Face shields are a necessity in lots of professions and for quite a lot 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 probably hazardous light radiation. Specific jobs requiring the use of face shields embrace 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 neglected and needs to be used more often.

5 Reasons To Use A Face Shield
Flying debris: Mud and different fine supplies can fly into your eyes. When utilizing chainsaws, angle grinders or comparable power tools, you need to always use a face shield.
Splash hazards: When dealing with 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 maintenance, participating in welding or handling any molten substance it's best to use a face shield. Some face shields, typically employed in foundries, have particular 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 extreme 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 can not protect your face. Plus, safety glasses may fail if hit by an object with sufficient 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 really useful 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 increased protection from lateral hazards. It’s a natural intuition to show your face away from an object flying towards you. Nevertheless, this might expose your eyes or face to the incoming hazard. Be sure your face shield has adequate side protection, particularly if you happen to’re working around liquid splash or radiation hazards.
Goggle types such because the Jackson MonoShield with Goggles or Bolle Atom Shield provide one other 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 characteristic provides the ability to switch the goggle if it becomes scratched or damaged. Plus, you may 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 manufacturers provide adapters for mounting their products on hard hats.
Face shields are available in removable or lift-entrance designs. Removable face shields allow for easy replacement while lift-front types may be lowered and raised rapidly because the task requires.
Face shield material 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 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 additional eye and face protection from quite a lot of dangers. Nevertheless, 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 these gaps can contact your eyes, doubtlessly causing an injury.

Be sure you take the time to guage the risks in your work area and select the appropriate eye and face protection.