Workplace rule
OSHA requires employers to ensure workers use suitable eye protection against flying particles, chemicals and injurious light, with side protection where objects can fly.
OSHA 1910.133Eyeglasses and Optical · Protective Eyewear
Safety and Sports Eyewear Prescription protection for work and play.
Occupational safety glasses and sports protectors are built to standards that ordinary dress eyewear is not. A practice that knows the standards can serve local employers, schools and youth leagues with prescription protective eyewear, a steady and specialized optical line.
Z87.1ANSI/ISEA occupational eye protection standard
2020Current edition, adding anti-fog criteria
F803ASTM standard for racket sports, basketball and more
1910.133OSHA rule for workplace eye protection
The rules
What makes eyewear protective
Dress eyewear must meet the FDA impact rule, but protective eyewear is tested to separate, tougher standards that cover the frame, lens and side coverage together.
Prescription wearers
Employees who need correction must wear protection that incorporates the prescription, or protection that fits over their glasses without disturbing them.
OSHA 1910.133(a)(3)The Z87.1 standard
ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 sets design, performance and marking rules for safety spectacles, goggles and faceshields, and adds criteria for anti-fog lenses.
ISEA, 2020Sports standards
ASTM sets sport-specific requirements, and the AAO points to F803 for racket sports, baseball, basketball, soccer, field hockey and women’s lacrosse.
AAOBuilding a protective eyewear line
Protective eyewear is ordered differently from dress frames: the frame, lens and markings must all qualify as a system.
- Frames and lenses certified as a system
- Markings on frame and lens
- Side protection where the hazard calls for it
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Lens materials
Polycarbonate and Trivex are the usual choices for impact protection; Trivex is documented as passing the Z87.1 high-velocity test.
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Frame materials
Engineering polyamides such as Grilamid TR 90 are used in safety glasses for their impact strength and break resistance.
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Employer programs
Prescription safety programs pair a frame selection with lab-certified lenses, which can be billed to the employer under an agreed arrangement.
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Youth and school sports
Sport protectors certified to the relevant ASTM standard are the recommendation for racket sports, basketball and similar activities.
In the optical
Serving workers and athletes
The process is a little more structured than a dress-eyewear sale, which is what makes it a dependable niche.
Confirm the hazard
Ask the employer or league what standard applies. An employer’s safety officer can confirm the OSHA requirements for each job, and sports bodies may add their own rules.
Order as a system
Use frames and lenses your lab certifies to Z87.1 and confirm the required markings before dispensing.
Fit for the activity
Wraparound coverage, side shields, straps and anti-fog lenses all affect whether the protector is actually worn.
Standards by activity
Sports and recreation (per the AAO)
| Racket sports, baseball, basketball, soccer, field hockey, women’s lacrosse | ASTM F803 |
|---|---|
| Youth baseball face guards | ASTM F910 |
| Ice hockey | ASTM F513; goaltenders ASTM F1587 |
| Skiing and snowboarding | ASTM F659 |
| Paintball | ASTM F1776 |
| Airsoft | ASTM F2879 |
| Shooting sports and hunting | ANSI Z87.1+ rated eyewear |
Workplace (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.133)
- Eye and face protection must comply with ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010, ANSI Z87.1-2003 or ANSI Z87.1-1989 (R-1998), or be shown to be at least as effective.
- Protection must provide side coverage where there is a hazard from flying objects.
- Devices must be marked to identify the manufacturer.
- Filter lenses with the correct shade number are required for welding and other radiant-energy work.
About Z87.1-2020
The 2020 edition from the International Safety Equipment Association added testing, performance and marking criteria for anti-fog lenses and optional relaxed-optics criteria for specific applications such as first responders. The OSHA rule text references earlier editions.
Common questions about protective eyewear
Are regular glasses safety glasses?
No. Dress eyewear meets the FDA impact rule for everyday lenses, but occupational protection must meet the Z87.1 standard as a complete device.
Can safety glasses carry a prescription?
Yes. OSHA allows protection that incorporates the prescription or fits over the patient’s glasses.
What sports most need protective eyewear?
The AAO lists ASTM F803 protectors for racket sports, baseball, basketball, soccer, field hockey and women’s lacrosse.
What about skiing?
The AAO recommends protective glasses or goggles with UV protection for snow and water skiing, with ASTM F659 for skiing and snowboarding.
Is polycarbonate enough on its own?
The material matters, but certification applies to the whole protector, including frame and markings.
References
- OSHA. 29 CFR 1910.133, eye and face protection. OSHA
- International Safety Equipment Association. ISEA publishes ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 update, April 13, 2020. ISEA
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Protective eyewear for home, work, sports and play. AAO
- EMS-Grivory. Transparent polyamides for optics and eyewear (Grilamid TR 90). EMS-Grivory
- Younger Optics. Trivex lens material and Z87.1 high-velocity testing. PDF
Protection that patients will actually wear
Know the standard, order as a certified system, and fit for the activity.
Standards are summarized for orientation only; always consult the current standard and the employer’s hazard assessment. Grilamid and Trivex are trademarks of their respective owners. Dispensing decisions rest with the eye care professional.