- U.S.Safety Home
- Prescription
- Products
- Media Center
- Resource Center
- Literature
- Product Information
- Helpful Links
- MSDS
- ACH Transfer
- Logo Standards
- Safety Product Standards
- Government Contracts
- Careers
- About Us
- Contact Us
Safety Product Standards
People around the world rely on product standards to ensure that the products they use will perform the way they are intended. Safety product standards are no different, and millions of employers, workers and health & safety professionals in North America count on standards to help make sure the products they use in the workplace will provide proper, reliable protection for workers exposed to an ever-changing range of workplace hazards.
Important: ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010 has been approved by ANSI (as of April 13th, 2010). Find out what this means for you.
U.S. Standards
Canadian Standards
Standards FAQ's
Who writes product standards?
These standards are the result of countless hours of research and the dedication of a range of government officials and industry professionals, including independent experts, consumer associations, manufacturers and end-users of products. Organizations such as the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM), among others, act as the "secretariat" of what are known as "consensus standards", since they are the result of achieving consensus among a variety of individuals and organizations.
Who oversees standards development?
The process by which these Standard Development Organizations or "SDO's" develop and revise standards is subject to carefully constructed procedures that are monitored by government organizations; the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in the United States, and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) in Canada. SDO's are subject to regular oversight by these agencies, and are required to either confirm or revise the standards for which they are the secretariat at regular intervals.
Who approves safety products?
This is a commonly asked question. However, instead of asking who "approves" a product, it's better to think of who certifies whether a particular product meets the applicable standard.
It's important to note that neither ANSI or OSHA approve any safety products. This is a common misperception based on frequently made claims that a product is "OSHA approved". Any claim that a product is OSHA or ANSI "approved" is false.
Self-Certification: Some standards allow for self-certification, meaning that the manufacturer of the product is responsible for testing the product according to the standard before claiming that the product meets the standard. The manufacturer is responsible for producing test results upon request to back up their claims.
Third-Party Certification: Some standards require that product testing is done by an an accredited independent laboratory. Manufacturers provide samples of products to the independent lab and pay them to perform a range of tests. Detailed results are provided to the manufacturer, usually on a pass/fail basis across a range of criteria specific to the requirements of a particular standard. These results are typically made available to the public by the manufacturer to show that their product(s) meets a particular standard.
For more information, visit: ISEA Standards Primer
U.S. Standards
Eye & Face Protectors: ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2003
Skip to the new ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010 standard
Comparison: 2003 vs. 2010 ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 Standard
All U.S. Safety eye & face protection products meet the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2003 Standard and are marked according to Table 1 of the standard.
Non-Prescription Products
Includes: All U.S. Safety Plano Protective Eyewear, Face Shields and Goggles
- Will bear the manufacturers mark "US" or "PI" and "Z87".
- Those that meet the High-Impact requirements of the standard will also bear the "+" mark.
Prescription Safety Eyewear Products
Includes: All U.S. Safety Prescription Safety Eyewear Products
- Will bear the manufacturer's mark "US" on the lens.
- Those that meet the High-Impact requirements of the standard will also bear the "+" mark on the lens.
- Frames that meet the lens retention requirements for 2mm lenses will bear the "Z87-2" mark on the temple and bridge of the frame.
Look for this symbol on U.S. Safety product information to indicate compliance with the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2003 standard.
Eye & Face Protectors: ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010 (New Standard)
See a brief on the changes here: 
ANSI Z87.1 Changes for 2010
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Has the new Z87 standard taken effect?
Yes, the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010 has been approved by ANSI and is therefore automatically incorporated into OSHA regulations regarding personal protective equipment. However, OSHA allows employers to use products that meet any of the previous three versions of a given standard, so there is no need to replace your unused inventory immediately. As long as the products you are using meet ANSI Z87.1-1989, ANSI Z87.1-2003 or ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010, you are compliant with OSHA regulations.
Do U.S. Safety products meet the new standard?
All U.S. Safety eye & face protection products meet the performance requirements of the new ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010 standard. However, the new markings will only appear on new inventory, which will take time to make its way into the market.
Where can I get a copy of the new standard?
You can purchase paper or electronic copies online at the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) online store at www.safetyequipment.org or call ISEA at 703-525-1695.
Who can answer questions about the new standard?
You can call U.S. Safety Customer Support at 1-800-821-5218 or submit an online Customer Support request at Contact Us. You can also contact ISEA at www.safetyequipment.org and click on "Contact Us".
Canadian Standards
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard for eye & face protectors is CSA Z94.3-07.
SEI Certification
The Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) is a private, non-profit organization providing voluntary third party certification for a wide range of safety products. SEI is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) in accordance with ISO Guide 65, General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems.
U.S. Safety eye & face protection products that are certified by SEI to meet Canadian standard CSA Z94.3-07 will bear the following mark.
For a complete list of SEI certified U.S. Safety products, visit the SEI Website and select "US Safety" from the "Organization" drop-down menu.
Look for this symbol on U.S. Safety product information to indicate compliance with the CSA Z94.3-07 standard. Note: Only products that bear the "SEI" mark shown above have been certified by SEI to the CSA standard.