Frequently Asked Questions

Established in 2006, PSG Eyewear provides the best prescription safety eyewear with the largest range of frames and lenses in Australia and New Zealand, supported by an extensive network of local optical retailers.

General Safety Eyewear

Forestry, fishing, farming, construction and mining are among the industries often associated with eye injuries. Working with metal (for example, when hammering, grinding or cutting) is one of the most common sources of work-related eye injuries. Other work hazards that frequently result in eye injuries include chemicals (acids, alkalis, e.g. cleaning solutions) and artificial radiation, for example, when welding.

Established in 2006, PSG Eyewear is Australia and New Zealand's largest supplier of certified Prescription Safety Glasses under Standard AS/NZS 1337.6 and manufactured under the ISO 9001 QA system.
Supporting a wide network of local optical retailers, PSG is 100% focused on eye safety and protecting businesses from lost time due to injuries. Offering the largest range of frames and lenses in the Australian and New Zealand markets, PSG provides the highest level of eye protection and the best vision through its partnership with Essilor, the world's number one lens manufacturer.

As a fully owned Division of Essilor (Australia & NZ), PSG supplies lenses from Essilor and Optical Supply of Australia. All of our lenses are made to the highest quality with the best materials currently available on the market. PSG supplies 1.59 index polycarbonate lenses to comply with strict safety compliance and certification standards. More information about our lenses can be found on our website under "About Us"

While the Australian & NZ Standard for prescription eye protection (AS/NZS 1337.6:2012) does not indicate a set replacement time period for prescription safety glasses, they do require regular replacement due to normal wear and tear through usage in the work environment.

  1. General wear and tear.
  2. Change of jobs for the end-user, or an increased area of risk associated with the current job and the current pair are no longer fit for purpose for the work required.
  3. Your eyewear is damaged or has had an impact to the lens or frame.
  4. If your glasses have been exposed to a task that they are not fit for. For example, exposure to heat or chemicals which could compromise the integrity of the product.
  5. Your prescription has changed or you are not seeing as clearly as you did when first receiving your safety eyewear.
  6. Ageing eyewear. As eyewear ages the special hard coating on the lenses may wear, resulting in reduced visual clarity.

The lifespan of personal protective equipment (PPE) is dependent on several factors including, but not limited to:

  • Amount of usage
  • Environmental conditions
  • Exposure to chemicals, including sunscreen
  • Sweat and debris
  • Appropriate duty of care adherence
  • Cleaning
  • Maintenance
  • Appropriate storage
Caring for your prescription safety glasses by following the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning and storage of the product will increase the longevity of your prescription safety glasses.

PSG offers the following 'PSG Eyewear Inspection Checklist' for users and managers:

  • Clean your PSG spectacles on a daily basis to remove dust and gunk
  • For cleaning, use warm soapy water or specialised lens cleaning spray and a soft cloth (such as the cloth supplied – these need to be washed or replaced regularly). Best practice is to clean your lenses while wet to avoid dust and dirt scratching the lenses
  • Do not use anything other than the suggested items to clean your glasses (such as shirt, rough towel or aloe vera tissues)
  • Avoid the use of any substance such as acetone likely to damage the spectacles
  • Commonly used substances, including sunscreens, are known to degrade some eye protector materials. Contact with such substances should be avoided or regularly cleaned off the spectacles after use
  • Keep your PSG Safety glasses in the supplied case when not in use
  • PSG safety glasses should not be left unworn under direct sunlight for extended periods of time, such as in vehicles
  • If the PSG safety glasses present any crack, scratch or structural damage, they must be replaced

The power range for safety certification is dependent on the tested and passed lens range for a particular frame. The approved power range for all PSG frames is stated on the Product Page for that frame. It is not uncommon to see lens power ranges between +/- 6.00 sphere and up to -2.00 cyl. Anything outside of the stated certified power range for an individual frame is considered "compliant" and does not come with a safety certificate. It is important that PSG Optometry Agents take this into consideration when ordering a frame and that they explain this to the end user on ordering.

PSG certified frames can accommodate up to a power of -6 to +6 sphere and -2 cylinder. Depending on your individual Pupillary Distance, some prescriptions may not fit into some PSG frames. Please discuss with your Optometrist alternative frame options or contact PSG Customer Service team for ideas to accommodate your needs.

With regards to safety the coatings that can be applied are:

  • Clear
  • Polarised (Grey Only)
  • Laminated tint (85% Grey only)
  • Transitions® Signature® GEN8™ (Grey only)

To process any prescription glasses order, PSG requires the information from a recent full prescription, and additional information including the Pupillary Distance (PD).

If a customer feels that the product is defective in any way then it can be returned to their ordering Optometrist for an initial assessment. If deemed appropriate for further review then the Optometrist can send the product back to the PSG Customer Service team who will arrange a laboratory assessment. PSG will not accept a custom prescription order that is returned due to an error in judgement on the part of the customer. Click here to read more on the Warranty policy

PSG prescription lenses are marked with the following letters to identify certification to the AS/NZS 1337.6 prescription Standards:

Low Impact:

  • eRIO (outdoor untinted)
  • eRI13 (non reacted and reacted)
  • eRI3 (outdoor tinted)

Medium Impact:

  • eRIO (outdoor untinted)
  • eRI13 (non reacted and reacted)
  • eRI3 (outdoor tinted)

The PSG prescription safety glass range can be used for other activities such as sports and recreation. There is a very good selection of frames that meet the modern needs of fashion and function for all genders.

