Face shields are a necessity in lots of professions and for a wide range of tasks in the workplace or at home. OSHA requires using face shields when workers are uncovered to flying objects, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gasses or vapors, or doubtlessly hazardous light radiation. Particular jobs requiring the usage of face shields include metal workers, some medical staff, industrial painters and workers in chemical plants. While not all employment and tasks require a face shield, they’re usually ignored and ought to be used more often.
5 Reasons To Use A Face Shield
Flying particles: Mud and other fine materials can fly into your eyes. When using chainsaws, angle grinders or related energy instruments, 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.
Extreme heat: When performing furnace upkeep, engaging in welding or handling any molten substance it’s best to use a face shield. Some face shields, typically employed in foundries, have special coatings to provide additional protection from extreme temperatures.
Arc Hazards: Electricians working with high voltage connections want protection from potential arc explosions, which can lead to extreme 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 towards arc flash.
High-velocity impact hazards: Safety glasses do an awesome job of protecting your eyes. Nonetheless, they can not protect your face. Plus, safety glasses could fail if hit by an object with sufficient mass or velocity. Face shields provide an extra stage of protection from high-mass and high-velocity impact hazards. With that being said, it’s always advisable to wear safety eyewear underneath your face shield.
Luckily, safety glasses stopped this damaged angle-grinder disk because a face shield should 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 turn 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 if you happen to’re working around liquid splash or radiation hazards.
Goggle styles 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 combine a removable goggle with a face shield. This feature provides the ability to switch the goggle if it becomes scratched or damaged. Plus, it’s possible you’ll find these face shields easier 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 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 straightforward replacement while lift-front kinds will 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 in style with loggers and provide protection from impacts, plus they don’t fog up. However, 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 additional eye and face protection from a variety of dangers. Nonetheless, you must always wear safety glasses under your face shield because the underside and sides of face shields typically have gaps. Liquid or particles passing by way of these gaps can contact your eyes, potentially inflicting an injury.
Be sure to take the time to guage the dangers in your work area and choose the appropriate eye and face protection.