Cheap laser protection glasses?

A guide to labeling that will protect your eyesight and your business

More and more attractively priced laser safety glasses are appearing on the market, especially from Asian e-shops. The price is often a fraction of that of certified European products. But there is a catch, and it is a significant one. Most of these glasses do not meet European standards and legislation for personal protective equipment (PPE). By using them in your company, you risk not only irreversible damage to your employees' eyesight, but also heavy penalties during inspections and complications with insurance companies in the event of an accident. In this guide, we will show you how to recognize safe and legal glasses at first glance.

Why is it not enough that the glasses "just work"?

Many users believe that if the glasses visibly attenuate the laser beam, they are fine. This is a dangerous misconception. Protecting your eyes from laser radiation is much more complex. Cheap glasses may:

• Block only visible light, but allow dangerous radiation in other (invisible) wavelengths to pass through.
• Have insufficient optical density (OD), so that direct exposure to the beam will cause them to burn through immediately and hit the eye.
• Lack resistance to damage and have no guarantee of optical quality.

The legal aspect is no less important. Laser safety glasses are classified in the EU as Category III personal protective equipment (PPE), which is the category for protection against risks that can cause very serious consequences, such as death or irreversible damage to health. The strictest rules apply to this category.

Markings to look for: The holy trinity of safety

All safety glasses that are legally marketed in the EU must be indelibly marked on the lens and/or frame. A sticker or print on the bag is not sufficient. Look for this key information:

1. CE mark – Not just a formality

The CE mark declares that the product complies with EU legislative requirements. For PPE category III, it also means that the product has undergone rigorous testing and certification by an independent authorized body (known as a notified body). On cheap glasses, the CE mark is often fake, completely missing, or replaced by a graphically similar "China Export" mark.

2. EN 207 standard – Full protection at work

This is the most important standard for glasses designed for working with lasers. Marking according to this standard is relatively complex, but it is sufficient to understand its basic structure.

Example of marking on glasses: 1064 D LB5 + IR LB6 XYZ CE

What do the individual parts mean?

• 1064 (or range, e.g., >900-1070): The wavelength or range of wavelengths in nanometers (nm) against which the glasses provide protection. It must correspond to the wavelength of your laser!
• D, I, R, M : Laser operating mode for which protection is guaranteed.
  • D – Continuous laser (CW - Continuous Wave), exposure time > 0.25 s
  • I – Pulsed laser in long pulse mode, pulse duration > 1 µs to 0.25 s
  • R – Pulsed laser with high peaks (Q-switching), pulse duration > 1 ns to 1 µs
  • M – Laser with ultra-short pulses (femtosecond, picosecond), pulse duration < 1 ns
• LB5 and LB6 : Protection level (LB rating or older L rating). This is the most important information! The higher the number (e.g., LB5, LB6, LB7), the higher the protection provided by the glasses.

Why is the L/LB marking so important? Unlike the American standard, which primarily specifies only Optical Density (OD), the European standard EN 207 is much stricter. The L/LB protection level not only means that the filter absorbs the given radiation (optical density), but also guarantees that the lens and frame material can withstand direct laser exposure for a defined period of time (typically 5 seconds or 50 pulses) without burning, melting, or otherwise losing its protective properties. Glasses without an L or LB number are not certified according to EN 207 and do not provide guaranteed protection!

• XYZ : Manufacturer's identification mark.
• CE : Confirmation of conformity.

3. EN 208 standard – For adjustment and alignment

There is another standard, EN 208. Glasses marked according to this standard are NOT intended for normal work! They are used exclusively for adjusting low-power lasers in the visible spectrum. They allow you to see the faintly glowing point of the beam for proper alignment, but provide only limited protection. Their marking includes the letter R and the degree of protection (e.g., R3). Using these glasses for standard work is extremely dangerous.

Risks for companies when using non‑certified glasses

By purchasing glasses for a few hundred crowns from China, a company exposes itself to risks that can run into hundreds of thousands or even millions of crowns:

1. Fines from the Labor Inspectorate (OHS): During inspections, failure to provide certified PPE is one of the most common and most severely punished offenses. Inspectors are trained to check for correct labeling.
2. Workplace accidents and criminal liability: If an employee who was using uncertified glasses suffers damage to their eyesight, the situation becomes critical.
• The insurance company may refuse to pay because the company knowingly violated OHS regulations. All treatment and compensation costs are then borne directly by the company.
• The responsible person (executive, manager) may be prosecuted for negligent bodily injury.
3. Damage to reputation: A report of a workplace accident caused by negligence in safety can have a fatal impact on a company's reputation among customers and business partners.

So how do you choose correctly and safely?

1. Check the labeling: Always look for complete labeling according to EN 207 directly on the glasses, not just on the packaging.
2. Request a Declaration of Conformity: Any reputable seller must provide you with this document upon request, confirming that the glasses have been certified.
3. Don't trust suspiciously low prices: Testing and certification cost money. If the glasses are ten times cheaper than the competition, it is almost certain that they have not been certified.
4. Buy from reputable suppliers: Rely on specialists who will not only sell you the product, but also advise you on choosing the right level of protection for your specific laser.