Healthcare workers are potentially exposed to a range of biological hazards. Currently, there is no Standard that applies to eye protection specifically for biological hazards such as COVID-19.

To protect from potential spray and spurt from biological hazards, such as from a cough, sneeze and other exposures, a goggle or face shield are recommended. If the hazard is aerosolised, for example, during some medical procedures such as intubation, it is important to ensure an N95 mask, and sealed goggles are worn.

There is no specific Standard that applies to eye protection specifically for biological hazards such as COVID-19. However, as the primary method of COVID-19 infection is by droplet rather than airborne transmission*, closely fitted wraparound safety glasses that comply with the minimum coverage requirements for eye protectors, ANSI Z87.1 (impact rated, marked "Z87+")1 or EN166 (increased robustness, marked "S")2, AS/NZS 1337.1 (medium impact, marked "I" or "F")3; could be used in circumstances when there is no aerosol generation16.

Note: The specification of an impact grade is because lateral protection is part of the impact requirement not because protection against impact is required in this circumstance.

Given the limited coverage that they offer, especially from the side, regular prescription spectacles will not provide adequate protection. In this case, the best option is to provide a face shield or goggles over the top of the prescription spectacles or goggles fitted with prescription lenses, taking care to ensure that the combination does not compromise fit and coverage.

(Sources: Q&A FACT SHEET: PPE AND EYE PROTECTION STANDARDS EXPLAINED
1. ANSI ISEA Z87.1 American National Standard for occupational and educational personal eye and face protection devices. International
Safety Equipment Association. American National Standards Institute, Arlington, VA. 2010.
2. EN 166 Personal eye protection. Specifications. Brussels. European Committee for Standardization. 2001.
3. AS/NZS 1337.1 Personal eye protection Part 1: Eye and face protectors for occupational applications. Sydney. Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand, 2010.

The current guidance for PPE from the WHO1 has several categories depending on the level of risk. The focus is on contact and droplet precautions to prevent exposure of the nose, eyes and mouth. The PPE required, for example, during hospital care of COVID-19 patients includes gowns, gloves, medical masks and eye protection (goggles or face shield).

For aerosol-generating procedures specifically (for example, tracheal intubation, non-invasive ventilation, tracheostomy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, manual ventilation before intubation, bronchoscopy), healthcare workers should also use an appropriately fitted P2/N95 respirator.

Where there is a shortage of PPE, all efforts should be made to minimise the risk of exposure using other methods. These measures include administrative, environmental and engineering controls, such as limiting paths of entry to clinics, installing physical barriers and the establishment of triage stations to screen patients outside the facility. Using eye and face protection should be prioritised during procedures that generate splashes and sprays or when prolonged face-to-face proximity is unavoidable. The CDC and ECDC have included proposed strategies for further optimisation of eye protection that can be found on their websites.2,3

For more information about COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Eye Protection Guidance, read the full article here.

Sources: Q&A FACT SHEET: PPE AND EYE PROTECTION STANDARDS EXPLAINED
1. Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Geneva. World Health Organization. 2020. (https://www. who.int/publications/i/item/rational-use-of-personal-protective-equipmentfor- coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-and-considerations-during-severeshortages, accessed 30/03/2020).
2. Strategies for optimising the supply of eye protection. Arlington, VA. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2019. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ ppe-strategy/eye-protection.html, accessed 30/03/2020).
3. Infection prevention and control and preparedness for COVID-19 in healthcare settings. Second update 31 March 2020; Solna, Sweden. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. 2020. (https://www. ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/infection-prevention-and-control-andpreparedness- covid-19-healthcare-settings, accessed 15/7/2020).

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FAQs for Optometrists

You can order individual frames or your Demo-Kit through your country's local PSG Customer Service team and they can supply you with what you need. Contact details can be found here.

For Optometry agents, you can log on to the PSG online ordering portal and order either a private or a contract job.

An employee of a company that PSG has a contract with can visit the store of an authorised PSG Optometry Agent. They will be provided with an Authorisation Form from their company specifying their Supervisor's approval for them order selected safety glasses through PSG.

The Agent will then need to identify themselves as an ECP, log in using their provided details at account opening, and then place the order in the "CONTRACT" section of the PSG ordering website. PSG will manufacture and dispatch the glasses back to the Agent where the patient / customer will pick them up. PSG Agents do not charge the patient for the safety glasses as PSG will pay you a dispensing fee for the service provided to meet this contract need.

PSG invoices all Contract companies who pay directly to PSG based on pre-determined supply contract arrangements. The Contract companies will not pay any store invoices under this arrangement. At the end of each month, PSG will report all contract orders to our Finance Team who will then pay you a dispensing fee for your optical dispensing services by the 15th day of the following month. There is no need to invoice anyone in order to be paid your dispensing and refraction fees.

