Page 35 - OHS, November/December 2020

■ Z87.1 Compliance. To see if eye protection meets the Z87.1 Standard, glasses are tested to see if they meet a minimum light transmittance and don’t exceed a set value of astigmatism that would distort vision. Finally, glasses are also exposed to ignition and impact tests.
■ Military Grade Impact Protection. To see if eye protection meets military standards, they are challenged to ballistic fragmentation tests. If perforated, cracked or shattered, the lens will not pass the test.
However, despite all these standards and testing procedures, not all modern eye protection is living up to user needs and expectations. Historically, eye protection has been perceived as consumable because scratches, breakage, fogging and other frustrations are expected to occur at one point or another. Simply meeting the standard requirements is no longer enough. To exceed user expectations, manufacturers must take fit, performance and style preferences into consideration.
■ Fit. It is crucial for eye protection to not only fit comfortably when worn alone, but also when paired with other protective equipment such as respirators or face masks. To comply with user needs, many manufacturers now offer a wide range of PPE solutions.
■ Performance. According to many users, the performance standards in place still aren’t enough to live up to the harsh elements and activities commonly found on a jobsite. For example, even if a lens is anti-scratch rated, that doesn’t necessarily translate to scratch proof, and unfortunately for users, even a small abrasion
can lead to distorted vision and the need to replace their glasses. Fogging is another jobsite hinderance. While many manufacturers offer anti-fog safety glasses, standards still leave room for potential fogging. Manufacturers must now take these standards and testing procedures to go above and beyond, hopefully turning safety glasses into a more long-term investment.
■ Style. Beyond performance, users want eye protection that fits their style. Users are often willing to increase their determined price point if their safety glasses not only meet all their performance needs, but are also complete with a sleek, stylish design.
How Does This Fit the Industry?
With the current landscape in mind, contractors and safety managers not only need to integrate face coverings into their jobsite safety plans, but they also need to ensure that their current PPE requirements work with them hand in hand. When manufacturers play to these standards, testing procedures, and user requirements for eye protection, they will ultimately help users stay safe and productive while minimizing eye injuries and overall discomfort.
With these factors in mind, manufacturers, safety managers, and contractors have an excellent opportunity to start working towards a jobsite united in mask mandate compliance and eye injury prevention.
Zach Richman is the Senior Product Manager for Milwaukee Tool.
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