Eye Protection and a Face Shield With a Trimmer

A face shield helps protect your face from flying grass, dirt, and small debris, but it should not replace impact-rated safety glasses or goggles. For string trimming, wear eye protection that fits securely under the shield, and follow the trimmer and protective-equipment manufacturers’ instructions.

Why wear both

A trimmer line can throw debris upward, sideways, or around the edge of a shield. Safety glasses or goggles provide a closer-fitting layer around your eyes; the face shield adds coverage for your face. Neither makes trimming risk-free, but wearing both offers more coverage than relying on a shield alone.

A clear plastic face shield is not automatically impact-rated. Check its markings and product documentation, and use it only for the hazards it is designed to handle. A shield intended for splash protection, for example, may not be suitable for flying debris.

Choose eyewear that fits under the shield

Look for safety glasses or goggles marked as meeting the applicable impact-protection standard, such as ANSI/ISEA Z87.1. Ordinary prescription glasses and sunglasses do not provide the same protection unless they are specifically rated for impact protection.

• Safety glasses: A practical choice if they fit close to your face and have side protection. Make sure the shield does not push them out of position.
• Goggles: Consider goggles if debris can get around the sides of glasses or if your work conditions call for a closer seal. They must still fit comfortably beneath the face shield.
• Prescription eyewear: Use impact-rated prescription safety eyewear, or compatible over-glasses or goggles. Check that the fit does not leave gaps or interfere with the shield.

Choose a shield that covers your face without blocking your view. If it is scratched, cracked, cloudy, or loose, replace it; damage can reduce visibility or protection.

Fit and use the protection correctly

1. Put on your safety glasses or goggles first, then lower the face shield over them.
2. Check that the eyewear stays in place and that the shield does not leave a large opening below or at the sides.
3. Confirm you can see clearly in the working area before starting. Clean the lens and shield using the manufacturer’s care instructions.
4. Keep the trimmer’s debris guard installed and use the cutting attachment specified by its manufacturer. Eye and face protection does not make it safe to remove guards or use an incompatible head.
5. Stop the trimmer before clearing tangled vegetation or inspecting the cutting head. Keep other people and pets away from the work area.

If fogging or poor visibility makes it hard to see, stop work and correct the fit or clean the lenses before continuing. Do not lift the shield while the trimmer is running.

When to replace protective gear

Replace glasses or a shield if they are cracked, deeply scratched, distorted, or no longer stay securely in place. If you cannot find markings or documentation showing that the gear is suitable for impact hazards, choose equipment with clear safety information instead. Follow the trimmer manual and the PPE manufacturer’s guidance for the specific conditions you are working in.