You should use safety goggles when you require robust protection for your eyes against significant hazards.
Safety goggles are a critical piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to shield your eyes from potential dangers that standard safety glasses may not adequately address. Based on safety guidelines, safety goggles should be worn when you need protection against more substantial eye hazards.
These substantial hazards require a more comprehensive barrier than open-sided safety glasses because they can come from various angles and pose a higher risk of injury. Specific situations and materials necessitating the use of safety goggles include:
- Chemical Splashes: Handling corrosive substances, acids, bases, or solvents where accidental splashes could occur.
- Liquid or Caustic Substance Exposure: Working with any hazardous liquids that could irritate or damage the eyes upon contact.
- Fine Dust or Particles: Environments with airborne debris like sawdust, metal filings, or sanding dust that can irritate or become lodged in the eye.
- Potential High-Impact Risks: Activities where there is a risk of objects flying at velocity towards the face.
In summary, if your work or activity involves risks beyond simple flying particles, such as exposure to liquids, chemicals, very fine dust, or high-energy impacts, safety goggles are the appropriate choice for effective eye protection.
