Face shields are a necessity in many professions and for a variety of tasks in the workplace or at home. OSHA requires the usage of face shields when workers are exposed to flying objects, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gasses or vapors, or potentially hazardous light radiation. Specific jobs requiring the use of face shields embody metal workers, some medical staff, industrial painters and staff in chemical plants. While not all employment and tasks require a face shield, they are usually neglected and ought to be used more often.
5 Reasons To Use A Face Shield
Flying debris: Dust and different fine supplies can fly into your eyes. When utilizing chainsaws, angle grinders or similar energy instruments, you need to always use a face shield.
Splash hazards: When dealing with acids, corrosives, chemical adherents or strippers and or with body fluids you should wear face shields. Typical safety eyewear doesn’t provide the required liquid splash protection required for these type of hazards.
Excessive heat: When performing furnace maintenance, participating in welding or dealing with any molten substance it’s best to use a face shield. Some face shields, typically employed in foundries, have particular coatings to provide additional 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 demise! Only specially designed face shields should be used. The Elvex ARC-Shield is an instance of a face shield specifically designed to protect against arc flash.
High-velocity impact hazards: Safety glasses do a fantastic job of protecting your eyes. However, they can’t protect your face. Plus, safety glasses might fail if hit by an object with sufficient mass or velocity. Face shields provide an additional degree 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 damaged 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 intuition to show your face away from an object flying towards you. Nonetheless, this could expose your eyes or face to the incoming hazard. Be sure your face shield has adequate side protection, particularly when you’re working around liquid splash or radiation hazards.
Goggle styles such because the Jackson MonoShield with Goggles or Bolle Atom Shield provide another option for face protection when working in clean rooms, metal processing, foundries, mining, building and more. These face shields combine a removable goggle with a face shield. This feature provides the ability to interchange the goggle if it becomes scratched or damaged. Plus, it’s possible you’ll discover these face shields easier to use 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 atmosphere you’ll be working in and select 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-entrance designs. Removable face shields allow for simple replacement while lift-front styles will be lowered and raised quickly as the task requires.
Face shield materials comes 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 standard with loggers and provide protection from impacts, plus they don’t fog up. Nonetheless, wire mesh face shields should not be used for work involving chemical, liquid splash, or fine dust hazards.
Think Safety Glasses AND Face Shield
Face shields do an excellent job of providing additional eye and face protection from quite a lot of dangers. Nonetheless, you should always wear safety glasses under your face shield because the underside and sides of face shields typically have gaps. Liquid or particles passing via these gaps can contact your eyes, doubtlessly inflicting an injury.
Ensure you take the time to evaluate the dangers in your work space and choose the appropriate eye and face protection.