Safety glasses are the most-used item in any shop and the most frequently skipped. ANSI Z87.1 rated eyewear is the minimum standard, marked Z87 on the frame or lens. Standard Z87 protects against impact; Z87+ indicates high-velocity impact protection. Wraparound styles give side protection; over-the-glass styles fit over prescription glasses.
Hearing protection is rated by noise reduction rating (NRR). A shop with grinders and plasma cutters regularly exceeds 85 dB, which is the threshold where hearing protection becomes necessary for prolonged exposure. Foam plugs, banded plugs and muffs differ in comfort and in how much they attenuate; the rating on the package is a lab figure and real-world protection is typically lower.
General workwear and shop safety items — gloves for material handling, aprons, safety signage, spill control — round out the category. These protect against the everyday hazards that cause more injuries in shops than the arc does.
