Eye and face injuries cost more than $300 million per year in lost production time, medical expenses and workers’ compensation claims.1 Most of these injuries could have been prevented with the proper selection and use of eye and face protection. In an effort to decrease the risk of these types of injuries, OSHA has established safety guidelines for workplaces, incorporating, by reference, the American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices (the “standard”).
This article will focus on simplifying the process of selecting face protection products by providing a better understanding of the requirements for these products. Faceshields are an important part of personal protective equipment (PPE) and are designed to protect a worker’s entire face and neck (if the proper length faceshield and/or a chin protector is used) from flying objects and debris, heat, chemical splashes or other potentially dangerous hazards. We will explore product variations available and provide guidance on how to properly match a faceshield to a particular hazard to meet standard requirements.