If you work in a refinery, fabrication shop, power plant, chemical facility, construction site, or industrial environment, you’ve probably seen Z87 stamped on safety glasses.
You may have also noticed another marking:
Z87+
That tiny plus sign is easy to overlook.
But it matters.
Z87 and Z87+ are related to the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 standard for occupational and educational eye and face protection, but you shouldn’t assume the two markings communicate exactly the same thing.
For industrial workers exposed to flying particles, grinding debris, tools, equipment, and other impact hazards, understanding the difference can help you determine whether the eyewear you’re wearing is appropriate for the work you’re doing.
First, What Is ANSI Z87.1?
ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 is an American standard covering occupational and educational eye and face protection devices.
It establishes criteria involving the design, testing, performance, and marking of protective eyewear intended for different workplace hazards.
Those hazards can include impact, optical radiation, splash and droplets, dust, and fine dust.
That means “Z87” isn’t simply another way of saying:
These are tough sunglasses.
It refers to a recognized safety standard.
And within that standard, different markings communicate different information about the protector.
The Simple Difference: Z87 vs. Z87+
The easiest way for a worker to remember the distinction is:
The “+” indicates high-impact qualification under the Z87.1 marking system.
That doesn’t mean eyewear without a plus sign is automatically useless.
It means you need to understand the protection classification and select eyewear appropriate for the hazard.
When you’re working around significant impact hazards, that distinction becomes particularly important.
One tiny symbol can tell you something meaningful about how the protector has been classified.
Why Does High-Impact Protection Matter?
Think about the environment around an industrial worker.
A grinder throws debris.
Scale breaks loose from steel.
A wire wheel can shed fragments.
Material can chip while being struck.
A drill can produce debris.
A coworker several feet away can create a flying-particle hazard.
Something can fall.
Something can snap.
Something can ricochet.
And the human eye is extremely vulnerable.
You don’t need a giant piece of steel flying toward your face to suffer a serious eye injury.
A small high-speed particle can be enough.
That’s why impact protection is such an important part of industrial eye protection.
Z87+ Doesn’t Mean Indestructible
This needs to be understood clearly.
Z87+ does not mean unbreakable.
Safety glasses aren’t a force field.
High-impact-rated eyewear is tested according to specified requirements, but every protective device has limitations.
A sufficiently severe impact can overwhelm PPE.
A projectile can approach from an area the eyewear doesn’t adequately cover.
A damaged pair of glasses may not perform as intended.
And some jobs require more than safety glasses alone.
The correct way to think about Z87+ is:
tested high-impact protection—not unlimited impact protection.
Can Regular Sunglasses Be Z87+?
Yes, sunglasses can be designed as occupational safety eyewear.
The important distinction is that looking like safety glasses and actually meeting the applicable safety requirements are two different things.
Modern safety sunglasses don’t have to look like old-fashioned shop glasses.
They can have dark lenses.
They can have modern frames.
They can be comfortable.
They can be polarized.
They can look like something you’d wear outside the jobsite.
But the appearance doesn’t establish the safety classification.
The markings and specifications do.
That’s why workers should inspect the actual eyewear rather than judging it by appearance.
Polarized and Z87+ Mean Different Things
This distinction is especially important when shopping for safety sunglasses.
Polarized refers to an optical property intended to reduce certain reflected glare.
Z87+ communicates high-impact qualification within the Z87.1 marking system.
Those are separate characteristics.
A pair of polarized fishing sunglasses may provide excellent glare reduction without being occupational high-impact safety eyewear.
Likewise, properly designed safety sunglasses can combine polarization with the required impact characteristics.
For workers who spend ten or twelve hours outdoors around steel, equipment, pavement, vehicles, and bright industrial environments, having both can be useful.
But don’t mistake one feature for the other.
What About UV Protection?
UV protection is another separate consideration.
A pair of glasses can provide protection against ultraviolet radiation without being appropriate for industrial impact hazards.
Likewise, impact-rated safety eyewear can have additional lens properties appropriate for outdoor use.
