Goggles & Lenses

The first thing workers should inspect are the lenses. The lenses on safety goggles are designed to resist moderate impacts. Clear lenses can be removable and may incorporate prescription lenses, just like a regular pair of glasses. However, they do not protect against optical radiation.

For projects involving intense light, workers should choose filter lenses, which are graded according to the specific project and by shade number. Shade numbers range between 2 and 14, according to the darkness provided and the type of welding being done. Keep in mind that higher shade numbers do not necessarily correspond to better eye protection. For example, shielded metal arc welding projects require lenses with a shade number between 7 and 11, depending on the light intensity. For gas welding projects, choose a filter lens with a shade number between 4 and 6. For visual projects that expose workers to high temperatures, choose special lenses that darken when exposed to UV light. Keep in mind that these special lenses may not correspond to specific filtered lens shades.

To learn more about Eye & Face Protection visit our Eye & Face Protection Online Training web page.