Face shields for grinding, chipping, and cutting

Our eye protection talk set the rule: glasses on, then the extra piece. This one covers when the extra piece is a face shield and how to wear it. Picture a worker cutting a steel pipe with a 4½-inch grinder and a cut-off disc. He took the guard off so the grinder fits in a tight spot. The disc binds and shatters. A piece flies past his glasses and cuts his face open from cheek to lip. Or a mason is chipping old mortar with a chisel and a chunk hits his throat. Or a worker breaking a slab with a breaker catches a piece of concrete in the mouth. His glasses did their job for his eyes. Nothing protected the rest of his face.

OSHA says you wear the right eye or face protection for flying particles, and that gear has to meet the ANSI Z87.1 standard. OSHA's eye and face guide says it plainly: "When worn alone, face shields do not protect employees from impact hazards. Use face shields in combination with safety spectacles or goggles." So you always wear safety glasses or goggles under the shield. Look for the Z87 mark on both, and the plus sign, Z87+, for impact-rated gear. For grinders, OSHA also requires the guard to stay on portable wheels, wheels to be checked and ring-tested for cracks before mounting, and eye protection for anyone using them. A wheel that bursts at full speed is the reason for all three.

Here is how we work. Wear the face shield over your glasses for grinding, cut-off wheels, chipping, breaking concrete, and scaling. Keep the shield down while the tool is running, not flipped up on your hat. Replace a shield that's cracked, pitted, or so scratched you can't see through it. Don't stand in line with the wheel, and keep the guard between you and the disc. Check that the disc is rated for the grinder's speed and isn't cracked or chipped. Ring-test bench wheels before mounting. Let the tool reach full speed away from your face before you start the cut. If someone nearby is grinding or chipping, they need glasses too.