Face shields are a necessity in lots of professions and for a wide range of tasks within the workplace or at home. OSHA requires the usage of face shields when workers are uncovered to flying objects, molten metal, liquid chemical substances, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gasses or vapors, or potentially hazardous light radiation. Specific jobs requiring using face shields include metal workers, some medical employees, industrial painters and employees in chemical plants. While not all employment and tasks require a face shield, they are typically missed and ought to be used more often.
5 Reasons To Use A Face Shield
Flying debris: Mud and different fine supplies can fly into your eyes. When utilizing chainsaws, angle grinders or similar power tools, it’s best to always use a face shield.
Splash hazards: When handling acids, corrosives, chemical adherents or strippers and or with body fluids it’s best to wear face shields. Typical safety eyewear doesn’t provide the necessary liquid splash protection required for these type of hazards.
Excessive heat: When performing furnace maintenance, partaking in welding or dealing with any molten substance you need to use a face shield. Some face shields, typically employed in foundries, have special coatings to provide further protection from extreme temperatures.
Arc Hazards: Electricians working with high voltage connections need protection from potential arc explosions, which can lead to severe burns and dying! Only specially designed face shields should be used. The Elvex ARC-Shield is an example of a face shield specifically designed to protect towards arc flash.
High-velocity impact hazards: Safety glasses do an excellent job of protecting your eyes. Nonetheless, they can not protect your face. Plus, safety glasses may fail if hit by an object with enough mass or velocity. Face shields provide an additional level of protection from high-mass and high-velocity impact hazards. With that being said, it’s always recommended to wear safety eyewear underneath your face shield.
Luckily, safety glasses stopped this broken angle-grinder disk because a face shield ought to have been worn.
5 Face Shield Options To Consider
Side protection on face shields provides elevated protection from lateral hazards. It’s a natural instinct to show your face away from an object flying towards you. However, this might expose your eyes or face to the incoming hazard. Make certain your face shield has adequate side protection, particularly should you’re working round liquid splash or radiation hazards.
Goggle kinds such as the Jackson MonoShield with Goggles or Bolle Atom Shield provide one other option for face protection when working in clean rooms, metal processing, foundries, mining, building and more. These face shields mix a removable goggle with a face shield. This function provides the ability to replace the goggle if it turns into scratched or damaged. Plus, it’s possible you’ll find these face shields simpler to make use of in lab environments, because the face shield fits closer to your face.
Headgear – Face shields are typically worn with headgear or mounted to a traditional hard hat. Consider the type of surroundings you’ll be working in and choose the appropriate headgear system. Most face shield producers provide adapters for mounting their products on hard hats.
Face shields are available in removable or lift-front designs. Removable face shields permit for easy replacement while lift-front styles might be lowered and raised shortly as the task requires.
Face shield materials is available in polycarbonate, Lexan or wire mesh models. Polycarbonate and Lexan protect towards impacts and are available in clear or tinted versions. Wire mesh face shields are popular with loggers and provide protection from impacts, plus they don’t fog up. Nonetheless, wire mesh face shields shouldn’t be used for work involving chemical, liquid splash, or fine mud hazards.
Think Safety Glasses AND Face Shield
Face shields do a wonderful job of providing further eye and face protection from a wide range of dangers. Nonetheless, it is best to always wear safety glasses under your face shield because the underside and sides of face shields typically have gaps. Liquid or debris passing by means of these gaps can contact your eyes, potentially inflicting an injury.
Be sure you take the time to evaluate the dangers in your work area and select the appropriate eye and face protection.
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