When To Wear A Face Shield
Face shields are a necessity in many professions and for a variety of tasks in the workplace or at home. OSHA requires the usage of face shields when workers are exposed 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 employees, industrial painters and workers in chemical plants. While not all employment and tasks require a face shield, they are typically overlooked and needs 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 related power instruments, you need to always use a face shield.
Splash hazards: When dealing with acids, corrosives, chemical adherents or strippers and or with body fluids you should wear face shields. Typical safety eyewear doesn’t provide the mandatory liquid splash protection required for these type of hazards.
Extreme heat: When performing furnace maintenance, partaking in welding or dealing with any molten substance you must use a face shield. Some face shields, typically employed in foundries, have special 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 extreme burns and demise! Only specifically designed face shields must be used. The Elvex ARC-Shield is an instance of a face shield specifically designed to protect in opposition to arc flash.
High-velocity impact hazards: Safety glasses do an ideal job of protecting your eyes. Nonetheless, they can’t protect your face. Plus, safety glasses could fail if hit by an object with sufficient 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 really useful to wear safety eyewear underneath your face shield.
Luckily, 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 elevated protection from lateral hazards. It’s a natural instinct to turn your face away from an object flying towards you. However, this might expose your eyes or face to the incoming hazard. Ensure your face shield has adequate side protection, particularly for those who’re working around 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, development 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 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 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-front designs. Removable face shields enable for straightforward replacement while lift-front types can be lowered and raised quickly as the task requires.
Face shield materials 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 well-liked with loggers and provide protection from impacts, plus they don’t fog up. Nevertheless, 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 an excellent job of providing further eye and face protection from a wide range of dangers. However, you must always wear safety glasses under your face shield because the underside and sides of face shields typically have gaps. Liquid or debris passing via these gaps can contact your eyes, probably causing an injury.
Be sure you take the time to guage the risks in your work area and choose the appropriate eye and face protection.