protect the eyes from all angles and does not obstruct the wearer's peripheral vision. Frames should sit close to your face without hitting your eyelashes.
Check if the eyewear rests comfortably on the wearer's nose bridge and does not slide down or pinch excessively.
Verify that the side arms of the eyewear are long enough to reach the wearer's ears comfortably without causing pressure points. The eyewear should stay in place when you move your head front to back and tilt your head from side to side.
According to the Australian and New Zealand Safety Eyewear standard (AS/NZS 1336:2014) the design and shape of your safety glasses should be in alignment with the shape of your face. The gaps formed between the frame edges and the face should be minimised by selecting a frame that closely follows the individual's facial contours.
Several different frame styles/shapes should be offered to determine the best fit for your workers. There are also other important considerations for the wearer including comfort, lightness, ventilation and their own personal preference in design and appearance which will maximise usage of their spectacles during the required application.
2. Frame Adjustments:
If the safety eyewear has adjustable features, such as nose pads or temple length, make necessary adjustments to achieve a secure and comfortable fit.
Adjust the nose pads so that they sit snugly on the wearer's nose without causing discomfort or leaving gaps.
Ensure that the temple arms are adjusted to the appropriate length for the wearer's head size.
3. Compliance Labels:
Look for compliance labels or markings on the eyewear to ensure they meet the Australian and New Zealand Safety Eyewear Standard (AS/NZS 1337:1 2010). These labels indicate the manufacturer, the impact rating, lens category number and any additional certifications.
Additional Checks – Post Fitting
Test the Fit:
Ask the wearer to put on the safety eyewear and perform typical work tasks or movements to ensure a secure fit during various activities.
Observe if the eyewear remains in place and provides adequate protection without causing discomfort or hindering the wearer's performance.
Lens Condition:
Check the lenses for any signs of damage, such as cracks or deep scratches. Damaged lenses may compromise the protective function and should be replaced immediately.
Verify that the lenses are clean and free from smudges, dirt, or any substances that may obstruct vision. Clean the lenses with an approved cleaning solution, alcohol-based cleaning wipe or microfibre cloth, if necessary.
It is recommended to consult the specific guidelines and instructions provided by the manufacturer for the safety eyewear you are using.
Summary - Fitting guide checklist:
Please check out the checklist below for reviewing the fit of your eyewear
No uncomfortable pressure points on the side of the head or behind the ears
Nose piece is comfortable and contacts your nose without pinching. Do you prefer a fixed or adjustable nose piece?
You should be able to see in all directions without major obstruction
Overall weight of safety eyewear is evenly distributed between your ears
Frames fit close to your face without hitting your eyelashes. The space around the frames and your face should be less than or equal to 6-8mm. Gaps between the frame and the face are as small as possible
Lenses cover your eyebrow and any soft tissue around it.
Safety glasses stay in place when you move your head front to back and tilt your head side to side.
Trial Request Program Work directly with our uvex specialist to recommend and implement high performance site PPE solutions.
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uvex safety eyewear – also ideal for narrow faces
The geometries of our uvex spectacles are as different as the faces of the people who wear them. Their optimal fit and the fact that they can be adjusted mean that these safety spectacles fit different head shapes perfectly, providing the wearer with the best possible protection from particles, sparks or dust.
Because of uvex’s German-engineered dual-injection mould technology, we’re able to combine soft and hard components into frames that flex; making them comfortable and durable, yet highly adaptive so that they fit to any face width or shape – making wearability, protection and compliance easy.
Which lens coating and tint do I need?
After you made the decision on your style, choose the lens tint and coating. Different workplaces require different lens coatings for safety eyewear due to variations in working conditions. A lot of eye injuries happen because the workers are taking off their glasses for a special task because they have vision issues, e.g glasses were fogging up. For maximum effectiveness, lens coatings should offer resistance against fogging and scratching.
uvex offers a range of lens shades and coatings to suit a variety of workplace environments and light conditions. All lens options provide 100 % UV protection.
Find out more about different coatings and tints in the links below:
The uvex suXXeed spectacles feature ergonomically shaped side arms with soft-grip temple ends providing a comfortable secure fit. The soft, flexible nose pad adapts to the wearer delivering a non-slip, pressure free fit. If you need even more protection from dust and dirt, you can simple upgrade the spectacle with an optional clip-in guard.
The uvex i-5 spectacles feature and extended eye shield which wraps around the brow providing protection from dirt and dust. Ergonomically shaped side arms feature multiple incline points and length adjustment to ensure a good fit for all facial shapes and head widths. Soft grip temple and nose pads help provide an adaptive, secure and pressure free fit.
The uvex pheos cx2 spectacles feature and extended eye shield which wraps around the brow providing protection from dirt and dust. Ergonomically shaped side arms with soft-grip temple ends provide a comfortable, secure fit without pressure. The soft-flexible nose pad adapts to the wearer, delivering a non-slip and pressure-free fit.
Our goal is to work with you together to help reduce injuries and lower your PPE costs. We surround our products with an array of services which support PPE decision makers in selection and safety strategy implementation ensuring that PPE wearers derive maximum benefit in terms of protection and ‘issue free’ wearability.
