06 Aug 08/06/2020

Our Best Safety Goggles

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that 2,000 American workers sustain an on-the-job eye injury every day. Many of these injuries could have been prevented if the user was wearing eye protection. Safety glasses are what most workers choose to wear as part of their PPE, as they provide impact protection from flying objects that can damage eyes. However, safety glasses only defend the wearer's eyes from impact, not from chemicals, liquids, dust, or caustic vapors.

Construction sites are an ideal setting for goggles due to the amount of dust and sand found.

Openings around the top and bottom of safety glasses allow potential foreign objects in the air to enter. To protect against a broader range of environmental hazards, workers require 360° coverage around the eyes.

In this article, we will highlight the importance of safety goggles, their fundamental characteristics, what separates one type from another, and under what conditions you should use it. We will also break down our top-selling styles and the different technology used for each.

What Are Safety Goggles?

Safety goggles are protective eyewear that guards a wearer's eyes against injury in ways that safety glasses struggle to accomplish. A goggle's tight-fitting design, in conjunction with its strap, completely seals off one's eyes from outside dangers. You will find goggles used across many activities outside of work applications; racquetball, swimming, and motorcycle riding all involve goggles.

In the workplace, the snug fit of goggles means that the wearer has better protection when working with hazardous materials. The first goggle options were engineered to keep basic particulates out of the eyes. Newer designs protect users from liquids and gases and offer anti-fog coatings. Here are some hazards that goggles can help protect against:

High-velocity debris and blunt impacts
Liquids and chemical splashes
Small flying particles and fragments
Gases, mists, and vapors
Dust

Since safety goggles also extend further from the face, wearers are often able to wear their prescription eyeglasses underneath for vision correction.

HB1320PF is made with 6X better performing Anti-Fog Technology!

All of MCR Safety's goggles are ANSI Z87.1 certified, which means they've passed a high impact standard. To meet certification requirements, goggles must withstand having a .25-inch steel ball propelled at 250ft per second towards them without shattering. Our ITC lab testing facility frequently takes random goggle samples from our factory's product run and subjects them to the impact test, ensuring our products perform when needed.

Types Available: Indirect Ventilation vs. Direct Ventilation

One way of making goggles more comfortable is by allowing air circulation through vents. This design assists in reducing fogging, preventing moisture build-up, and allowing heat to escape. However, when working with chemicals, vapors, or mists, a different type of goggle is required that does not come equipped with open-air vents.

For safety goggles to protect your eyes adequately, you need to select ones designed for the kind of hazard you may encounter. There are three types to choose from, depending on your work environment. We highlight each goggle type separately below.

Direct Vented

The most comfortable goggles are those made with multiple perforations on the sides called direct venting. These goggles allow air to flow directly in, which means fog and heat build-up are less of a concern.

The vents prevent any large objects that are 0.06 inches or greater in diameter from breaching the goggle and injuring the eye. These goggles are best suited for jobs where the impact is a significant hazard and not splashes or vapors from chemicals.

Indirect Vented

Higher quality goggles are indirectly vented, meaning they are designed so that there is no direct straight-line passage into the unit. Instead, the vents are protected by a covered hood, allowing air to travel in, but particles are not. These goggles are best suited for jobs where chemical splashes are the hazard.

Since air isn't able to pass through as freely as it does with direct vented styles, fogging becomes more of a concern. You will find most indirect vented goggles equipped with anti-fog technology.

Ventless

Whenever chemical vapor is the underlining concern, a non-vented goggle is required. This type doesn't provide a vent, allowing for a higher level of protection. Ventless styles protect users from both chemicals and impact, along with airborne particulates, mist, fumes, and vapors.

Since there are no vents to allow for air circulation, this form of protection discourages long periods of wear by the user. These goggles also require an anti-fog coating to keep them from fogging up.

*Warning: Ventless goggles doesn't mean they are gas-proof.

Additional reference articles:

OSHA
OSHA Dust
University of Wisconsin EHS

Dust-Proof: Safety Goggles with Foam Lining

One of the core functions of safety goggles is to protect one's eyes from dusty conditions. Dust can be especially troublesome to workers because of the fine nature of the substances it contains that pose a threat to the eye. To adequately keep dust from injuring the eye, safety goggles need a tight fit and often have foam around the lenses to completely seal the eye from danger.

Woodworking, buffing, aggregate handling, and concrete work are all applications where dust is a concern for workers. MCR Safety's Predator® PD2 comes equipped with foam to fit tightly against the face and full foam venting, which minimizes the chance of the lenses fogging up while working.

Predator® PD2 - Gray Tint

The Top 10 - MCR's Best Safety Goggles

Our extensive range of goggles breaks down into the following categories:

Anti-fog – All styles marked in our matrix below as "anti-fog yes" are the options you'll want to consider if fogging is a concern.

Chemical – Look for styles that indicate indirect venting or are ventless and equipped with a rubber strap. An elastic strap is not for use around chemicals.

Dust – Our 2230R and 2235R are ANSI D4 rated for dust, making them ideal for dusty workplaces. The standard certification ensures the goggles fit tightly to the face for protection against nuisance dust. Our PGX110AF is ANSI 4 and ANSI 5 rated, with the latter one protecting the wearer from fine dust.

Tinted – We sell a wide array of gray-tinted goggles.

