July 9, 2003—The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has announced that the updated Z87.1-2003 ‘Practice for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices’ was approved Friday, June 20, by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The standard, which has not been revised since 1989, is significant to employees and employers as it sets important criteria for minimizing and preventing eye and face protection.
ASSE serves as the Secretariat for the Z87 Eye and Face Protection Committee. The Z87.1 standard goes into effect this August.
The new standard addresses general requirements, descriptions and types, testing, marking, selection, care and use of personal eye and face protectors. The Z87.1 standard covers such eye and face hazards as impact, non-ionizing radiation and chemical injuries in occupational and educational environments, including and not limited to machinery operations, material welding and cutting, chemical handling, and assembly operations.
Z87.1 does not apply to hazardous exposure to X-rays, high-energy particulate radiation, microwaves, radio frequency radiation, lasers, masers, and sports. It does carry a new section on warning labels to ensure the eye and face protection equipment used meets the impact test requirements of the standard. It also includes general testing methods such as flammability, penetration, cleanability, haze, and much more. New information on switching index testing and light tightness testing is now included.
As for respirators, the new standard addresses National Institute of Occupational Safety (NIOSH)-approved respirators, from loose fitting and tight fitting for protection from impact hazards and eye irritants, and welding respirators for impact and optical radiation protection.
In addition to having the standard available for purchase, ASSE will hold a conference call this August to review the new standard. The standard can be purchased online from ASSE or by calling 847/699-2929.
