Is there a legal maximum age for safety glasses?

No general one. The standard is condition and suitability, not age — though manufacturers’ information can state service-life limits for specific products, and where it does, that forms part of using the equipment as intended.

Who pays for a replacement when an employee damages their pair?

The employer. Regulation 7 places maintenance and replacement on the employer, and section 9 prohibits recovering the cost — carelessness is managed as a conduct matter, never as a charge.

Do prescriptions really need to be current for safety eyewear?

Yes. The pair is only suitable if the wearer sees properly through it. Tracking prescription expiry dates and acting before they lapse is part of keeping the equipment suitable — and is exactly the kind of record an inspector asks to see.

How does Certus handle replacement costs?

Two ways: pay the all-in price per replacement pair as needed, or Coverage at £35 per Rx employee per year, which bundles one replacement per policy year and turns the replacement line into a fixed cap.

How Often Must Safety Glasses Be Replaced? — Certus

There is no fixed interval — the legal trigger is suitability. Regulation 7's replacement duty, the four triggers that actually apply, and how to budget for them.

Certus is a UK platform for managing prescription safety eyewear compliance to EN 166, covering hazard assessments, ordering, optician verification and certificate records. Operated by Certus Safety Ltd, registered in England and Wales, company number 17364362.