Face shields are a necessity in lots of professions and for quite a lot of tasks within the workplace or at home. OSHA requires using face shields when workers are uncovered to flying objects, molten metal, liquid chemical compounds, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gasses or vapors, or doubtlessly hazardous light radiation. Specific jobs requiring the usage of 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 usually missed 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 related energy instruments, you must always use a face shield.
Splash hazards: When handling acids, corrosives, chemical adherents or strippers and or with body fluids it is best to wear face shields. Typical safety eyewear doesn’t provide the required liquid splash protection required for these type of hazards.
Extreme heat: When performing furnace maintenance, engaging in welding or handling any molten substance it is best to use a face shield. Some face shields, typically employed in foundries, have particular coatings to provide additional 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 death! Only specifically 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 awesome job of protecting your eyes. Nonetheless, they cannot protect your face. Plus, safety glasses could fail if hit by an object with enough 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 beneficial to wear safety eyewear underneath your face shield.
Fortunately, 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 elevated protection from lateral hazards. It’s a natural instinct to turn your face away from an object flying towards you. Nevertheless, this might expose your eyes or face to the incoming hazard. Be certain that your face shield has adequate side protection, particularly should you’re working around liquid splash or radiation hazards.
Goggle styles 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 feature provides the ability to switch the goggle if it becomes scratched or damaged. Plus, you might discover these face shields simpler 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 environment 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 simple replacement while lift-front kinds will 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 common 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 mud 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. Nevertheless, it’s best to always wear safety glasses under your face shield because the underside 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.
Be sure to take the time to evaluate the dangers in your work space and select the appropriate eye and face protection.