What Makes Them “Safety” Glasses?
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which sets standards for safety glasses, requires them to withstand the impact of a quarter inch steel ball traveling 150 feet per second. You can’t depend on your prescription glasses for this kind of protection. Frames stamped with the imprint “Z87” meet stringent standards for strength and heat resistance. It is important to remember that standard safety glasses protect against impact from the front only. For this reason the some safety glasses have side shields to provide limited protection from the sides for tasks such as sanding, buffing, and drill press work. When hazards come from above and below as well as the side goggles can be used instead of glasses or a face shield can be worn over the safety glasses.
