The Standard provides recommended practices and guidance for the selection, care and use of eye and face protectors worn to protect eyes and faces. The hazards include flying particles and fragments, chemicals, and optical radiation generated by processes such as welding, or from solar radiation.

This edition includes recommendations on the elimination or control of eye and face hazards. It provides recommendations for the use of eye and face protectors that comply with the relevant Australian/New Zealand Standards. It contains basic details for the development of eye and face safety programs. Appendices providing guidance on selection and use of filters for protection against optical radiation generated during welding and allied operations, ultraviolet and infrared radiation have been included for reference purposes.

The objective of this revision is to incorporate the consequential changes from the revisions to AS/NZS 1337 (which is now a multipart standard), AS/NZS 1338 and AS/NZS 3957 and other referenced standards. The section providing guidance on prescription eye protectors has been removed, since AS/NZS 1337.6 now provides a product specification for this application. The section on laser eye protection has been extensively revised to accommodate the replacement of AS 221l by AS/NZS IEC 60825 and to change the relevant laser eye protection standards from BS EN 207 and BS EN 208 to AS/NZS 1337, Parts 4 and 5.

The terms ‘normative’ and ‘informative’ have been used in this Standard to define the application of the appendix to which they apply. A ‘normative’ appendix is an integral part of a Standard, whereas an ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and guidance.