Eye injuries in the workplace can result in temporary or permanent vision loss, and about 10 percent of eye injuries result in missed work days. Most injuries occur when workers are not wearing goggles, but in some cases, workers may not be wearing the correct goggles for the job. By understanding workplace hazards, workers can be equipped with proper eye protection and can prevent 90 percent of workplace eye injuries. Being educated about eye trauma in the workplace is an important first step in protecting yourself and others.
What are the causes of extra-ocular injuries at work?
- Splashing particles
- Chemical splashes, vapors or dust
- Being struck by an object
Strikes or impacts - Sparks, molten metal or other hot liquid splashes
- Light radiation
How can employers help prevent eye trauma?
- Assessment: Carefully observe workplace operations and examine all work areas, passageways and equipment for eye hazards.
- Testing: Vision testing should be included in routine physical examinations. Uncorrected vision problems can lead to accidents.
- Protection: Select and use protective eyewear designed for the specific job or hazard. Make sure the glasses meet the requirements of health and safety regulations in your area or industry.
- Fit: Protective eyewear needs to fit well and be comfortable.
- Plan: Develop a safety plan that includes a first aid response plan for eye trauma. Eye wash stations and basic first aid training should be part of the response plan.
- Education: Put your safety plan in writing and display it at work or in public areas. All new employee training should include a review of the safety plan.
- Review: You need to review and update your accident prevention policy periodically, regardless of whether an eye injury occurs.
What can employees do to protect themselves from eye injuries?
- Know the eye safety hazards on the job - Complete an eye hazard assessment
- Eliminate hazards before starting work - Use machine guards, work
Use machine guards, work screens or other engineering controls
Use appropriate goggles
- Always wear safety glasses when an eye injury occurs
Always remember that eye injuries can occur anywhere there is a hazard. Even if you are not actively working, you should wear protective eyewear if you are walking through a hazardous area.
What type of goggles should I use?
- Non-prescription or prescription safety glasses - Goggles - Face shields - Welding caps
- Full facepiece respirator
The type of safety goggles you should wear depends on the hazards in your workplace. If you are working in an area with particles, flying objects or dust, you must wear safety glasses with side protection. If you are working with chemicals, you should wear goggles. If you are working near dangerous radiation (welding, lasers or fiber optics), you must use special-purpose safety glasses designed for that task.
What is the difference between the different types of lenses?
The three basic types of lenses are glass, plastic and polycarbonate, and you should choose the type of lens that is right for your job. If you are exposed to high temperatures or corrosive chemicals, polycarbonate or plastic lenses may not be suitable. Instead, you should choose lenses made of treated safety glass, as long as there is no risk of eye impact. If there is a risk of eye impact, you must use polycarbonate or plastic lenses for your safety glasses.
Glass lenses - do not scratch easily
Can be used with harsh chemicals
- Can be made in corrective prescriptions
- Sometimes heavy and uncomfortable
Plastic lenses - Lighter weight
Lighter - Prevents welding spatter
- Does not fog up easily
- Not as scratch resistant as glass
Polycarbonate lenses - lighter weight
- Resists welding spatter
- Less likely to fog - Stronger than glass and plastic - More resistant than glass or plastic
More impact resistant
- Not as resistant to scratches as glass
Make eye safety in the workplace a priority: understand the hazards, how to prevent injuries and how to protect yourself. 90% of eye injuries are preventable, so make sure you choose the right type of goggles for the job to protect your vision.
YULONG Safety Tools Manufacturer Corp.,Ltd. is a professional safety equipment producer in China with more than 20 years. We are Specialized in Head Protection, Eye and Face Protection, Hearing Protection, Respiratory Protection, Knee Protection etc. YULONG SAFETY has passed ISO 9001 Internal Quality system Certification. All product passed CE, ANSI, CSA, EMC etc. With experienced development teams and complete production supporting facilities.
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