Think about eyewear characteristics separately:
Impact protection.
UV protection.
Glare reduction.
Optical radiation protection.
Splash protection.
Dust protection.
One feature doesn’t automatically guarantee all the others.
Why Refinery Workers Should Understand the Difference
Refineries are crowded industrial environments.
You may be doing one task while five other crafts are working around you.
A pipefitter may be taking measurements while someone nearby is grinding.
A carpenter may be performing layout while an ironworker is working overhead.
An operator may be walking through an area where maintenance activities are underway.
An inspector may simply be observing the work.
None of those workers necessarily created the flying-particle hazard.
They can still be exposed to it.
That’s one reason safety glasses are often basic required PPE throughout designated industrial work areas.
Your Job Title Doesn’t Determine Your Eye Hazard
Consider two workers standing ten feet apart.
One is a welder.
The other is a project engineer.
If a piece of debris travels toward them, it doesn’t care which one performs physical craft work.
The same principle applies to:
Pipefitters.
Boilermakers.
Millwrights.
Carpenters.
Scaffold builders.
Electricians.
Equipment operators.
Laborers.
Inspectors.
Supervisors.
Safety personnel.
Visitors.
The hazard determines the protection—not whether your job title sounds dangerous.
Does Z87+ Mean You Can Grind With Only Safety Glasses?
Don’t make that assumption.
Grinding can create substantial flying-particle hazards, and the employer’s hazard assessment may require additional protection.
Depending on the task and exposure, workers may need a face shield or other protection in addition to appropriate safety glasses or goggles.
A face shield can protect a larger portion of the face.
But here’s another important point:
A face shield isn’t automatically a substitute for required primary eye protection underneath it.
Industrial PPE often works as a system.
The fact that one component provides protection doesn’t mean every other required component disappears.
What About Side Protection?
Impact doesn’t always arrive directly from the front.
Particles can travel at unpredictable angles.
That’s why side protection matters.
OSHA requires eye protection that provides side protection when employees are exposed to flying objects.
Depending on the design, that protection may be incorporated into the eyewear itself or provided through suitable side shields.
This is especially relevant in refineries and fabrication environments where hazards may originate from neighboring work.
You might be looking forward.
The particle might be coming from your left.
Z87+ Safety Glasses Aren’t Chemical Goggles
Here’s another dangerous misunderstanding.
A worker sees Z87+ and thinks:
These protect me from everything.
No.
High-impact protection addresses an impact classification.
Chemical splash is a different hazard.
Open safety glasses—even very good impact-rated ones—aren’t automatically equivalent to properly selected splash goggles.
If the hazard assessment requires chemical-splash protection, use the specified equipment.
The same applies to dust and other exposures.
Different hazards can require different types of protectors.
Z87+ Doesn’t Replace a Welding Hood
The same principle applies to welding.
Welding produces hazardous optical radiation.
A normal pair of Z87+ safety sunglasses isn’t a substitute for the correctly selected welding filter or welding helmet.
Welding lenses use appropriate filter shades for specific operations.
Safety glasses may still be required underneath the welding hood depending on the employer, task, and site requirements.
Again:
Impact protection and welding radiation protection aren’t the same thing.
What About Torch Cutting?
Torch cutting introduces multiple hazards.
There can be sparks.
Molten material.
Flying particles.
Intense visible light.
Infrared radiation.
Other hazards associated with the operation.
That means the worker needs eye and face protection appropriate for the actual cutting operation.
Simply seeing Z87+ on your everyday safety glasses doesn’t mean you should assume they’re the only protection required.
Always follow the applicable shade, eye-protection, and face-protection requirements for the task.
Why the Markings Matter More Than the Marketing
A manufacturer can call eyewear:
“Tactical.”
“Industrial.”
“Heavy duty.”
“Extreme.”
“Work glasses.”
“Impact resistant.”
None of those phrases should replace checking the actual safety specifications and markings.
Marketing language can describe a product.
