Guides

When do you need safety glasses? Any time flying particles, dust, chemical splash, or impact can reach your eyes — grinding, woodworking, mowing, drilling, chemicals. An activity-by-activity guide plus the ANSI Z87.1 / Z87+ rule and how to choose the right pair.

Our 2026 ranking of the best face shields for welding, grinding, and cutting: IR/UV shade windows, V-Gard steel mesh, and a 9.9 cal/cm2 arc-flash dual-crown shield, matched to your hazard.

Our 2026 guide to the best face shields ranks six Z87.1 picks by hazard: grinding/impact, chemical splash, welding/cutting, hard-hat mounting and best value.

For most shops the Lincoln Electric K3118-1 (Shade 5) is the best all-round welding/cutting goggle — a wide, sealed lens that handles oxy-fuel cutting, plasma, and brazing and doubles for grinding. For classic oxy-acetylene with a flip-up lens, the Forney 55320; for the lowest cost or an…

Safety glasses are the most-worn piece of PPE on any job site — and the most frequently bought wrong. ANSI Z87.1 compliance is mandatory wherever the 29 CFR 1926.102 hazard threshold is met, but the Z87.1 marking alone doesn't tell you whether the lens handles chemical splash, high-impact grinding…

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.133 requires eye and face protection wherever employees are exposed to flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids, caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation. All eye protection must meet ANSI Z87.1.