Using Regular Glasses on Site,Why It's Dangerous and What the Alternative Is

It is one of the most common compromises made on Australian construction sites: a worker who wears prescription glasses shows up to site, puts on a pair of over-spec safety glasses over their frames, or,more dangerously,simply wears their regular optical glasses and assumes this is sufficient. Neither approach meets the standard. Neither protects the worker adequately.

Why Regular Optical Frames Fail as Eye Protection

Standard optical frames are engineered for low weight, aesthetics, and comfort over long periods of wear. They are not designed or tested to resist impact. In an incident, a standard optical frame may shatter in ways that drive lens fragments into the eye rather than deflecting them away. The lens material may also lack the impact resistance of certified safety lenses.

Under AS/NZS 1337, the frame and lens are tested together as a system. A certified safety lens in a non-certified frame does not constitute compliant eye protection. A certified frame with a non-certified lens does not either. Both must meet the standard.

Over-Spec Safety Glasses (OTG),the Trade-Off

Over-spec (OTG,"over the glasses") safety goggles are designed to be worn over prescription glasses. Many are certified to AS/NZS 1337. They can be a legitimate short-term solution, but they have limitations:

• Significantly less comfortable for extended wear
• Can fog more easily, especially in warm or humid conditions
• Increase the weight and heat on the face
• Some site rules do not accept OTG as compliant for high-risk tasks
• If prescription glasses don't fit properly within the OTG frame, lens coverage may be inadequate

Prescription Safety Frames,the Right Solution

Prescription safety frames are manufactured to AS/NZS 1337.6 and fitted with your prescription lenses in safety-rated lens materials. They look similar to regular glasses, are comfortable for all-day wear, and provide genuine compliant eye protection. Many health funds provide a contribution toward prescription safety eyewear under optical extras,check with your fund.