OSHA requires eye protection for workers, specifying standards based on the workplace environment. Here’s a quick overview of the relevant regulations:

1. General Requirements (29 CFR 1910.132):
   Employers must provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) at no cost to employees, including safety glasses or other face protection.
2. General Industry (29 CFR 1910.133):
   Employers must ensure that affected employees use the appropriate eye or face protection when there is potential exposure to hazards such as:
   • Flying particles
   • Molten metal
   • Liquid chemicals, acids, or acidic liquids
   • Chemical gases or vapors
   • UV exposure
3. Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926.102):
   In construction environments, special considerations are given due to the higher risk of eye injuries from hazardous activities.

All eye protection must meet minimum safety requirements, provide adequate protection, and be clearly marked for easy identification of the manufacturer.

To ensure you receive quality eye protection, always choose safety glasses that comply with industry safety standards.

iNOX™ eyewear undergoes two critical tests for every pair:

1. Optical Test: This evaluates several key factors:
   • Optical Quality: Lenses must be free of bubbles, waves, and visible defects.
   • Luminous Transmission: Clear lenses should maintain a minimum transmission of 85%.
   • Physical Requirements: Lenses must be free from sharp edges or defects that could cause discomfort or injury.
   • Minimum Coverage Area: The eyewear must adequately protect the user’s eyes and face.
2. High Impact Testing: This consists of two parts to assess the eyewear’s impact resistance:
   • The Drop Ball Test determines the basic impact safety classification. A one-inch diameter steel ball is dropped onto the lens from a height of 50 inches.
   • The High Velocity Test involves shooting a quarter-inch diameter steel ball at the lens at speeds of 150 feet per second for spectacles and 250 feet per second for goggles.

These rigorous testing procedures ensure that iNOX™ eyewear provides reliable and effective protection for your eyes.

To ensure you’re getting a sturdy pair of safety glasses, consider the construction standards of the eyewear. iNOX™ utilizes special thermoplastic rubber (TPR) to prevent slippage from moisture and perspiration, applied in the temple tips and nose pieces to keep the glasses securely in place.

Additionally, the frame technology plays a crucial role. iNOX™ eyewear features:

• Flexible and Durable Materials: Frames are made from high-quality nylon for enhanced durability.
• Wrap-Around Design: This design helps prevent side shield distortion, offering better protection and a wider field of vision.
• Comfortable Temples: Straight temples rest comfortably on the head without pinching.

Finally, iNOX™ frames must meet various in-house, ANSI, and sometimes Military standards, ensuring they provide the necessary protection and sturdiness for various applications.

Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays can both cause significant damage to your eyes, albeit in different ways:

• UVA Rays (320-400 nm): These rays maintain a relatively stable intensity throughout the year. Prolonged exposure without adequate sunglasses protection can lead to damage to your central vision.
• UVB Rays (290-320 nm): Often referred to as the sun’s burning rays, UVB rays are primarily associated with sunburns. High levels of exposure without proper sunglasses protection can cause permanent damage to the cornea and lens.

All iNOX™ eyewear lenses provide 99.9% protection from UVA and UVB rays, ensuring your eyes remain safe from harmful sun exposure.

To determine the best lens color for UV protection and specific applications, refer to the chart below:

	Clear Provides excellent optics for general indoor applications where impact protection is required.		Blue, Red, Orange, Brown, Gold and Silver Mirror Ideal for outdoor use where sunlight and glare cause eye strain and fatigue. The mirror coating reflects light, reducing the amount of light that passes through the lens.
	Gray Suitable for outdoor applications where light and glare can lead to eyestrain and fatigue.		Brown, Mocha, Bronze and Orange Effective for outdoor environments, reducing sunlight and glare that may cause eye strain.
	Indoor/Outdoor A clear lens with a slight mirror coating, allowing more visible light for indoor/outdoor use while reducing glare from artificial light.		Amber Blocks the blue portion of the visible light spectrum, enhancing contrast, especially in low light conditions.
	Infrared Green filters protect against UV rays and flash burns.		Light Blue Reduces glare and the yellow tint often emitted by industrial or sodium vapor lighting.

When examining a pair of safety eyewear, you’ll notice several markings inside. These markings indicate specific safety ratings governed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z87. ANSI oversees the development of voluntary safety standards through a national consensus process, creating uniform testing protocols to ensure manufacturers meet safety requirements.

The ANSI Z87 rating establishes a certification system for safety eyewear based on hazards commonly encountered in the workplace, including:

• Impact
• Heat
• Chemical or liquid splash
• Dust
• Radiation

Eye protection that’s Z87.1 compliant is marked with “Z87+.” All safety eyewear manufacturers should provide product information around how their safety eyewear meets these current standards.

General Markings

Eyewear compliant with Z87.1 is marked with “Z87+,” indicating it meets the necessary impact testing standards. Manufacturers should provide information detailing how their products adhere to these standards.

Optional Markings

Additional optional markings may indicate specific lens types or applications, such as:

• +: Impact-rated protector
• W (followed by a shade number): Suitable for welding applications
• U (followed by a scale number): Ultraviolet light protector
• L (followed by a scale number): Visible light (glare) protector
• V (followed by a scale number): Infrared radiation protector
• S: Special purpose protection
• V: Variable tint lens
• D3, D4, D5: Splash, dust, and fine dust protection, respectively

For more information about our line of eye protection or other PPE workwear, please contact our customer service team.