What is a face shield?
Face shield is a type of personal protective equipment used to protect the wearer’s face from different risks. For example, a face shield may protect its wearer from physical hazards, energy or radiation, chemical splashes, or biological hazards, depending on the type of face shield used.
A conventional face shield consists of a headband that secures the shield to the wearer’s head and a flat or curved barrier (the shield) that keeps threats at bay. In many cases, a hinge connects the shield to the headband, allowing the wearer to lift the shield away from their face without removing it from their head.
Rules and regulations regarding face shields
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States requires the use of eye protection or face shields in any workplace setting where the worker is exposed to eye or face hazards such as flying debris, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or hazardous liquids, chemical gases or vapours, or possibly hazardous light radioactivity. These requirements are from OSHA guidelines.
Face shields are classified as one of the numerous types of protective eyewear in many jurisdictions. Face shields are classified as Class 6 eyewear and are suitable for all situations except those requiring considerable reductions in optical radiation or protection from a laser.
There are three types of Class 6 eye protection:
- Impact, piercing, splash, head, and glare protection are all provided by Class 6A.
- Class 6B provides radiation protection.
- Class 6C provides High-heat protection.
Types of helmets
When talking about face shields, it’s important to start with the helmet worn with the face shield. After all, face shield is a part of the helmet which can be attached or removed anytime. In reality, tactical face shields must meet the performance requirements of NIJ 0104.02. This standard applies to helmets that contain face shields as part of the overall system.
There are three main types of helmets
Personal Armored System for Ground Troops (PASGT): A traditional combat helmet with a front brim. The PASGT helmet was designed in the late 1970s and first used in the early 1980s. It provides ballistic protection for the head, temples, ear, and neck from fragmenting bombs.
MICH (Modular Integrated Communications Helmet)/ACH (Advanced Combat Helmet): A modern combat helmet with no front brim. Rails, communication devices, and night vision goggles are the most used attachments.
Special forces helmet: Special force helmet is a lightweight ballistic helmet made from para-aramid fibers providing maximum protection and supreme agility.
Face shield attachment systems
There are two ways to mount a face shield from the helmet.
- Field-Mount: The operator can attach and remove the face shield with reasonable ease while in the field and typically without using any equipment. Fabric straps with buckles, hard plastic “halo” band systems with buckles, and rail-mounts that lock the face shield onto side rail systems are the most popular types of field-mount face shield attachment systems.
- Hard-Mount: The face shield is screwed or bolted permanently to the helmet. The screw holes are usually located towards the temple area of the helmet.
Quality of face shield
You can’t talk about the characteristics and benefits of a tactical face shield without mentioning the face shield’s quality. The clear plastic cover that shields the tactical operator’s face is commonly referred to as a window or lens.
Tactical face shields include the following features and benefits:
- Face shield with an optical correction that reduces distortion and improves visibility.
- Polycarbonate is a tough, impact- and heat-resistant polymer.
- Shield thickness is 0.150″ or 0.250.”
Which industry uses face shields the most?
- Automotive: When producing trailers and trucks, workers grinding out metal is a common occurrence where face shields are used to protect the face and eye of the worker.
- Chemical Handling and Manufacturing: Workers who work with a variety of chemicals must be cautious of liquids and highly reactive ingredients splashing in their faces.
- Construction: Face shields should be worn by anyone exposed to impact dangers, flying construction debris, or dust.
- Railroads: Face shields are required for service, repair, and mechanical facilities maintenance employees.
- Refineries: Cutting metal and painting with solvents are common tasks during turnarounds.
- Shipyards: Working in a shipyard has always been perilous. Workers must always look out for flying particles, molten metal, and chemicals.
- Laboratories: Workers who work with potentially dangerous biological materials must wear full-face protection.
Types of face shield material
Acetate
Acetate face shields are widely used in the chemical industry. Cellulose acetate is a plant-based substance that is hypoallergenic. Acetate was first utilized for eyeglasses in the late 1940s due to the brittleness and other difficulties with previously used polymers.
Benefits of Acetate face shield
- It’s ideal for applications that require high optical clarity and rigidity.
- Normal temperatures do not cause it to grow limp or deformed.
- Under normal stress, it has strong impact resistance and can tolerate crazing or cracking across a wide range of temperatures.
- It works well as a grease and oil barrier.
- It keeps its elasticity for a long time.
PETG
PETG is a thermoplastic polyester that is robust, chemically resistant, and easy to die-cut for use as a face shield. In addition, PETG provides great protection at a reasonable cost.
Benefits of PETG
- It’s quite long-lasting.
- It can withstand a lot of hardcore work.
- It’s possible to sterilize it.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is all over the place! It’s an amorphous, naturally transparent thermoplastic with uses beyond eyewear lenses. On the other hand, Polycarbonate has several advantages that make it an excellent choice for safe eyewear.
Benefits of polycarbonate face shields
- It can almost as well transmit light internally as glass.
- Face shield is less dense than glass.
- It has a built-in UV filter.
- Face shield has a far higher impact resistance than many other regularly used polymers.
Face shields are effective safety tool. Many companies, businesses and military personnel use them in their daily roles. Moreover, with the global pandemic going on, the use of face shields has increased. You can use them in your daily life, to perform well in your job. These face shields are available in the stores near you or you can get them online from safety gear dealers.
