Face shields are a necessity in many professions and for a wide range of tasks in the workplace or at home. OSHA requires the use 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. Particular jobs requiring using face shields include metal workers, some medical workers, industrial painters and employees in chemical plants. While not all employment and tasks require a face shield, they are typically neglected and should be used more often.
5 Reasons To Use A Face Shield
Flying particles: Dust and other 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 must 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, engaging in welding or dealing with any molten substance it is best to use a face shield. Some face shields, typically employed in foundries, have special 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 extreme burns and dying! Only specially designed face shields must 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 amazing job of protecting your eyes. However, they can not protect your face. Plus, safety glasses might 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 really helpful to wear safety eyewear underneath your face shield.
Fortunately, 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 increased 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 certain that your face shield has adequate side protection, especially in the event you’re working around liquid splash or radiation hazards.
Goggle types 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 characteristic provides the ability to interchange the goggle if it becomes scratched or damaged. Plus, you may find 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 environment 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 permit for easy replacement while lift-entrance kinds will be lowered and raised quickly as 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 popular with loggers and provide protection from impacts, plus they don’t fog up. Nevertheless, 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 further eye and face protection from a wide range of dangers. However, you need to always wear safety glasses under your face shield because the underside and sides of face shields typically have gaps. Liquid or particles passing by these gaps can contact your eyes, potentially causing an injury.
Be sure to take the time to judge the dangers in your work area and select the appropriate eye and face protection.