Our Top 10 Styles

Material	Goggle Type	Strap	Anti-Fog
2120	Direct Vented / Perforated Clear	Elastic
2220	Direct Vented / Perforated Clear	Elastic
2320AF	Indirect Vented Clear	Elastic
2410	Indirect Vented Clear	Elastic	Yes
2410F	Indirect Vented Clear	Elastic	Yes
PGX110AF	Indirect Vented Clear	Elastic	Yes
2230R	Indirect Vented Clear	Rubber
2310AF	Indirect Vented Clear	Rubber
2235R	Indirect Vented Clear	Rubber	Yes
2237R	Ventless Clear	Rubber	Yes

We've only listed here a small portion of the 50+ goggle styles we offer. Our Max 6 styles offer 6X greater anti-fog performance over our standard AF styles shown above. Check out our entire catalog for all the safety goggles we offer.

Top Places Worn

Goggles are often worn in laboratories, on construction sites, within the manufacturing industry, and by woodworking professionals. We take a closer look below at lab settings and construction, then provide a comprehensive list for all other sectors.

In the Lab

In laboratory settings, it is essential to have adequate, snug-fitting safety goggles. While safety glasses may also be appropriate, a good rule of thumb about whether to use goggles or glasses is to ask yourself: What is the chance something can splash into my eye, and what would the effect of that splash be on the eye?

If the chance of something splashing or being sprayed in the eye is great, safety goggles should be used to prevent damage to your eye from chemicals. There is also a biological matter present in some labs that can cause infection. Lastly, an explosion that occurs in a lab setting can cause a lifelong eye injury and potential blindness.

On the Construction Site

The National Center for Biotechnology Information found that 20 percent of eye injuries in the workplace occur in the field of construction. Construction is a massive umbrella that encompasses welders, plumbers, insulators, painters, electricians, and others who potentially encounter more eye hazards than any other industry.

On any construction site, you'll find workers using power tools. When these tools are in use, it is not uncommon to find chunks of metal, wood, and concrete flying in the air. Between flying nails, wood splinters, metal fragments, dust, grit, and sparks, safety goggles are essential on the worksite to ensure the safety of every worker involved in the project.

Other Settings

In addition to labs and construction sites, here are some other industries where safety goggles are needed:

Medical professionals – In hospitals and healthcare facilities, workers are exposed to bloodborne pathogens, infectious materials, and bodily fluids. The eyes are an entry point for viruses, which has made wearing goggles as part of medical PPE especially crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dentist offices – Those working in the back office of a dental practice need goggles to protect their eyes from spray and splatter.
Industrial manufacturing – This industry involves working with grease, oil, metal shavings, and steam. Goggles are required in almost any manufacturing plant.
Primary metals – In molten metal settings, such as casting, pouring, and hot dipping operations, workers, require all kinds of PPE for protection from heat, sparks, and splashing molten metal. In this environment, you'll find workers wearing goggles and face shields.
Schools and universities – Safety goggles are mandatory PPE in classroom labs.
Janitorial staff – These workers will often need a full seal when cleaning potentially infectious areas.
Chemical operations – Anywhere acid and alkali handling occurs, goggles are always required.

OSHA Requirements

Providing adequate PPE to workers is not just a moral obligation; it is also a federal mandate through OSHA. According to OSHA regulations, employers must:

Perform assessments for workplace hazards to identify and control them.
Identify, pay for, and provide appropriate PPE for employees.
Train employees on how to use and to take care of the PPE.
Maintain PPE by replacing worn or damaged PPE.
Periodically review, update and evaluate the effectiveness of the PPE they are using.

In turn, employees also have obligations, including:

Properly using the PPE provided.
Attending training on PPE.
Caring for and cleaning the PPE provided.
Informing the proper channels when PPE is damaged or in need of replacement.

OSHA reference documents:

Employee PPE
PPE Factsheet
PPE Impact
PPE Chemicals

Frequently Asked Questions

Who invented safety goggles?

The first safety goggles were introduced in 1909 by Julius King Optical Company.

Where can I buy safety goggles for chemistry?

Simply leave us a note by requesting a quote for any goggle shown above or on our website, and we will put you in touch with a local distributor.

How do I keep safety goggles from fogging?

MCR Safety makes a goggle called Max 6 that has a six-times greater anti-fog coating built into the lens during manufacturing. You can find them here.

When should a lab coat, safety goggles, and gloves be worn in the laboratory?

When someone is working with chemicals, a lab coat, safety goggles, and gloves are a must. These pieces of PPE allow someone to work more safely with chemicals that could easily damage someone's eyes, hands, or body.

What are safety goggles used for?

They protect workers' eyes from chemicals, flying fragments and objects, vapor, and dust.

What do I clean safety goggles with?

Our LCT wipes are ideal for cleaning eye protection. Extra caution should be taken if chemicals have been present.

What are safety goggles made of?

Goggles are made similarly to safety glasses with a polymer material known as polycarbonate. The straps are typically made of either elastic or rubber. For those working around chemicals, rubber straps are required.

Protecting Eyes with Great Goggles

Work-related eye injuries may frequently happen in the United States, but that doesn't mean they aren't preventable. Equipping yourself and your employees with the latest technology in safety goggles ensure that everyone will leave the worksite uninjured and without long-term vision damage.

Click the image above to request a quote, leave us a comment, ask a question, or share any concerns.

For over 45 years, MCR Safety has proven to be a world leader in gloves, glasses, and garments. Whether it's on the shop floor, an oil rig, or a construction site, we are there to provide solutions to workplace hazards. It's all part of our commitment to protect people.

No matter your industry, we have the personal protective equipment you need.

Learn more about MCR Safety by checking out our most recent video. For more information, browse our website, request a catalog, find a distributor, or give us a call at (800) 955-6887.