Face shields are a necessity in lots of professions and for a wide range of tasks within 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 doubtlessly hazardous light radiation. Particular jobs requiring the usage of face shields embody metal workers, some medical employees, industrial painters and staff in chemical plants. While not all employment and tasks require a face shield, they are typically missed and ought to be used more often.
5 Reasons To Use A Face Shield
Flying debris: Mud and different fine materials can fly into your eyes. When utilizing chainsaws, angle grinders or similar energy tools, you should 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, participating 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 further protection from excessive temperatures.
Arc Hazards: Electricians working with high voltage connections want protection from potential arc explosions, which can lead to severe burns and dying! Only specially designed face shields ought 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 an excellent job of protecting your eyes. Nevertheless, 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 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.
Luckily, 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. Make sure that your face shield has adequate side protection, particularly should you’re working round 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 mix a removable goggle with a face shield. This function provides the ability to exchange the goggle if it turns into scratched or damaged. Plus, chances are you’ll 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 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 straightforward replacement while lift-front kinds can 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 against 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 shouldn’t be used for work involving chemical, liquid splash, or fine dust hazards.
Think Safety Glasses AND Face Shield
Face shields do a superb job of providing extra eye and face protection from a variety of dangers. Nonetheless, it is best to always wear safety glasses under your face shield because the bottom and sides of face shields typically have gaps. Liquid or particles passing by means of these gaps can contact your eyes, doubtlessly inflicting an injury.
Be sure you take the time to guage the hazards in your work space and choose the appropriate eye and face protection.