flinnsci.com SAFETY REFERENCE GOGGLE SAFETY
689
Goggle Safety
What Do the ANSI Standards Really Mean?
Appropriate eye protection is extremely important
in the science classroom. As you compare the wide
array of goggles and safety glasses, you often see
the phrase “Meets ANSI Z87+ Standards.” In the
Flinn Scientific Catalog/Reference Manual, we list
several eyewear styles, all of which meet the ANSI
standard. Obviously, there must be more to choosing
safe eyewear than merely picking any style that
meets this standard. To choose the most suitable
eyewear for yourself and your students, it is helpful
to understand ANSI and its relationship to school
laboratory regulations.
What Is ANSI Z87+?
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
is a nonprofit association that publishes standards
covering a broad range of equipment and industries.
The complete title of the current ANSI document
pertaining to eyewear is American National Standard
for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and
Face Protection, ANSI Z87.1–2010. This document
includes standards for several different styles of
safety eyewear ranging from eyeglass-type
spectacles to heavy-duty welding helmets. The
document is organized according to the hazards that
might be faced and allows an instructor or employer
to select the appropriate safety eyewear based on
the hazards they expect to encounter. These hazards
include impact and coverage, droplet/splash, dust,
fine dust and optical radiation. The previous versions
of this standard did not include tests to determine
protection against splash, dust or fine dust.
For a clear understanding of how these standards
relate to your choice of laboratory eyewear, it is
helpful to know more about ANSI and Z87+.
The Choice Is Up to You
As a responsible science teacher, you must select
eyewear that provides you and your students the
most suitable protection from the hazards involved
in your laboratory activities. The following regulations
address the role of the teacher’s judgment in
selecting suitable eye protection:
As you ponder which type of protective eyewear to
purchase, or whether eye protection is needed at all,
keep the following suggestions in mind:
• Will you be using heat, glassware or chemicals
in the lab? If so, it is a good basic policy to use
protective eyewear.
• Chemical splash goggles carrying the D3 rating
should be worn whenever hazardous chemicals are
used.
• The educational laboratory is a unique environment
where each student is often surrounded by other
students conducting experiments. Hazards could
come from any direction. Protective eyewear
should provide sufficient angular coverage.
• Face shields that provide added splash protection
coverage should not be worn alone. Always
wear the appropriate goggles or safety glasses
underneath a face shield.
Conclusion
While ANSI has established many standards for a
variety of protective eyewear, it does not provide
specific standards for several factors important to
the science teacher. Among those are durability and
comfort. It is the teacher’s responsibility to keep
these factors in mind when selecting eyewear. As
clearly stated in the Flinn Scientific Catalog/Reference
Manual, “You, the instructor, should decide what
type of eyewear your students must wear in every
case.” The information and high-quality eye and
face protection Flinn provides will help you make an
informed, responsible choice.
• ANSI is not a federal agency. As an independent
association, it is not involved in establishing or
enforcing the OSHA Laboratory Standard.
• ANSI does not test, inspect or approve eyewear.
The eye protection manufacturer can choose to
contract an independent testing facility to conduct
tests to determine whether their products meet
ANSI standards.
• There are important factors that are difficult to
measure and are not covered in Z87+ that must be
considered when choosing eyewear. Among these
are durability, comfort and antifog performance.
The easiest way to determine the type of protection
the eyewear provides is to look at the frames of the
goggles. Molded into each frame is a series of letters
and numbers that refer to the level of protection the
eyewear is certified.
• Z87—The eyewear meets the basic criteria of the
standard.
• Z87+—The eyewear is able to withstand the impact
of a high-velocity projectile without compromising
user’s safety.
• D3—The eyewear protects the eyes and face from
droplets and splashes.
• D4—The eyewear protects against dust.
• D5—The eyewear protects against fine dust (vapor).
An example of the markings you can expect to see
on a goggle frame that protects against splash and
high impact is Z87+D3.
Keep in mind that not all eyewear is created equal.
There are a lot of cheaply made goggles on the
market that will not survive even one semester. Still,
how safe are goggles that meet ANSI standards but
will be left in a desk drawer, unworn, because they
are broken or uncomfortable?
• Eyewear should fit comfortably and securely. Try
different styles and sizes to find the right fit.
• Chemical splash goggles should have a soft,
pliable flange that seals around the eyes. The hard
plastic edge on models lacking a flange becomes
extremely uncomfortable.
• Availability of replacement parts (e.g., headbands,
lenses, vent covers) is a real cost-saving advantage.
• Antifog performance is affected by temperature
and humidity. Experiment with different eyewear
styles and features (vented and fog-free lenses) to
find the best eyewear for your classroom.
Popular Flinn Visor Goggles
offer comfort and coverage
(see page 665).
Occupational
Safety and Health
Administration OSHA
1910.1450 (Laboratory
Standard) Section D(6)
School laboratories should include “protective
apparel compatible with the required degree of
protection for substances being handled.”
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