ISEA's Eye and Face Protection Group Writing Biohazard Standard
The group, consisting of representatives from 14 major vision protection suppliers, held a kickoff meeting Nov. 9 during the association's Fall Meeting.
A new consensus standard addressing workers’ eye and face protection against biological hazards is being developed by the International Safety Equipment Association’s Eye and Face Protection Group, which consists of representatives from 14 major vision protection suppliers. The group held a kickoff meeting for the development project Nov. 9 during the association’s Fall Meeting, according to ISEA.
ISEA is the secretariat for the American National Standard for eye and face protection, ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2003; it addresses impact, particulate, chemical, and radiation hazards, but does not specifically address bloodborne pathogens and other biological hazards.
Workers who may be exposed to biohazards include physicians, nurses, and other health care workers; laboratory and clinical staff; emergency medical technicians, police and firefighters; first aid providers; and maintenance and custodial workers who deal with spills or contaminated waste, according to ISEA.
The association has posted a background document about the project that lists this as the scope of the voluntary standard: "This standard sets forth criteria related to the general performance requirements, test methods, and permanent markings of protectors to minimize or prevent eye and face exposure of the wearer to sprays, splashes, or droplets of blood, body fluids, excretions, secretions, and other potentially infectious materials in occupational and educational environments where biological hazards are expected and routine."