Z94.3-15

Overview:

Eye and face protection in the workplace is critical to the overall safety of workers. Typical occupational hazards and dangers specific to the eyes and face include flying objects and particles, splashing liquids, molten metal, and ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation. 

First published in 1969 under the title Industrial Eye and Face Protectors, the eighth edition of the standard, published since 2002 under the title Z94.3 – Eye and Face Protectors, helps to protect workers who perform their job duties with these specific hazards present. The standard outlines the basic performance requirements for eye and face protectors as well as specific testing requirements for prescription and non-prescription eye wear.

Highlights of Z94.3-15:

• Addition of lasers and arc flash hazards and provisions for protection

• Revised optical requirements for plano eyewear with non-prescription reading segments

• Revised specifications for headform used for impact and penetration tests

• Updated Table 5 outlining provisions for types of lenses presumed to be compliant with this Standard

• Clarification of the points of impact for face shields and welding protectors

Preface

This is the eighth edition of CSA Z94.3, Eye and face protectors. It supersedes the previous editions, published in 2007 and 2002 under the same title and in 1999, 1992, 1988, 1982, and 1969 under the title Industrial Eye and Face Protectors.

Major changes to this edition include the following:

- added Hazard Type I (lasers) and provision for laser radiation protection (Clauses 4 and 8.6);

- added Hazard Type J (arc flash) and provision for electric arc flash protection (Clauses 4, 8.7, 9.3.6, and 10.5);

- revised optical requirements for plano eyewear with non-prescription reading segments (Clause 12.6);

- revised the specified headform used for impact and penetration tests (Clauses 12.2.1, 12.11.1, and 12.13);

- added allowance for two sizes of steel ball and broadening of hardness range of steel balls used for impact tests (Clauses 6.1.3.1, 6.1.3.2, and 12.2.1.3);

- updated Table 5 provisions for types of lenses presumed to be compliant with this Standard;

- refined the ignition and flame-resistance requirements and test procedures (Clauses 6.2 and 12.3).

- clarified the points of impact for faceshields and welding protectors (Clause 12.2.2);

- extended the method for determining field of view - accommodating curved lens surfaces (Clauses 8.4.1,12.12.2, and 12.12.3); and

- added new Annex (F) showing exemplars of lens performance under the impact test.

As introduced in the 2002 edition, the basic performance requirements apply to all protectors covered in this Standard, whereas the test procedures specified differ for prescription eyewear and nonprescription eyewear.

As in previous editions, for non-prescription protectors, specified testing procedures are to be conducted using the whole assembled product (not individual components). In contrast, for Class 1 protectors having prescription lenses, performance criteria and test procedures are applied to lenses and frames separately. This Standard sets out requirements for the manufacture of these protectors (e.g., quality assurance). In addition, special allowance has been made in this edition for the role of ophthalmic professionals in adjusting and modifying spectacles to fit the individual wearer. When taken together, these requirements provide a basis for conformity assessment of protective spectacles with prescription lenses.

Scope

1.1

This Standard applies to eye and face protectors used in all occupational and educational operations or processes involving hazards to the eyes or face. Typical hazards include flying objects and particles, splashing liquids, molten metal, and ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation, but do not include X-rays, gamma rays, high-energy particulate radiation, radioactive materials, or masers.

Note: The guidelines for protection outlined in Annex A should be followed when similar potentially hazardous activities are conducted in the home, at leisure, and in recreational environments. For certain sports activities, other Standards should be consulted (e.g., CSA Z262.2).

1.2

This Standard sets minimum performance requirements in the tests described herein but does not cover factors of design such as comfort, service life, or appearance.

Note: The conformance of protectors with these requirements does not imply equality of performance, nor should it be interpreted to mean that protectors are capable of affording greater protection than is specified in this Standard.

1.3

In this Standard, shall is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; should is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and may is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.

An update to this product is available.

To receive notifications when an amendment, new edition or update is available to your standard no matter how you purchased it, please register on the Standards Update Service. After registering, enter the List ID for the relevant standard. The List ID can be found in the “CSA Standards Update” section within the first few pages of the standard you’ve purchased. Once notified, you can then update your standard accordingly.

PDF Format Purchased from the CSA Store

If you have purchased or subscribed to a standard from the CSA Store in PDF format, login to your CSA OnDemand^TM account to access the updated PDF.

Paper Format Purchased or Purchased from Reseller

If you have purchased a paper copy of the standard from the CSA Store or purchased a standard in paper or PDF format from one of our resellers, login to the Standards Update Service to download the updates in PDF format. 

eBook Format Purchased

If you have purchased a standard in eBook format, login to the CSA Reader App to download the updated version of the standard.