A protective face shield comprising: a crown having a shape contoured to conform to the shape of the forehead, said crown having a forward edge and an rearward edge; a head gear pivotably secured to said crown; an arcuate lens having an upper peripheral edge and opposing side edges, said upper peripheral edge of said lens and an inner surface of said crown including rotatable, interfitting mating formations at the opposing sides thereof; characterised by further comprising a latch lever having an upper actuator end, a lower engagement end and a fulcrum located there between, said lower engagement end including a forwardly extending detent (80,82), said fulcrum being secured to an inner surface of said crown above said forward edge wherein lower engagement end extends downwardly toward said forward edge of said crown and said upper actuator end extends upwardly toward said rearward edge of said crown and is accessible from said rearward edge of said crown, said upper peripheral edge of said lens further including an opening (84,86) configured and arranged to receive and releasably engage said forwardly extending detent (80, 82) on said lower engagement end of said latch lever, said latch lever being pivotably movable about said fulcrum between an engaged position wherein said detent on said lower engagement end projects forwardly into engagement with said opening in said upper peripheral edge of said lens and a released position wherein said detent is disengaged from said opening; and a spring captured between said upper actuator end of said latch lever and said inner surface of said crown, said spring normally biasing said latch lever to said engaged position. a crown having a shape contoured to conform to the shape of the forehead, said crown having a forward edge and an rearward edge; a head gear pivotably secured to said crown; an arcuate lens having an upper peripheral edge and opposing side edges, said upper peripheral edge of said lens and an inner surface of said crown including rotatable, interfitting mating formations at the opposing sides thereof; characterised by further comprising a latch lever having an upper actuator end, a lower engagement end and a fulcrum located there between, said lower engagement end including a forwardly extending detent (80,82), said fulcrum being secured to an inner surface of said crown above said forward edge wherein lower engagement end extends downwardly toward said forward edge of said crown and said upper actuator end extends upwardly toward said rearward edge of said crown and is accessible from said rearward edge of said crown, said upper peripheral edge of said lens further including an opening (84,86) configured and arranged to receive and releasably engage said forwardly extending detent (80, 82) on said lower engagement end of said latch lever, said latch lever being pivotably movable about said fulcrum between an engaged position wherein said detent on said lower engagement end projects forwardly into engagement with said opening in said upper peripheral edge of said lens and a released position wherein said detent is disengaged from said opening; and a spring captured between said upper actuator end of said latch lever and said inner surface of said crown, said spring normally biasing said latch lever to said engaged position.