March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month, emphasizing the importance of wearing the right safety glasses to prevent workplace injuries. According to ophthalmologists, safety glasses can prevent 90% of work-related eye injuries.

Despite this data, roughly 2,000 workers in the U.S. sustain eye injuries requiring medical attention each day. These injuries include everything from eye strain to severe injuries, which can result in permanent vision damage. Eye injuries also have their financial strain, costing companies an estimated $300 million per year in workers’ compensation and productivity loss. 

In this article, we’ll discuss six ways wearing the right safety glasses improves workplace safety and how you can implement them.  

1. Resists Impacts 

Impact injuries occur when objects like wood, metal or tools strike the eye with heavy force. These injuries can result in corneal abrasions, deep lacerations and blunt-force trauma. According to Northwestern University researchers, 70% of eye injuries are caused by these types of impacts. 

To prevent these injuries, your workers must be equipped with protection designed to meet the requirements of the ANSI-ISEA Z87.1-2020 Standard.  

3M™ offers a range of glasses and goggles that meet this standard. The SecureFit™ 100 Series sets the industry benchmark in eye protection by meeting the ANSI-ISEA Z87.1-2020 Standard with a sleek, minimal design. 

The new 3M GoggleGear™ Protective Goggle 3000 Series offers the same impact protection while covering a greater portion of a worker’s face, giving them more assurance on the job. 

2. Stops Dust & Chemicals 

Naked eye exposure to wood shavings, metal fillings, concrete dust and harsh chemicals contributes to almost 60% percent of eye injuries. These types of injuries range from minor to severe and include abrasions, burns, vision loss and even blindness. 

The Protective Goggle 3000 Series is an excellent solution to prevent these injuries. Designed to keep particles and chemicals free from the eye, each model is D3 (splash and droplet) and D4 (dust) rated, keeping workers’ eyes free of foreign matter. 

3. Sheilds Against UV & Glare

Workers who are predominantly outdoors are at a higher risk of UV-related eye injuries. Outdoor workers are 20 times more likely to develop pterygium, a non-cancerous eye growth. They are also at risk of reduced visual performance, eye strain from glare and photokeratitis, often called “sunburn of the eye.” 

Both the SecureFit 100 Series and Protective Goggle 3000 Series offer U6-rated polycarbonate lenses designed to absorb 99.9% of UVA, UVB and UVC, improving worker safety in even the sunniest environments. 

4. Resists Fog & Scratches

Fogged and scratched lenses impair and distort workers’ vision, increasing the risk of injuries, especially in intense environments. Fogging often forces workers to remove safety glasses to see clearly, contributing to 28% of reported workplace injuries. Scratches diminish the structural integrity of safety glasses, rendering them ineffective over time. 

The SecureFit 100 Series features an anti-scratch design and the 3M Scotchgard™ Protector Anti-Fog Coating, helping workers see clearly for longer. 

The Protective Goggle 3000 Series also incorporates an anti-fog/anti-scratch design. The series also offers indirect venting for enhanced air circulation and anti-fog performance, keeping workers’ vision clear and eye protection on.

5. Improves Worker Compliance

Ensuring workers wear proper safety glasses isn’t just about preventing injuries—it’s also about maintaining compliance with workplace safety regulations. Protective eyewear that meets OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards and carries ANSI Z87.1 certification helps businesses avoid costly fines, penalties, legal liabilities and, of course, workplace injuries.

6. Encourages a Culture of Safety 

Compliance goes beyond just having the right eyewear available—it requires a strong company safety culture. Building this culture requires consistent participation and reinforcement at all levels of the organization.  

Leadership plays a crucial role in reinforcing safety expectations. When supervisors and management consistently wear proper eye protection and enforce its use, it sets a clear example. This top-down commitment fosters a workplace where peer accountability thrives. 

When employees are given comfortable, durable safety glasses designed for their specific job roles, safety, culture and compliance easily follow. 

Give your workforce the right safety glasses today!