Safety glasses protect the eyes from impact: flying particles, chips and dust. They are not splash protection. For acid, alkali or chemical spray, CCOHS points to Class 2B goggles, a face shield or a hood, not spectacles. So choose by hazard first, then by fit, lens and certification. This guide maps CSA Z94.3 classes to hazards and then to the Ronco Nova safety glasses ERE lists.
In this guide
- Which Eye Protection Matches Which Hazard?
- Are Safety Glasses or Goggles Better for Dust and Splash?
- Which Lens Material and Colour Should You Choose?
- Which Safety Glasses Does ERE List?
- How Should Safety Glasses Fit, and When Do You Replace Them?
- How Do You Choose Safety Glasses, Step by Step?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Which Eye Protection Matches Which Hazard?
The hazard decides the device. CCOHS reproduces the CSA Z94.3.1-16 selection guideline; many Canadian jurisdictions require eye and face protectors to meet CSA Z94.3, so check the legislation that applies to your site (CCOHS, Eye and Face Protectors).
| Hazard | Typical activities | Recommended protectors (CSA Z94.3.1-16) |
|---|---|---|
| Flying objects | Grinding, drilling, hammering, sawing, unpacking | Class 1A spectacles; 2A or 2B goggles; hoods; face shields |
| Flying particles, dust, wind | Sanding, woodworking, concrete work, material handling | Class 1A spectacles; 2A or 2B goggles; hoods; face shields |
| Acid splash, chemical burns | Acid and alkali handling, degreasing, chemical spray | Class 2B goggles; Class 5B hoods; Class 6A face shields |
| Moderate optical radiation | Torch cutting, brazing, furnace work | Class 1B spectacles; 2C goggles; 5C hoods; 6B face shields |
| Electric arc flash | Live electrical work | Class 2E goggles; 5E hoods; 6D face shields |
The CCOHS table notes that it cannot cover every combination of hazards, so assess each task. For splashes and mists CCOHS adds that a face shield is worn over goggles, not instead of them.
Are Safety Glasses or Goggles Better for Dust and Splash?
Goggles are better when the hazard comes from more than one direction or from liquid. CCOHS separates the devices this way (CCOHS):
- Safety glasses (spectacles): impact hazards such as flying objects and particles.
- Direct-ventilated goggles: impact hazards.
- Indirect-ventilated or non-ventilated goggles: impact, chemical or liquid splashes, and fine dust.
- Face shields: impact and splash for the eyes, nose, mouth and face; worn over goggles for splashes, droplets and mists.
The consequence for purchasing is simple: CCOHS lists direct-ventilated goggles for impact hazards only. Do not put a direct-ventilated model on a chemical-splash task because it is called "safety glasses" in a catalogue. If your hazard assessment lists splash, specify indirect-vent or non-vented goggles, and ask us if you need help matching one.
Which Lens Material and Colour Should You Choose?
Polycarbonate is the most impact-resistant lens material, according to the CSA Z94.3.1-16 comparison CCOHS publishes. It is light, can be coated for scratch resistance, and most polycarbonate has built-in UV absorption (CCOHS).
| Lens material | What CCOHS says |
|---|---|
| Polycarbonate | Most impact-resistant; lightweight; can be coated for scratch resistance |
| Hi-Vex | More impact-resistant than CR39; 100% UV filtering; very clear |
| Trivex | More impact-resistant than CR39, less than polycarbonate; UV absorbing |
| Plastic (CR39) | About half the weight of glass; resistant to solvents and pitting |
| Glass | Heavy; loses impact resistance if scratched; does not meet the CSA Z94.3 impact criteria |
On colour, CCOHS is direct: lenses can be clear, tinted, photochromic or polarized, each with varying UV protection including none, so do not be fooled by the colour. Check the manufacturer's UV statement instead. Anti-fog is offered as a separate lens option on some Nova models (see the table below).
Which Safety Glasses Does ERE List?
