Safety Eyewear Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Military, Construction, Industrial Manufacturing, Oil & Gas), By Product Type (Prescription, Non-prescription), And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global safety eyewear market size was valued at USD 2.3 billion in 2018. Rising demand for eye protection equipment to prevent injuries caused by harmful radiations or flying objects is expected to drive the market. In addition, strict regulations mandated by the government bodies in various regions are expected to positively impact the market growth.

The U.S. Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have laid down strict regulations in United States, which has positively impacted the product demand. Rising awareness regarding employee safety has augmented the overall market growth. According to an article published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 66.7% of the eye injuries were caused by flying particles and 23.1% of the cases were due to exposure to harmful chemical radiation.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recommended the following points to evaluate the need for safety eyewear: the nature and extent of the hazard, the circumstances of exposure, other protective equipment used, and personal vision needs. Many employers are taking into account such studies and surveys to determine the safety of their employees, which is expected to fuel the product demand in the forecast period.

Availability of various types of eye equipment like goggles, visors, and spectacles as per the job safety requirement is an additional factor, which is positively impacting the market growth. Key manufacturers in this industry are focusing on providing customized safety eyewear to increase product acceptance among workers.

Additionally, manufacturers are providing safety eyewear designed to embed normal spectacles into the goggles for customers who require corrected vision lenses. Apart from such customizations, safety glasses should also be comfortable while wearing. Hence, features like cushioned brows, comfortable gel nosepieces or padded nose bridges are included in the products to provide the workers enough comfort so that they can wear the goggles throughout the day. This, in turn, is anticipated to increase product acceptance and drive the market demand.

Product Type Insights

Safety eyewear is categorized into two types: prescription and non-prescription. Non-prescription eyewear occupied the largest market share in 2018 due to mass production of safety equipment suitable for all kinds of workplaces. However, many workers with a prescription for normal vision find it difficult to wear safety glasses over their regular spectacles and hence refrain from wearing them.

As a result, many major manufacturers are increasing customization in their product offering to provide safety goggles/glasses with the prescription. This is the primary factor anticipated to drive the prescription segment in the forecast period. Manufacturers are also using this segment to differentiate themselves in the market by providing prescription consulting services before purchasing the product.  

Application Insights

Industrial manufacturing accounted for the largest revenue share of 31.1% in 2018. Growing industrialization in developing countries of Asia Pacific and Africa is expected to boost the demand for protective eye equipment, thereby increasing the demand for safety eyewear. Depending on the type of product being manufactured, a variety of designs and features are available in safety eyewear. The automotive industry is a major user of safety glass as workers are involved in welding, cutting, and spraying chemicals on automotive parts.

The military segment accounted for a significant revenue share in the market and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.2% over the projected period. Many countries are investing in the military research and development to improve their soldiers’ training and combat skills, which also focuses on providing safety from eye injuries caused during training or wars in adverse climates and regions.

For this purpose, the Military Combat Eye Protection Program (MCEPP) was established in 2012 in U.S. The program aims to authorize and validate the protective eyewear used by military personnel, along with increasing soldier acceptance for eye safety products. Similar efforts across the world are expected to drive the product demand in this segment.

The oil and gas and construction segments are the major sectors that drive the economies of Asia Pacific and Middle East. The product demand in these sectors is increasing steadily as they pose a high risk of eye injuries. Other applications of safety eyewear include agriculture and in-office. According to an article published by the Pennsylvania State University, farmers should wear eye protection during feed grinding, handling chemical fertilizers, harvesting crops, and haying. More such studies in the application of safety eyewear are expected to boost the product demand. Introduction of anti-glare lens for employees who regularly work on laptops and computers is expected to create awareness about in-office eye safety and fuel market growth.

Regional Insights

In terms of revenue, the market in North America is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 4.0% from 2019 to 2025. Product demand in the region is predicted to rise due to strict imposition of safety regulations at the workplaces in the countries of North America. In addition, various employers are carrying out research studies to determine the health risk posed to their employees at work, improve employee satisfaction, and promote safety at work.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest growing regional market due to presence of various oil and gas and mining industries. Moreover, adoption of regulations imposed by the OSHA and rapid development in the manufacturing and military sectors are anticipated to fuel the market growth in Asia Pacific.

Robust manufacturing base of automotive vehicles in Germany and U.K. is projected to exhibit a positive influence on the use of safety equipment in the near future. Growing demand for the product in automotive and chemical manufacturing companies of Europe owing to growth of these industries is likely to boost the growth in Europe.

Countries like Saudi Arabia in the Middle East and Brazil in Central and South America are contributing substantially to the market growth. The product has a potential market in these countries due to strong presence of the oil and gas and mining industries. Awareness about the safety hazards of these industries may propel the growth of the market in these countries.

Safety Eyewear Market Share Insights

The market is highly consolidated due to the presence of a few global players and numerous local manufacturers in different parts of the world. Key players in this market are 3M Company, Bolle Safety, and Honeywell Safety Products. Various local manufacturers are present mostly in Asia Pacific and North America. Rising demand for customization is pushing the leading companies to engage in the design and manufacturing of products with innovative features like design, style, and fit. Continuous efforts of the manufacturers to differentiate themselves in the market have resulted in the expansion of their product portfolio, thereby fueling the market growth.

Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2015 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global safety eyewear market report on the basis of product type, application, and region:

• Product Type (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

  • Prescription

  • Non-prescription

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

  • Oil & Gas

  • Construction

  • Mining

  • Industrial Manufacturing

  • Military

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

  • North America

    • U.S.

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

  • Central & South America

  • Middle East & Africa