PSG will send out a remittance advice for contract-related dispensing payments within a few days of receiving the payment. If you don't receive the remittance within a week, or there are any discrepancies, you can call PSG Customer Service team or email cs@psgeyewear.com.au

For PSG Optometrist Agents, you can view the 'Status' of a job when you log into your practice's online ordering account and view 'Orders and Tracking'. If you need a more detailed explanation of the job you can call PSG Customer Service team. PSG aims to achieve manufacturing and delivery of 7-10 days for metro addresses, and 10-12 days for regional addresses.

Contact PSG Customer Service team to receive an update on the status of your order and delivery time.

Yes, PSG charges all Optometry Agents for all demo frames and spare parts supplied to end user customers.

All frames that are available to order can be viewed in our Product Catalogue and you can order samples of any of these frames. This is updated regularly when we discontinue or add a new frame to our range.

Unfortunately not. In order for glasses to be safety certified, the frame and the lenses need to be supplied and produced together by our lab to ensure the safety glasses meet strict quality control requirements.

Most safety frames do not have spare parts available due to safety certification laws requiring the full frame and lenses to be produced together. We have a small range of spare parts such as nose pads and foam back available on certain products that are replaceable. Call your country's local PSG Customer Service team and they can supply you with what you need.

Unfortunately, PSG cannot replace any broken parts (such as the frame or lenses( on a safety frame and a whole new pair is required. You can order a new pair on our website (Australia only) or request a remake from PSG Customer Service and send the broken frame back to us for a credit assessment. If the broken pair of glasses is still under Warranty and meets the replacement warranty terms, then PSG will credit the original job and charge for the remake. See our Warranty Terms for more Information.

If a warranty is required for a Contract job, then Optometry Agents or Contract Staff are required to contact PSG Customer Service before proceeding.

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FAQS for Business / Corporate Customers

An employee of a company that PSG has a contract with can visit the store of an authorised PSG Optometry Agent. They will be provided with an Authorisation Form from their company specifying their Supervisor's approval for them order selected safety glasses through PSG.

The Agent will then need to identify themselves as an ECP, log in using their provided details at account opening, and then place the order in the "CONTRACT" section of the PSG ordering website. PSG will manufacture and dispatch the glasses back to the Agent where the patient / customer will pick them up. PSG Agents do not charge the patient for the safety glasses as PSG will pay you a dispensing fee for the service provided to meet this contract need.

All frames that are available to order can be viewed in our Product Catalogue and you can order samples of any of these frames. This is updated regularly when we discontinue or add a new frame to our range.

Most safety frames do not have spare parts available due to safety certification laws requiring the full frame and lenses to be produced together. We have a small range of spare parts such as nose pads and foam back available on certain products that are replaceable. Call your country's local PSG Customer Service team and they can supply you with what you need.

Staff members of corporate / business customers with a Supply Agreement with PSG can attend their local PSG Optometrist Practice or shop online (Australia only) in the Accessories section of this website for any required spare part available and pay by corporate credit card.

Unfortunately, PSG cannot replace any broken parts (such as the frame or lenses( on a safety frame and a whole new pair is required. You can order a new pair on our website (Australia only) or request a remake from PSG Customer Service and send the broken frame back to us for a credit assessment. If the broken pair of glasses is still under Warranty and meets the replacement warranty terms, then PSG will credit the original job and charge for the remake. See our Warranty Terms for more Information.

If a warranty is required for a Contract job, then Optometry Agents or Contract Staff are required to contact PSG Customer Service before proceeding.

PSG aims to achieve manufacturing and delivery of 7-10 days for metro addresses, and 10-12 days for regional addresses.

Contact PSG Customer Service team to receive an update on the status of your order and delivery time.

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FAQs for end-users customers requiring their own safety eyewear

If you are looking for prescription safety glasses for yourself, you can visit your local PSG Optometry Practice and they will help you with ordering your safety glasses. You can find your local PSG agent here.

Alternatively, if you already have your Prescription you can view PSG's range of frames and order for yourself.

For all other safety eyewear not requiring a Prescription, then simply click here to access PSG's website and select your required product category.

All frames that are available to order can be viewed in our Product Catalogue and you can order samples of any of these frames. This is updated regularly when we discontinue or add a new frame to our range.

Most safety frames do not have spare parts available due to safety certification laws requiring the full frame and lenses to be produced together. We have a small range of spare parts available on certain products. Call your country's local PSG Customer Service team and they can supply you with what you need. End user customers can attend their local PSG Optometrist Practice or shop online in the 'Accessories' section of this website for any required spare part available.

Unfortunately PSG cannot replace any broken parts on a safety frame and a whole new pair is required. You can order a new pair on our website or request a remake, and send the broken frame back to us for a credit assessment. If the broken pair of glasses is under warranty, and meets the replacement warranty terms then PSG will credit original job and charge for the remake. Read more about the Warranty Terms here.

PSG aims to achieve manufacturing and delivery of 7-10 days for metro addresses, and 10-12 days for regional addresses.

Contact PSG Customer Service team to receive an update on the status of your order and delivery time.

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