The recognized marking tells you something about the standard to which the protector is represented as conforming.
That’s why knowledgeable workers turn the glasses over and look.
Learn to Inspect Your Safety Glasses
It only takes a few seconds.
Before relying on a pair of safety glasses, inspect them.
Look at the frame.
Look at the lenses.
Look for the applicable markings.
Check for cracks.
Check for severe scratches.
Check the temples.
Make sure the glasses fit correctly.
Make sure they remain securely positioned while you’re working.
And make sure the eyewear meets your employer’s requirements for the task.
Don’t assume a pair is acceptable simply because you’ve worn it on previous jobs.
Different facilities can have different PPE requirements.
What If the Z87+ Marking Is Hard to Find?
Safety markings can be small.
That’s normal.
Look carefully around the frame, temples, and lenses as applicable to the particular protector.
If you’re unsure whether the eyewear meets the required standard, check the manufacturer’s specifications.
If you still can’t establish that the glasses meet your workplace requirements, don’t guess.
Ask your employer or safety department.
Your eyesight isn’t the place to make assumptions.
Scratches Matter Too
Impact rating isn’t the only reason to replace safety glasses.
Visibility matters.
Industrial eyewear gets abused.
Glasses get dropped.
Thrown onto dashboards.
Placed inside toolboxes.
Covered in dust.
Wiped with dirty gloves.
Eventually, the lenses can become so scratched that workers struggle to see clearly through them.
At that point, you’re creating another hazard.
Poor visibility can affect measurements, equipment operation, climbing, walking, driving, and nearly every other task.
Safety eyewear needs to protect your eyes without preventing you from seeing the work.
Fit Matters
Another overlooked part of eye protection is fit.
Safety glasses that constantly slide down your nose won’t stay where they’re supposed to be.
Glasses that create uncomfortable pressure around your temples may eventually end up sitting on your hard hat instead of covering your eyes.
That’s why comfort isn’t merely a fashion issue.
It can affect compliance.
Workers are far more likely to keep eyewear on for the entire shift when the glasses fit properly and remain comfortable.
Why Safety Sunglasses Make Sense for Outdoor Industrial Work
Outdoor industrial workers can face two problems simultaneously:
The need for occupational eye protection and the need to deal with intense sunlight and glare.
That’s why properly rated safety sunglasses can be so useful.
Instead of constantly switching between regular sunglasses and safety glasses, workers can use eyewear designed to provide the required workplace protection while also addressing outdoor comfort.
For products such as Næxon Badger Safety Sunglasses, this is exactly the kind of worker the design is intended for: people who want work-focused eye protection without wearing something that feels completely disconnected from normal sunglasses.
The important part is always verifying the exact model’s markings and specifications against the requirements of your jobsite.
Never Add a “+” Yourself
This should be obvious, but it’s worth saying.
The “+” isn’t a decoration.
You can’t take ordinary sunglasses, engrave Z87+ into the temple, and suddenly turn them into compliant high-impact safety eyewear.
The designation relates to the performance requirements and testing applicable to the product.
A marking means something only when it legitimately represents the product’s conformity.
For workers purchasing safety eyewear, buy from manufacturers and sellers that clearly identify the product specifications.
Z87+ Is Small, but the Difference Matters
Most workers will never sit down and read an entire eye-protection standard.
They don’t necessarily need to.
But there are a few things every industrial worker should understand.
Z87 and Z87+ shouldn’t automatically be treated as the same marking. The “+” is associated with high-impact qualification. Polarization doesn’t mean impact rated. UV protection doesn’t mean impact rated. Z87+ doesn’t mean indestructible. And high-impact safety glasses don’t automatically replace goggles, face shields, welding protection, or other PPE required for a particular hazard.
That’s the practical knowledge that matters in the field.
The next time you pick up a pair of safety glasses, don’t just ask:
“Are these Z87?”
Look closer.
Ask:
“What are these actually rated to protect me from?”
Because when something comes flying toward your face, that tiny ”+” can represent a very important difference.
