Safeguarding your Eyes The use of Face Shields are common place every day in our work place. The use of these shields provide protection against flying debris. There are many types of tasks we perform that require us to utilize face shields. One of the most common is Pipe Fitters and helpers alike utilize this type of personal protection to shield their faces and neck areas when grinding. Utilization of face shields provide that extra measure of protection and we should always use them when ever possible or required. One thing that occurs when you grind for instance, is that slag, metal chips and other debris will collect on top of the face shield between the shield and the hard hat. And when you raise your shield or remove it from your hard hat, the potential for debris falling in your face is likely. When this occurs, the same slag, metal chips, dust and debris that collected above the shield and between the hard hat will fall in your face and in your eyes if you are standing erect or upright when you raise or remove your shield. The information provided below may help tremendously in preventing this debris from falling into your face and ultimately in your precious eyes.

Your Eyes are valuable in every way There is no need to take additional risks if unnecessary. The protection of our eyes is a major priority, without them, we loose far too much. Additional personal protection devices we can use to help prevent this type of infiltration, is the use of goggles while grinding. It is expected while grinding metals to wear your goggles when grinding. Wearing your goggles will not only protect your eyes while performing the work, they also add a huge measure of protection when your have completed your task and raise your shield or remove it. The small slivers of steel, aluminum, stainless and most common is the oxidation slag that lays waist when grinding existing materials; if allowed in the eyes may cause permanent damage. These small slivers of metal are sharp, often invisible and not easily removed and more so can cause tremendous damage to the very sensitive eyes.

When it occurs… If you get any foreign matter or debris in your eyes, DO NOT rub or touch the eye in any way. It is a natural reaction to want to rub or touch, but the best thing you can do is attempt to flush it out at the eyewash stations. Always know where the closest eyewash station is to your work area. Use the eye wash stations for flushing the eyes anytime you get debris or fluids in your eye. Never assume that flushing the eyes has removed the debris. DO NOT rub or touch the eyes. You can’t see what or what has not been cleaned. Alert your supervisor or coworker and have yourself transported to the First Aid Office immediately. If you cannot move, call the Safety Department for assistance. You only have one set of eyes and our behavior should always be to ensure protection of this natural necessity and make every attempt to prevent unnecessary and foolish risks with our eyes. The wearing of personal protection equipment will provide this measure of protection if worn properly.

Best Practice - Shield Removal Try this on for size. The presentation below describes one possible way to prevent debris from falling in your face and ultimately taking the risk of infiltrating the eyes. When worn properly, the area between the shield and the hard hat is a trough for metal chips, slag and other debris.

Best Practice - Shield Removal When you are ready to raise or remove the shield, bend over and remove your gloves. When you bend over, the debris will fall away from your face.

Best Practice - Shield Removal Continue to remain bent over to ensure that the debris remains away from the face.

Best Practice - Shield Removal Remain bent over and remove the shield starting from the back of your hard hat and slide forward away from your body.

Best Practice - Shield Removal Continue to remain bent over and slide the shield off of the hardhat always pushing the shield forward and away from your face.

Best Practice - Shield Removal Lay the shield down and slightly tap the shield as you lay it down. Remain bent over to allow the remainder of the debris on your hard hat, to fall.

Best Practice - Shield Removal Utilize the same method to tap the hard hat free from any additional debris. Always remove head gear down and away from your face.

Best Practice - Shield Removal A safe employee is a productive employee. A productive employee is a happy one. You and your eyes are valuable to all of us. Give this practice a peak. It works. We can never do enough to prevent injury to our eyes. The wearing of multiple types of personal protection for the eyes may seem overboard, but the truth of the matter is this. Our eyes are the most valuable of the five senses. Without them…well you can imagine. And if you can’t…try using the sixth sense and develop safe work habits and eliminate risk when ever possible. Don’t take chances with your eyes or any other part of your body. They are often never replaceable.