Abstract
Studies were conducted to determine the adequacy of some performance requirements and test methods specified by the American National Standards Institute Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection, ANSI Z87.1-1968. The following three tasks were performed: the adequacy of Table 1 limits which provide requirements for the absorption of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation for protectors used by welders, furnace workers, and others were determined; impact resistance test methods were evaluated; and the adequacy of the optical tolerances for eye and face protectors were determined and objective test methods were recommended. Recommendations for revising Table 1 are presented. A ballistic test method was developed and tested and the tolerances involved in the test method were specified. The performance of safety spectacles, flexible mask goggles, cup goggles, welding helmets, and face shields were studied using the test method developed. The optical requirements for plano eyewear were studied from the point of view of maintaining high visual acuity for the large fraction of the industrial population whose acuity is 20/20 or better. The author concludes that the tolerances for sphere power, axial astigmatism, and prism in a single lens given in Z87.1 were adequate. In the case of lens definition, the author concluded that the requirement of Z87.1 may or may not be adequately stringent.
