Work environments where eye injuries are a risk, such as construction, industry, or laboratories, often require employees to wear safety glasses. But what if someone needs prescription glasses? The Dutch Working Conditions Act (Working Conditions Act) provides clear guidelines on employers' obligations regarding eye protection, including prescription safety glasses. In this article, we discuss the most important requirements of the Working Conditions Act, so that employers and employees know where they stand.

Legal obligations under the Working Conditions Act

The Working Conditions Act requires employers to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. This includes that employers are responsible for minimizing risks in the workplace and providing adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as eye protection.

Article 3 of the Working Conditions Act

Article 3 of the Working Conditions Act states that employers must provide appropriate protective equipment when the safety or health of employees is at risk. This also applies in situations where eye injuries are a risk. So safety glasses are not simply optional in work environments with increased risks; they are an obligation. For employees who wear prescription glasses, this means that the employer must provide them with a which also offers a visual correction.

Working Conditions Act, Working Conditions Decree, and Working Conditions Regulations

The Working Conditions Act acts as a framework law and is supplemented by the Working Conditions Decision and the Arbo regulation. The Working Conditions Act contains general rules that apply to all workplaces, while the Working Conditions Decree provides specific regulations for risky situations and the Working Conditions Regulation offers additional practical interpretations. For example, employers find more detailed regulations in the Working Conditions Decree about when and which PPE is mandatory, such as safety glasses in risky situations.

Obligations for employers

Eye protection equipment must be maintained regularly to ensure that they remain in good condition. According to the Working Conditions Act and additional regulations, the following points are important:

• Maintenance and control: The glasses should be checked regularly to verify that the lenses still provide the correct correction and that the glasses meet safety standards.
• Replacement in case of wear or damage: PBMs must be replaced if they are worn or damaged. This includes prescription safety glasses, which may no longer provide the correct visual correction over time or lose their protective function.
• Training in the correct use of eye protection: Employers are required to train employees in the proper use of eye protection equipment to ensure effectiveness.

Safety glasses that no longer fit or are damaged cannot adequately protect the eyes, which not only endangers the safety of the employee, but also compliance with the legal obligations under the Working Conditions Act.

Consequences of non-compliance with the Working Conditions Act

If an employer does not meet the requirements of the Working Conditions Act, such as providing appropriate prescription safety glasses, this can have various consequences:

• Fines from SZW inspection: The SZW Inspectorate can impose fines on employers who fail to comply with their obligations under the Working Conditions Act. This can be costly, especially if a shortcoming leads to an accident at work.
• Increased risk of injury and absenteeism: Workers without adequate eye protection are at greater risk of injury, which can lead to absenteeism and higher costs for the employer.

Why prescription goggles are important

Ordinary safety glasses may offer protection against physical risks, but if they do not have visual correction, this can actually be dangerous for employees wearing prescription glasses. It reduces visibility and can even lead to accidents. That's why prescription safety glasses are essential for employees who need visual correction. This optimally corrects their vision while protecting their eyes from flying particles, chemical splashes or other workplace hazards.

When is it mandatory to wear safety glasses?

Working in an environment where splinters, dust particles or hazardous substances are in the air requires good eye protection. Safety glasses can make the difference between working safely and a serious eye injury. Safety glasses are even mandatory in many workshops, and for good reason. There are also often stickers at these locations that indicate that it is mandatory to wear safety glasses. If these stickers are not present, it is still possible that the obligation of safety glasses has been established by the Working Conditions Act. Below, we explain when safety glasses are necessary, what dangers you may encounter and the requirements that certified safety glasses must meet.

Activities can cause three types of hazard, namely chemical hazard, mechanical hazard and radiation hazard.

• Chemical hazard
  Harmful liquids, vapors, or gases may enter the eye. Think of working with acids, solvents or cleaning agents. These substances can cause severe irritation, burns, or even permanent damage to the eye.
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• Mechanical hazard
  Splinters, dust particles or small fragments that come off during grinding, sawing or drilling, for example, can end up in the eye. Mechanical hazards are mainly present at construction sites or in workshops where machines are often used. Without protective glasses, a small particle can already cause major damage to the cornea.
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• Radiation hazard
  Eyes can be exposed to harmful radiation, such as ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) radiation. This occurs during welding work, but also in laboratories where certain light sources are used. Exposure to this radiation without eye protection can lead to welding eyes, retinal burns, or other serious eye problems.

What makes safety glasses certified?

Safety glasses are only certified safety glasses if they comply with the NEN EN-166 standard or the renewed EN ISO 16321-1:2022 standard. The NEN EN-166 standard describes the minimum requirements for eye protection, both for frames and lenses, and has been the standard for a long time. Eyeglasses that meet these requirements may CE sign wear on the side of the glasses, which means they have been tested and approved according to European safety standards.

Good safety glasses not only protect against the dangers mentioned above, but also offer comfort and a good fit. The latter is important because glasses that fit properly prevent harmful particles from ending up behind the lenses.

Transition to EN ISO 16321-1:2022

From November 2024, the EN ISO 16321-1:2022 standard will replace the current EN 166 standard. This new standard sets stricter requirements for safety glasses to better protect employees against various risks in work environments. The EN ISO 16321-1:2022 standard is designed to suit modern working conditions and offers improved protection based on the latest insights and technologies. Employers must take this new standard into account when purchasing safety glasses to comply with current laws and regulations and to optimally protect the safety and health of their employees.

Read all the changes to the new standard

FAQs

• ‍What happens if an employer does not offer prescription safety glasses in risky environments?
  If an employer does not provide appropriate safety glasses when necessary, this can result in legal penalties and fines. In addition, the company risks an increased risk of work accidents and absenteeism.
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• ‍How often do safety glasses need to be checked for prescription?
  Prescription safety glasses should be checked regularly to ensure that correction and protection are still adequate. In case of visible damage or reduction in effectiveness, the glasses must be replaced immediately.
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• ‍Are prescription safety glasses mandatory in every work environment?
  Not every work environment requires safety glasses. The obligation mainly applies in environments where there is a risk of eye injury due to, for example, flying particles, chemicals or bright light.

The Working Conditions Act requires employers to provide a safe working environment, including adequate eye protection for employees at risk of eye injuries. For employees who need prescription glasses, this means that regular safety glasses are not sufficient; custom-made prescription goggles are required.

With the right safety glasses, you can work more safely and protect your eyes from irreparable damage.

Sources:

• Occupational health portal about PPE and safety standards
• European standards and guidelines for PPE