ANSI Z87.1 Safety Glasses Standards: What Every Employer Needs to Know

What Is ANSI Z87.1?

ANSI Z87.1 is the American National Standard for occupational and educational eye and face protection. Published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and maintained by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), it defines the minimum performance requirements for safety eyewear.

In practical terms: if safety glasses carry the Z87 marking, they've been tested and certified to protect against workplace eye hazards. If they don't carry the marking, they're not safety glasses — no matter how tough they look.

OSHA requires that all safety eyewear provided to employees meet the current ANSI Z87.1 standard (29 CFR 1910.133). This isn't optional. Using non-compliant eyewear is a citable violation.

Understanding the Z87 Markings

Every pair of ANSI-certified safety glasses has markings on the frame and lenses that tell you exactly what protection they provide. Here's how to read them:

Lens Markings

Z87 (without a plus sign): Basic impact rated. Protects against moderate hazards — flying particles, dust, light debris. Suitable for most manufacturing, warehousing, and general industrial environments.

Z87+ (with a plus sign): High-impact rated. Tested to withstand a steel ball fired at high velocity. Required for environments with heavy machinery, grinding, cutting, or any task that generates high-velocity projectiles.

Frame Markings

Z87: Basic impact rated frame. Must be paired with Z87 or Z87+ lenses.

Z87+: High-impact rated frame. Required when using Z87+ lenses.

Both the frame and lenses need to match the required impact rating. A Z87+ lens in a Z87 frame doesn't give you high-impact protection.

Additional Markings

D3 — Splash/droplet protection. Important for chemical handling, cleaning operations, or anywhere liquids are present.

D4 — Dust protection. Required for environments with fine particles, grinding dust, or airborne debris.

D5 — Fine dust protection. For environments with very fine particulates that standard D4 doesn't cover.

W (followed by shade number) — Welding protection. The shade number indicates the level of optical radiation filtering. W2 through W14 depending on the welding process.

U (followed by scale number) — UV protection. Indicates the UV filtering level of the lens.

L (followed by scale number) — Visible light filter. Indicates how much visible light the lens blocks.

V — Photochromic lenses. Lenses that automatically adjust tint based on light conditions.

S — Special tint. Non-standard tint for specific applications.

Which Rating Do You Need?

The answer depends on your hazard assessment. Here are the most common scenarios:

General manufacturing, assembly, warehousing: Z87 basic impact is usually sufficient. Flying particles are the primary hazard, but they're typically low-velocity.

Grinding, cutting, machining, woodworking: Z87+ high-impact is required. These tasks generate high-velocity projectiles that basic-rated lenses can't handle.

Chemical handling, laboratory work: Z87 with D3 splash protection. Lenses alone aren't enough — you need splash-rated frames or goggles.

Dusty environments, sandblasting: Z87 with D4 or D5 dust protection. Sealed frames or goggles are required.

Outdoor work with UV exposure: Z87 with U rating for UV filtering and appropriate visible light tint.

Prescription Safety Glasses and ANSI Z87.1

Here's where it gets important for EHS managers: prescription safety glasses must meet the exact same Z87.1 standards as non-prescription safety glasses. Regular prescription glasses — even if they're polycarbonate — do not qualify as safety glasses.

When employees need corrective lenses and eye protection, you have three options: over-the-glasses (OTG) goggles worn over regular glasses, prescription safety glasses with integrated corrective lenses, or prescription safety glass inserts that fit behind a standard safety frame.

Of these, prescription safety glasses with integrated lenses provide the best combination of comfort, vision quality, and protection. OTG goggles are bulky and fog easily. Inserts add weight and complexity.

Every pair of prescription safety glasses available through Bridgemart's program at Walmart Vision Centers is ANSI Z87.1-certified. The lenses are polycarbonate (the most impact-resistant lens material available), and the frames are tested to match. Walmart's optical professionals ensure the prescription is correct and the fit is proper.

Staying Compliant

OSHA compliance for safety eyewear comes down to three things: the eyewear meets ANSI Z87.1 for the hazards present, employees are trained on when and how to wear it, and you can prove both of the above.

That last point trips up a lot of EHS managers. You need documentation showing who received what PPE, when they received it, and that the PPE matches the hazard assessment for their role.

Bridgemart's utilization reports provide this documentation automatically — who used their Safety Card, when, and what they purchased. Combined with your hazard assessment and training records, you've got a complete compliance file ready for any audit.

Getting ANSI Z87.1 Glasses to Your Team

With Bridgemart, every pair of safety glasses available through the program is ANSI Z87.1-certified. Employees visit any Walmart Vision Center, get a professional fitting, and walk out with certified prescription safety eyewear the same day.

No need to verify markings yourself. No need to check vendor certifications. No guesswork. The program is designed so compliance is built in from the start.