The Vision Council (TVC) has announced the release of ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2025, a revised edition of the American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices.

The standard establishes criteria for general requirements, testing, permanent marking, selection, care, and use of eye and face protection designed to reduce or prevent injuries from hazards such as impact, nonionizing radiation, and liquid splash exposure. It applies to occupational and educational environments, including machinery operations, welding and cutting, chemical handling, and assembly work.

ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2025 is the sixth revision of the voluntary industry consensus standard. The standard is also referenced in US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, which require employers to provide appropriate eye and face protection that complies with the standard.

According to TVC, the updated edition continues to emphasize product performance and alignment with international standards. The revised standard is available for purchase here.

Key updates in ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2025 include:

• A cross-reference to ANSI/ISEA Z87.62-2021, which addresses protection against sprays or spurts of blood and other potentially infectious materials;

• Expanded clarification and requirements for product markings, including guidance related to prescription lens carriers;

• Updated language in sections covering impact testing, lens haze, and minimum coverage requirements; and

• Editorial revisions and reorganized hazard-specific sections to improve clarity.

The standard retains criteria and marking requirements for protectors offering relaxed optical requirements and antifog properties, first introduced in the 2020 revision. These provisions are intended for specific use cases, such as first responders or military personnel, and the standard notes that such products may not be appropriate for precision industrial applications without a proper hazard assessment.

References to other standards within the document reflect versions current at the time of publication. Users are advised to verify that they are consulting the most recent editions of referenced standards.

In conjunction with the revision, the Z87 committee has developed an Eye and Face Protection Selection Tool to assist users in identifying appropriate protection based on specific hazards. The tool is available as a free download. TVC has also released an overview guide for its members summarizing the updates to the standard.

“These updates are the result of a comprehensive 5-year revision process,” says TVC Vice President of Membership, Government Relations & Technical Affairs Michael Vitale. “The Vision Council is proud to have worked alongside industry experts to revise these standards to emphasize product performance and to support innovation and responsiveness to diverse workplace hazards.”