ERE lists six Ronco Nova models on the Face Protection collection. The table reads from each product record, and prices are quoted on request.
| Product | Style on record | Lens options on record | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova E Series | One-piece lens, built-in side impact protection, molded nose bridge | Clear, clear anti-fog, smoke, amber (polycarbonate) | One size; 12 pairs per box |
| Nova E+ Series | Sporty wrap-around, flexible frame, soft temple tip pads | Clear, clear anti-fog, smoke (polycarbonate) | One size; 12 pairs per box |
| Nova 82-150 | Polycarbonate frame, integrated side shields, adjustable telescoping temples | Clear, scratch-resistant | Record cites general industrial, healthcare and food-processing use; 12 pairs per box |
| Nova 82-250 | Visitor glasses, single-piece lens, indirect temple ventilation | Clear, scratch-resistant | Fits over most prescription glasses; 12 pairs per box |
| Nova OTG | Over-the-glass, integrated lateral protection, adjustable temple length and pantoscopic angle | Clear, anti-scratch and anti-fog | Fits over most prescription eyewear |
| Nova 82-800 | Goggle with direct ventilation and an elastic strap | Clear, anti-scratch | Fits over most prescription glasses; 10 pairs per box |
Every record states 99.9% protection against UV radiation and "meets or exceeds CAN/CSA Z94.3". Three things the records do not say, which matter when you write a specification:
- No class is printed. The records do not name a Z94.3 class such as 1A or 2B. Confirm it from the User Information Sheet linked on each product page and from the marking on the product.
- The 82-800 is a direct-ventilated goggle. Under the CCOHS definitions it is an impact and dust device, not a splash device, even though the catalogue title says "safety glasses".
- The records do not give prescription compatibility beyond "fits over". The 82-250, OTG and 82-800 fit over most prescription glasses; none is a prescription lens.
How Should Safety Glasses Fit, and When Do You Replace Them?
Eyewear protects only if it fully covers the eye and the soft tissue around it. CCOHS says it should cover from the eyebrow to the cheekbone and from the nose to the outer edge of the face, with minimal gaps and no major obstruction of the field of view (CCOHS).
- Clean daily and as needed, following the manufacturer's instructions; avoid rough handling that scratches lenses.
- Replace immediately scratched, pitted, broken, bent or ill-fitting devices.
- Use identical manufacturer parts for replacements and do not modify the device.
- Store in a clean, dry place, in a case when not worn.
- Look for the mark. The certification mark should be on the lenses and on the frame front and temples of approved eyewear.
Eye protection often shares the head with other PPE. See our guides to hard hats, half mask respirators and industrial earplugs.
How Do You Choose Safety Glasses, Step by Step?
- Name the hazard. Impact, dust, splash, radiation or arc flash; write all that apply.
- Pick the device. Spectacles for impact and particles, goggles for dust and splash, a face shield over goggles for splash and mist.
- Check the class. Match it to the CSA Z94.3.1-16 table and your jurisdiction's rules.
- Choose the lens. Polycarbonate for impact; clear for indoor work, tinted only where glare or radiation calls for it; anti-fog where humidity or masks fog the lens.
- Plan for prescription wearers. Over-the-glass models or prescription safety eyewear, not a gap under ordinary frames.
- Fit, assign and inspect. Individually fitted, cleaned daily and replaced when scratched.
If you are standardizing eyewear for a crew or a visitor program, request a quote and we will return a specific list.
Need help choosing safety glasses?
ERE Inc. has served Canadian industrial and environmental buyers for 30+ years. Tell us the hazard, whether anyone wears prescription glasses and the headcount, and we will quote the matching Ronco Nova models.
→ Request a Quote | 1-888-287-EREC | Browse Face Protection | sales@ereinc.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Are safety glasses enough for chemical splash?
No. CCOHS lists Class 2B goggles, Class 5B hoods or Class 6A face shields for acid splash and chemical burns. Safety glasses protect against impact hazards.
What is the difference between safety glasses and safety goggles?
Safety glasses are spectacles for impact hazards. Goggles seal more of the face; indirect-ventilated and non-ventilated goggles also protect against splashes and fine dust, while direct-ventilated goggles protect against impact only.
What does CSA Z94.3 cover?
CSA Z94.3 is the Canadian standard for eye and face protectors. Many Canadian jurisdictions require protectors to meet it, so check the legislation that applies to your site.
Does a tinted lens give UV protection?
Not necessarily. CCOHS notes that clear, tinted, photochromic and polarized lenses each offer varying UV protection, including none, so the colour does not tell you.
Can I wear safety glasses over my prescription glasses?
Only models designed for it. ERE's records state that the Nova 82-250, OTG and 82-800 fit over most prescription glasses.
Related articles
- Hard Hat: How to Choose Between CSA Type 1 and Type 2 in Canada
- Half Mask Respirator: How to Match Cartridges and Filters to the Hazard in Canada
- Earplugs for Industrial Work: How to Read NRR and Choose in Canada
Lire en français : Lunettes de sécurité : comment lire la norme CSA Z94.3 et choisir au Canada