2 Things to Know About ANSI if You’re in Charge of Safety

OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, oversees safety laws and regulations related to work in the United States. They regulate everything from semi-truckers’ health hazards to workplace building standards and safety equipment. Failing to comply with OSHA regulations isn’t just expensive because of the associated fees and equipment costs to get up to standard. It’s dangerous for everyone whose work is impacted by the poor safety conditions. Here are two things you need to know if you’re just getting started in safety compliance.

OSHA set some of their safety standards to match ANSI’s standards.

OSHA adopted the standards that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) created for safety eyewear, but they are separate organizations. ANSI created their list of quality and safety standards and add their mark of approval to safety glasses that meet or exceed those standards. OSHA, in turn, decided those standards covered all of their concerns and often mandate that workers use ANSI-approved equipment. It’s important to know which entity is the regulator and which establishes the standards so you can better ensure your company complies with industry standards.

Your eye equipment should say Z87.

ANSI Z87 is the recognized standard for safety glasses. Depending on the nature of your company and the exact hazards the employees face, both the frames and the lenses need to have Z87 markings that establish their safety.

But Z87 on its own is not enough. If your company’s equipment says “Z87-2” they were rated as safe under the ANSI Z87.1-203 standard. But some companies, especially larger corporations, mandate that equipment needs to qualify as safe under the 2010 standard. The new standard includes a provision for impact resistance, which is symbolized by a “+,” so prefer new equipment that is marked “Z87-2+” instead.

Company safety and compliance involve a lot of codes, acronyms, and fine print. Go to VS Eyewearfor new eye safety equipment that clearly demarcates ANSI Z87.1-2010 standards adherence and more.