Face shields are a necessity in many professions and for quite a lot of tasks within the workplace or at home. OSHA requires the usage 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 embody metal workers, some medical staff, industrial painters and employees in chemical plants. While not all employment and tasks require a face shield, they are typically ignored and ought to be used more often.
5 Reasons To Use A Face Shield
Flying particles: Mud and different fine materials can fly into your eyes. When using chainsaws, angle grinders or similar energy instruments, you should always use a face shield.
Splash hazards: When dealing with acids, corrosives, chemical adherents or strippers and or with body fluids you must wear face shields. Typical safety eyewear doesn’t provide the mandatory 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 special coatings to provide further protection from excessive 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 must 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 a terrific job of protecting your eyes. Nevertheless, they cannot protect your face. Plus, safety glasses might fail if hit by an object with sufficient mass or velocity. Face shields provide an extra 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 broken 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 instinct to show your face away from an object flying towards you. Nonetheless, this may expose your eyes or face to the incoming hazard. Make sure that your face shield has adequate side protection, especially if you happen to’re working round liquid splash or radiation hazards.
Goggle kinds such as 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 function provides the ability to exchange the goggle if it becomes scratched or damaged. Plus, it’s possible you’ll 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 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 enable for straightforward replacement while lift-front types will be lowered and raised shortly as the task requires.
Face shield material 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 in style 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 further eye and face protection from a variety of dangers. However, you must always wear safety glasses under your face shield because the bottom and sides of face shields typically have gaps. Liquid or particles passing by way of these gaps can contact your eyes, doubtlessly causing an injury.
Make sure you take the time to guage the hazards in your work space and select the appropriate eye and face protection.