Jul 21, 2025

Why Safety Glasses Are Workwear Essentials

Protecting your eyes is a must and should never be compromised or taken for granted. Safety glasses are an essential part of your workwear and are the ultimate defence for your eyes against hazards.

Many workplaces can be dangerous, with dust, dirt, debris and chemicals flying around, plus any number of other unexpected hazards. One wrong move or one unlucky accident can put your eyes in the firing line and you can easily find yourself in the emergency room, at risk of losing your vision (or even worse!)

That's why it's crucial to consistently use safety glasses as part of your daily workwear. Unfortunately though, workplace eye injuries are all too common in many Aussie industries.

Your eye protection could be the difference between a safe day at work and a life-changing injury.

This guide outlines the standards for safety glasses and what you need to look for when buying a fresh pair.

Key Takeaways:

Safety glasses shield your eyes from workplace dangers.
The safety glasses you should choose depends on the type of industry you're working in.
Always get protective eyewear that meets AS/NZS 1337.1 standards, which means it’s certified for use on Aussie worksites.

Your eyes are vulnerable on the job. Don't make a costly mistake - make sure they’re protected!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Eye Safety on Australian Worksites

Australian Standards for Safety Glasses

Types of Workwear Safety Glasses

Clear Lenses

Tinted and Polarised Lenses

Prescription Safety Glasses

Sealed Googles

Over-Specs

What to Look For in a Pair of Safety Glasses

Care and Maintenance Tips for Your Safety Glasses

Why Choose SafeStyle

Eye Safety on Australian Worksites

According to Safe Work Australia, there are over 500 emergency room admissions annually from workplace accidents. Most of them involve getting foreign bodies in the eye.

It sounds simple, but these common accidents can cause a life-changing injuries.

The solution is simple too…

Avoid eye injuries by wearing well-fitting and compliant safety glasses.

Australian employers, under the Work Health and Safety legislation are required to:

Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suited to the job - this includes protective eyewear.
Provide proper training for workers on wearing, cleaning, and inspecting their safeties.
Do regular safety audits to spot worn-out workwear.

People working in construction, mining, and agriculture should wear eye protection as part of their everyday workwear.

Australian Standards for Safety Glasses

Safety glasses must comply with the AS/NZS 1337.1 safety standards.

If you see this certification, you know that the safety glasses have been tested and certified to be safe for Australian worksites.

During the testing, the glasses will have been certified to have the following features:

Impact Resistance: The glasses are tough enough to protect your eyes from medium impact collisions.
Coverage: The glasses must have side protection and a secure fit around your eyes to prevent hazards from entering your eyes at the side.
Visibility: Clear or tinted lenses shouldn't distort vision.

Look for the AS/NZS 1337.1 marking on the glasses and the packaging.

Types of Workwear Safety Glasses

It’s important to choose safety glasses that are tailored for your specific needs, 'from the worksite to the weekend'.

Here are some common features to look out for:

Clear Lenses

Clear lenses are perfect for indoor use and general protection, allowing you to see clearly in low light.

Tinted and Polarised Lenses

Tinted and Polarised lenses have high-level protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. For that reason, they’re best for outdoor jobs, like construction, mining, or landscaping.

However, there are differences between Polarised and Tinted lenses. Polarised lenses filter out horizontal light which reduces glare from reflective surfaces. This makes them great for driving, or when you’re out on the water.

Prescription Safety Glasses

Safety glasses are available with prescription lenses! You can get Progressive, Bifocal, Vocational and Single Vision prescription lenses.

Prescription safety glasses could be your best option for eye protection on site, avoiding contact lenses, or ridiculous ‘overs’ that don’t fit properly and are uncomfortable.

Sealed Googles

For some jobs, you need heavy-duty eye protection. For intense, gritty, dusty jobs, you need a pair of sealed goggles.

Dangers like thick dust, biohazards, and chemical splashes require extra protection with a seal to avoid anything getting underneath your safety glasses.

If you’re working on heavy-duty jobs, don’t risk it by wearing anything less than a full-seal.

Over-Specs

‘Overs’ are worn over regular glasses to improve safety. They're usually clear, and your day-to-day glasses can fit inside them.

