WHY IS EYE SAFETY IMPORTANT?
WHY IS EYE SAFETY IMPORTANT?
Eyes are Priceless….
Eye injuries impact everyone, not just
the injured worker.
§ Why
is eye safety important? It’s the law! Occupational Safety and Health
Administration regulations require that employers provide a safe work environment,
which includes supplying the appropriate personal protective eyewear.
§ For
workers, eye injuries may lead to pain and discomfort, medical costs, lost work
time, lost wages, and even permanent disability.
§ For
employers, eye injuries may impact productivity, worker morale, and
compensation costs.
§ An
eye injury at work may severely impact daily living, family interactions,
recreational activities, and one’s enjoyment of life.
Common Causes of Eye Injuries
The most prevalent sources of eye
injuries include the following:
§ Scrap
materials, waste, and windblown dust
§ Flying
material particles or slivers from wood, metal, plastic, and cement
§ Chemicals
or chemical products
§ Falling
or misdirected objects
UV light from welding
torches
Reducing Workplace Eye Injuries
Proper selection and use of eye and
face protection will help prevent
eye injuries. Other precautions that employers and employees can take to reduce
the risk of eye injury include the following:
§ Ensure
that the appropriate eye protection is available at the worksite.
§ Keep
bystanders out of work areas and/or behind protective barriers.
§ Use
your tools properly and keep them in good working order.
§ Use
caution flags to identify potential hazards,
such as hanging or protruding objects.
§ Do
not remove your protective eyewear until you leave the site or are out of the
hazard zone. After you have finished with a tool or specific task, there still
may be hazardous materials around you from other workers.
§ Consult
your supervisor if you have any doubt about the type of eye protection needed
for a job or specific location.
§ Contact
lens users should wear goggles or full-face respirators in dust-laden or
chemical environments.
If your contacts feel gritty or are irritating you, remove them immediately.
Have a pair of prescription eyeglasses available if you need to remove your
contacts while working.
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