Face shields are a necessity in many professions and for a wide range of tasks in the workplace or at home. OSHA requires the use of face shields when workers are uncovered 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 embrace metal workers, some medical employees, industrial painters and employees in chemical plants. While not all employment and tasks require a face shield, they're typically neglected and should be used more often.

5 Reasons To Use A Face Shield
Flying particles: Mud and other fine materials can fly into your eyes. When using chainsaws, angle grinders or comparable energy tools, you should always use a face shield.
Splash hazards: When handling acids, corrosives, chemical adherents or strippers and or with body fluids you must wear face shields. Typical safety eyewear doesn’t provide the necessary liquid splash protection required for these type of hazards.
Excessive heat: When performing furnace upkeep, partaking 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 need protection from potential arc explosions, which can lead to extreme burns and death! Only specially designed face shields should 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 a great job of protecting your eyes. Nonetheless, they can not protect your face. Plus, safety glasses could fail if hit by an object with enough mass or velocity. Face shields provide an extra degree of protection from high-mass and high-velocity impact hazards. With that being said, it’s always advisable to wear safety eyewear underneath your face shield.

Fortunately, 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. Nevertheless, this may expose your eyes or face to the incoming hazard. Be certain your face shield has adequate side protection, particularly in case you’re working around liquid splash or radiation hazards.
Goggle kinds 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, construction and more. These face shields mix a removable goggle with a face shield. This characteristic provides the ability to replace the goggle if it turns into scratched or damaged. Plus, you might find these face shields easier 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 manufacturers provide adapters for mounting their products on hard hats.
Face shields are available in removable or lift-front designs. Removable face shields allow for simple replacement while lift-entrance styles might be lowered and raised shortly because 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 fashionable 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 further eye and face protection from a variety 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 particles passing via these gaps can contact your eyes, doubtlessly causing an injury.

Make sure you take the time to evaluate the risks in your work space and choose the appropriate eye and face protection.