UPDATE – 22nd May 2020
In the light of Government Guidelines released on 18th May covering small producers of items considered to be PPE, I have made the decision to cease production of face shields with immediate effect.
The Government Guidance stipulates that face shields should conform to BS EN 166:2002 for Personal eye-protection. Whether a particular design has already received approval is of no relevance, as each individual producer needs to have samples of their product assessed for conformity.
Whilst, in my opinion, the design of shield I have been producing would pass most of the tests and has indeed been assessed by the USA National Institutes of Health as having an appropriate level of protection, there is one area where it would not comply with BS EN 166:2002. Namely the thickness of the headband, which needs to be at least 10mm. Whether or not this actually affects the level of protection offered is a moot point but, standards are standards and the penalties for non compliance are great.
Unfortunately, the thickness (or lack of it) of the headband is fundamental to the design I have been producing. Whilst I can see ways it could be modified to comply, there are no guarantees and there are significant costs for each assessment. I have already spent a significant amount of time and effort streamlining the printing process for the design in it’s current form and am unwilling to commit more of my own money (or that of those mentioned below) to what is basically an ‘unknown’.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank those who made donations towards materials (or bought me a virtual beer). Those donations allowed the production of many more shields than I originally intended and also covered postage costs to a number of more distant recipients.
#StaySafe
John
Face Shield Recipients
Security Team, Taunton: 40 Shields |Trinity Church School, Radstock: 50 Shields | Citizens Advice, Taunton: 30 Shields | Somerdale, Wellington: 10 Shields | Dawn & Family, Bishops Lydeard and London: 12 Shields | Hilary, Newbury: 10 Shields | Driving Instructors, Taunton: 4 Shields | Home Care Team, Taunton: 10 Shields | Acupuncture Practice, Taunton: 10 Shields | Cotford Home Help Services, Cotford St Luke: 10 Shields | Avery’s Garden Centre, Taunton: 10 Shields | Staff at Nando’s, Exeter: 10 Shields | Little Treasures Child Minders, Bishops Lydeard: 6 Shields | Family in Madrid, Spain: 4 Shields | Doorlining.com Ltd, Goathurst: 30 Shields | Home Care Team, Bishops Lydeard: 10 Shields | Livability, Taunton – 20 Shields | Meadows House, Walton-On-Thames: 10 Shields | Livability, Taunton – 50 Shields | MiHomecare, Cardiff – 40 Shields | Nurseplus, Taunton – 50 Shields | Care Home Staff, Pinner – 10 Shields | Family with Nurse, Carer and Cancer Patient, Minehead – 10 Shields | Local workers, Taunton – 9 Shields | Military Prison Officers – 10 Shields | Learning Disability Care Home, Taunton – 20 Shields | Lavender Court, Taunton – 50 Shields | Steve the AA Man – 10 Shields | Radiographer, Exeter/Plymouth – 10 Shields | Taunton Vale Healthcare – 20 Shields | Lodge Close, Wellington – 20 Shields | Restcare, Bridgwater – 100 Shields | Bancroft Care & Support – 10 Shields | Lifeways, Taunton – 20 Shields | The Brambles, Taunton – 40 Shields | Private Care Team, Taunton – 10 Shields | Care Wyvern, Taunton – 40 Shields | Taunton Homecare Services – 20 Shields | Nynehead Court – 40 Shields | Domiciliary Care Team, Bridgwater – 20 Shields | Bishops Lydeard Pharmacy – 9 Shields | St. Margaret’s Hospice, Taunton – 40 Shields | Wellington Medical Centre – 50 Shields | Home Care Team, Wiveliscombe – 10 Shields | ARC Homeless Shelter, Taunton – 10 Shields | Out of Hours Community Nurse Team – 9 Shields | Lister House Partnership, Wiveliscombe – 20 Shields | Nurse Practitioner, Taunton – 4 Shields
