Understanding the standards behind the protection
This page is educational. It explains the standards that govern safety eyewear so you can make informed choices — and clarifies that suitability always depends on the product, its configuration, and your workplace hazard assessment.
Why workplace eye protection matters
Eye injuries can occur wherever workers are exposed to flying particles, impacts, chemical splashes, or harmful light. Proper safety eyewear is a frontline control — but only the right eyewear, properly fitted, for the right hazard.
CSA Z94.3
CSA Z94.3 is the Canadian standard for eye and face protectors. Products certified to this standard carry markings indicating their classification and intended use. It's the common reference point for safety eyewear in Canadian workplaces.
ANSI Z87.1
ANSI Z87.1 is the U.S. standard for occupational and educational eye and face protection. Some eyewear is marked to this standard. Markings (such as high-impact or special-use designations) describe the protection the product is designed to provide.
Product markings & certifications
Certified safety eyewear carries markings on the lens and/or frame that identify the standard, impact level, and use conditions. Read the markings to understand what a product is designed to protect against — and confirm suitability for your specific hazards.
Proper selection and side protection
Choosing safety eyewear means matching the protection to the hazard — and making sure it fits so it's actually worn.
- Select eyewear based on the hazards present in your workplace assessment
- Ensure side protection appropriate to the work environment
- Fit so the eyewear stays secure and comfortable during movement
- Confirm compatibility with prescription requirements where needed
Regular glasses aren't necessarily safety glasses
Ordinary prescription glasses are designed for vision correction, not impact protection. Even with impact-resistant lenses, standard frames may not keep the lens secure under workplace forces. Prescription safety glasses use frames and lenses designed together to help withstand the hazards they're rated for.
Ready to bring safety eyewear to your workplace?
Request an on-site visit and we'll help you coordinate professional fittings for your team — wherever you operate in Southern Ontario.