Face shields are a necessity in lots of professions and for a wide range of tasks in the workplace or at home. OSHA requires the use of face shields when workers are exposed to flying objects, molten metal, liquid chemical substances, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gasses or vapors, or doubtlessly hazardous light radiation. Specific jobs requiring the usage of face shields include metal workers, some medical employees, industrial painters and workers in chemical plants. While not all employment and tasks require a face shield, they’re usually neglected and should be used more often.
5 Reasons To Use A Face Shield
Flying particles: Mud and different fine supplies can fly into your eyes. When utilizing chainsaws, angle grinders or comparable energy instruments, it is best to always use a face shield.
Splash hazards: When handling 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 upkeep, participating in welding or handling any molten substance you must use a face shield. Some face shields, typically employed in foundries, have particular coatings to provide extra 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 specifically designed face shields needs to be used. The Elvex ARC-Shield is an example 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. Nonetheless, they can’t protect your face. Plus, safety glasses could fail if hit by an object with sufficient 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.
Fortunately, safety glasses stopped this broken angle-grinder disk because a face shield should 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 turn your face away from an object flying towards you. Nevertheless, this could expose your eyes or face to the incoming hazard. Be certain that your face shield has adequate side protection, particularly in the event you’re working round liquid splash or radiation hazards.
Goggle kinds such because 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, development and more. These face shields mix a removable goggle with a face shield. This feature provides the ability to interchange the goggle if it turns into scratched or damaged. Plus, you may discover these face shields simpler 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 surroundings you’ll be working in and select the appropriate headgear system. Most face shield manufacturers provide adapters for mounting their products on hard hats.
Face shields are available in removable or lift-entrance designs. Removable face shields enable for easy replacement while lift-front types may be lowered and raised shortly because the task requires.
Face shield material is available in polycarbonate, Lexan or wire mesh models. Polycarbonate and Lexan protect in opposition to impacts and are available in clear or tinted versions. Wire mesh face shields are well-liked 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 a wonderful job of providing extra eye and face protection from quite a lot of dangers. Nevertheless, you must always wear safety glasses under your face shield because the bottom and sides of face shields typically have gaps. Liquid or debris passing via these gaps can contact your eyes, potentially causing an injury.
Be sure you take the time to evaluate the risks in your work area and select the appropriate eye and face protection.