Yes, they do increase eye safety. But they’re not a comfortable or reliable long-term solution. You’re much better off getting a pair of prescription safety glasses that you can wear for long shifts day after day.

What to Look For in a Pair of Safety Glasses

If you’re wearing safety glasses on a daily basis (which you should be), you don't just want to chuck on any old pair.

You need to make sure you’re getting a pair that provides the right protection, is comfortable for a long day on the job, offers the extra features you need, and also looks good!

If they do all those things, not only do you know that your eyes are safe, but you’re also going to want to wear them all day, every day. Whereas if you just buy a cheap pair without any thought, they’re probably going to be horrible to wear on your face all day, and may not even do the simple job of protecting your eyes properly.

It's better to buy the best pair than buy a cheap pair you’ll regret later on.

Here are the things to look out for when buying your safety glasses:

Impact Resistance: Don't compromise your safety. Get glasses that can withstand impact.
UV Protection: Australia's harsh sun means you need glasses that protect your eyes from UV rays.
Anti-Fog and Scratch Resistance: Stop your glasses from fogging and scratching easily to keep crystal clear vision.
Non-Slip Technology: To help your glasses fit securely on your face, even if you sweat bullets on the job.
Comfortable Design: Comfort is crucial and means you’re able to do your job whilst working long hours.
Lens Material: Safety glasses made of polycarbonate are durable and lightweight.

At SafeStyle, we offer pairs with all of these features. Upgrade to the ultimate safety glasses!

Care and Maintenance Tips for Your Safety Glasses

Let’s face it, safety glasses take a beating. They’re on the front line all day every day, and can take some serious punishment.

In the past, people have been guilty of going through safety glasses at a rapid rate - sometimes even multiple pairs a day! At SafeStyle, we make safety glasses that are engineered to last. On average, SafeStyle pairs last seven times longer than typical disposable safety glasses.

But it’s also good practice to look after your safety glasses - especially if you’re investing in a quality pair that looks good and you love wearing them.

Here are some tips to help you look after your quality pair of safety glasses:

Clean with a microfibre cloth and lens cleaner made for coated lenses.
Avoid rough treatment that might damage the lenses.
Keep your glasses in a protective case. Avoid leaving them rattling around in your pocket, bag, or toolbox to avoid scratching the lenses.
Don’t place them face down on the lenses. Instead, rest them on the arms.

Maintaining your pair can make them last months or years, saving you money on buying new pairs, and is more environmentally friendly.

Why Choose SafeStyle

SafeStyle pairs protect your eyes 'from the worksite to the weekend' and make sure you look good!

SafeStyle created the first ever pair of stylish safety glasses. SafeStyle founder, Tim Lewis, created the Classics when he wanted a pair of safety glasses that actually looked good - but he couldn’t find any!

Since then, SafeStyle has continued to release new styles and revolutionise the protective eyewear industry.

Here’s why thousands of Aussie Tradies, Miners, DIYers, and more choose SafeStyle for their protective eyewear:

AS/NZS 1337.1 Certified

Every SafeStyle pair has been tested and certified to AS/NZS 1337.1 standards, meeting all strict safety requirements for durability, impact resistance, and overall safety.

UV400 and Blue Light Protection

SafeStyle has become renowned for high-quality lenses. Whether you need UV protection, blue light filtering, yellow light lens tech, or just a simple clear lens, each of our lenses helps people get on with the job while staying safe.

Stylish and Functional Designs

With more frame styles added every year, there’s a pair of SafeStyles for everyone. From the Classics (the first pair of stylish safety glasses) to the Harps, Rapids, Sonics, or Primes, there's a frame style to suit everyone.

Comfortable Fit

SafeStyle Founder Tim Lewis was a Plumber himself for over 6 years and knows how annoying and uncomfortable some pairs of safety glasses can be. At SafeStyle, we’ve designed every pair to be comfortable for long shifts and tough days.

Prescription Safety Glasses

SafeStyle has an ever-growing range of Prescription Safety Glasses that are available with Progression, Bifocal, Vocational, and Single Vision lenses that are available online or at SafeStyle stocking Optometrists.