Regarding workplace eye protection, safety glasses aren’t just a recommendation but a requirement. Whether on a construction site, in a lab, or operating heavy machinery, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates proper eye and face protection in hazardous environments. But how do you know if your glasses meet OSHA requirements? The key is understanding the relationship between OSHA regulations and ANSI standards.
OSHA is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Labor that sets and enforces workplace safety standards. According to OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.133, employers are required to ensure that employees use appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to hazards such as:
However, OSHA doesn’t manufacture safety glasses or determine what specific products are compliant. Instead, OSHA defers to outside organizations for the technical standards that safety gear must meet.
That’s where ANSI Z87.1 comes into play. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) develops the criteria that define what qualifies as safety eyewear. The ANSI Z87.1 standard specifies requirements for:
Suppose your safety glasses are marked with ANSI Z87.1 (or Z87+ for high impact protection). This means they’ve passed rigorous third-party testing and meet the minimum performance and design criteria required for workplace use.
Safety glasses must meet the current ANSI Z87.1 standard to comply with OSHA eye protection regulations. OSHA explicitly states that safety eyewear must meet or be equivalent to ANSI Z87.1-certified models, making ANSI the benchmark by which OSHA-compliant safety glasses are measured.
Key Points:
Understanding the OSHA requirements for safety glasses starts with recognizing that OSHA is the rule-maker, and ANSI is the standard-setter. To be fully protected and compliant on the job, ensure your safety glasses meet the ANSI Z87.1 standard and are appropriate for the hazards in your work environment.
If you’re unsure what type of protection you need, the team at RX Safety is here to help guide you toward the right solution.
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