Toronto, ON – Over the past few years, support within the hockey community for eye protection has grown dramatically, largely due to the attention given to eye injuries suffered by well-known professional athletes. Wearing a visor or other face protector certified by CSA International can significantly reduce the risk of eye injuries hockey players' face every time they step on the ice.

“I’ve heard the same (anti-visor) arguments over some 20 years,” says Dr. Pat Bishop, professor emeritus of kinesiology at the University of Waterloo and chairman of the CSA committee that sets the standard for face protectors and visors. “I’ve heard players say, ‘I’m wearing hockey gloves and I’ve been slashed and had my wrist broken.’ But they do not follow this with, ‘Therefore, I will take off my gloves and now I won’t be slashed on the wrist.’ The real issue is, your eyes are at risk of being injured, do you want to protect them?”

CSA International tests and certifies face protectors and visors to ensure they meet requirements in applicable standards. The Canadian Hockey Association cites the use of CSA-certified equipment items such as visors, facemasks and helmets in its mandatory requirements for players in the senior, junior, minor and women’s leagues.

Independent research conducted by Dr. Tom Pashby for the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, shows that since the 1974-75 season, before minor hockey players were required to wear face protection, the number of eye injuries has decreased dramatically, due in large part to the use of CSA-certified equipment. In 1974-75, there were 258 eye injuries and 43 blinded eyes, compared to four eye injuries and two blind eye injuries in 2001-2002. Since 1972, 311 players at either the minor, junior or pro level have suffered blind eyes due to injuries.

Since 1974-75, no blind eye injuries have been suffered by players wearing CSA-certified full-face protectors, while nine have been suffered by players wearing CSA-certified visors. This means that 97% (302) of total blind-eye injuries suffered since 1972, have been by players not wearing CSA-certified equipment.

CSA International, Canada’s certification and testing organization, offers the following tips for selecting and maintaining hockey equipment:
· Look for the CSA-mark when purchasing a face protector or visor. The well-known mark tells consumers a product has been tested and certified to meet the requirements of the applicable standard.
· Certain face protectors have been designed to go with certain models of helmets. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to determine if you have the correct match and ensure the face protector is installed properly and securely fastened to the helmet.
· Face protectors and visors should bear the manufacturer’s identification, model identity, date code, size or size range, CSA-certification mark or identification.
· Never cut the wire on a facemask to improve the field of vision since this will weaken the entire structure. Ensure the wire structure on your face protector is solid and there are no broken wires.
· Inspect plastic visors or protectors for scratches or cracks. Too many scratches limit vision and cracks can weaken structural strength.
· Discard any cracked or broken visors and replace them with a new CSA-certified visor.

CSA International is a provider of product testing and certification services for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and a variety of other products. Recognized in Canada, the U.S. and around the world, CSA’s marks appear on over one billion products worldwide. CSA International is a division of CSA Group which consists of CSA International, the Canadian Standards Association, a developer of standards and codes, and QMI for management systems registration.

For more information about CSA International, visit our web site at www.csa-international.org.

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