Face shields are a necessity in many professions and for a variety of tasks within 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. Particular jobs requiring using face shields embrace metal workers, some medical staff, industrial painters and workers in chemical plants. While not all employment and tasks require a face shield, they are typically overlooked 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 comparable 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 you should 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, participating 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 excessive temperatures.
Arc Hazards: Electricians working with high voltage connections want protection from potential arc explosions, which can lead to extreme burns and demise! Only specially designed face shields needs to be used. The Elvex ARC-Shield is an example of a face shield specifically designed to protect in opposition to arc flash.
High-velocity impact hazards: Safety glasses do an awesome job of protecting your eyes. However, they can’t protect your face. Plus, safety glasses may fail if hit by an object with enough mass or velocity. Face shields provide an additional stage of protection from high-mass and high-velocity impact hazards. With that being said, it’s always beneficial 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. However, this might expose your eyes or face to the incoming hazard. Be sure your face shield has adequate side protection, particularly if you’re working round liquid splash or radiation hazards.
Goggle kinds 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 mix a removable goggle with a face shield. This characteristic provides the ability to replace the goggle if it becomes scratched or damaged. Plus, you may 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 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 enable for easy replacement while lift-entrance types can be lowered and raised quickly because 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 widespread 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 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. Nonetheless, you should always wear safety glasses under your face shield because the bottom and sides of face shields typically have gaps. Liquid or debris passing by way of these gaps can contact your eyes, probably inflicting an injury.
Ensure you take the time to judge the risks in your work area and choose the appropriate eye and face protection.