For eye and face protection to be effective, it must fit correctly and work in harmony with other PPE. Poorly fitting eyewear not only fails to protect against hazards like impact and radiation, but it can also interfere with the function of other safety equipment—such as respirators or hearing protection.
Ensuring a proper fit
Eye protection must:
Sit securely and comfortably over the eyes.
Provide adequate coverage against hazards such as flying particles, UV radiation, and chemical splashes.
Be fitted without side arms or straps being dislodged by other PPE (e.g. helmets or respirators).
If safety spectacles or goggles don’t fit properly, they may not perform to their rated level of protection, increasing the risk of injury.
Compatibility with respirators
Disposable masks and tight-fitting reusable respirators can cause lenses to mist, impairing vision. Consider the following:
Use anti-mist coated safety eyewear to reduce fogging.
Persistent misting when using a reusable respirator may indicate a poor respirator fit—this should be addressed.
Ensure spectacle side arms and goggle straps do not interfere with the seal of the respirator. Eye protection should always be worn during a respirator fit test to confirm compatibility.
Compatibility with hearing protection
Wearing spectacle side arms under the cushions of ear defenders can reduce their noise attenuation. This could compromise hearing protection performance. Ensure PPE is worn and tested together where possible.
Integrated solutions
Integrated PPE can eliminate many of these compatibility issues. A helmet with built-in retractable eyewear ensures:
A secure, comfortable fit without compromising protection levels.
Compatibility with other PPE such as respirators and ear defenders.
The ability to wear prescription glasses underneath, removing the need for custom prescription safety eyewear.
Summary of key points:
Eye protection must fit properly to offer effective coverage and impact resistance.
Poor fit may reduce the protection level or interfere with other PPE.
Use anti-mist eyewear to reduce lens fogging from respirators.
Ensure compatibility between eyewear, respirators, and hearing protection during fit testing.
Integrated PPE solutions help avoid common compatibility issues and support prescription eyewear use.
Find out more about integrated eyewear helmets.
If you need further support, please contact our Technical Support Team using the email: technical@jspsafety.com or contact us via our WhatsApp.