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108 Personal Protective Equipment: Basic
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Eye and Face Protection

Face Shields

These normally consist of an adjustable headgear and face shield of tinted/transparent acetate or polycarbonate materials, or wire screen. Face shields are available in various sizes, tensile strength, impact/heat resistance and light ray filtering capacity.

This face shield protects against biohazards.

Face shields will be used in operations when the entire face needs protection and should be worn to protect eyes and face against flying particles, metal sparks, and chemical/biological splash.

Welding Shields

These shield assemblies consist of:

  • vulcanized fiber or glass fiber body
  • a ratchet/button type adjustable headgear or cap attachment
  • a filter and cover plate holder
Wear the shield or go blind.

These shields will be provided to protect workers' eyes and face from infrared and ultraviolet light burns to the retina, flying sparks, metal spatter, and slag chips encountered during:

  • welding;
  • brazing;
  • soldering;
  • resistance welding;
  • bare or shielded electric arc welding;
  • oxyacetylene welding; or
  • cutting operations.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-7. Welding shields protect the welder from which of the following injuries?