Workplace Eye Safety Requirements And Best Practices

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that thousands of people are blinded each year from work-related eye injuries. The organization reports that the majority of these cases could have been prevented with the proper selection and use of eye and face protection.

The evidence is clear—proper eye safety in the workplace protects vision and prevents blindness. Understanding a few basic safety principles will help patients take care of their vision and remain safe in the workplace.

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics finds there are nearly 20,000 eye injuries in the workplace each year. These injuries can cause serious damage to the eyes and lead to vision loss and blindness.

In addition to the toll on patients' health and vision, ignoring eye safety in the workplace can have professional and economic repercussions. OSHA estimates that workplace eye injuries cost around $300 million per year in worker’s compensation, medical treatment, and lost productivity.

While injuries may be more common than expected, most are preventable. Around 90% of serious eye injuries can be avoided through the use of appropriate protective eyewear.

Eye safety in the workplace starts with understanding the most frequent injuries that workers experience. A recent report by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked the most frequent work-related eye injuries.

The overwhelming majority of eye injuries occur from contact with objects and equipment at a patient’s job.

The type of contact varies depending on profession. For instance, blunt trauma caused by accidental impact is more common for patients who work in manufacturing and construction. The use of heavy equipment used on factory floors and construction yards make this more common.

On the other hand, injuries caused by flying debris are more frequent in woodworking or landscaping jobs. In these types of professions loose debris such as metal shards, wood splinters, and dust can enter a patient's eye.

Contact with harmful substances make up the second most common type of workplace eye injury. This typically happens when substances like chemicals, cleaning agents, or laboratory substances splash into a patient’s eye.

Prolonged exposure to toxic fumes and vapors can also cause vision loss and damage to the eye.

While less common, these workplace eye injuries occur during physical altercations or contact with people or animals. These might include a blow to an eye for someone who participates in combat sports or an animal trainer being thrown off a horse.

These include eye-related injuries sustained from falling at work. They can happen at any job, but are especially common in physical professions with more time spent in motion.

When discussing eye safety in the workplace, not all jobs are created equal. Certain industries and professions contribute to the bulk of the work-related eye injuries recorded every year.

Construction sites contain a variety of tools and materials that can damage the eye. Additionally, construction work creates debris such as sawdust and cement chips which can cause eye damage.

Similar to construction, the machines and material used in manufacturing jobs contribute to many work-related eye injuries. Certain manufacturing workers may also be exposed to chemicals that put them at a greater risk for eye damage.

Unlike construction and manufacturing, healthcare eye injuries are more about viral and chemical infections contracted through the eyes. These include cleaning chemicals, blood splatter, and other splashed bodily fluids experienced by people working in hospitals and emergency rooms.

There are a variety of ways companies and professionals can reduce injuries and promote eye safety in the workplace. This starts with finding ways to educate workers about risks to their eyes and taking steps to promote a culture of safety.

Some ways to do this may include:

• Educating employees about eye safety practices related to their field.

• Creating specific procedures and processes to address, prevent, and treat work related eye injuries.

• Erecting barriers to shield workers from debris.

• Ensuring employees have access to and use eye safety equipment at all times.

The most reliable way to prevent eye injuries at work is through the use of protective eyewear. The specific type of eyewear used will depend on the job and the associated safety risks. Some of the most common include:

• Safety glasses with side protection: These are used for people who work around particles, flying objects, or dust.

• Goggles: These help prevent eye damage related to blunt trauma and chemical splashes.
  
  

• Specially designed safety gear: These can include glasses, goggles, face shields, or helmets for workers exposed to hazardous radiation, lasers, or fiber optics.

Any protective eyewear used should be fully compliant with OSHA and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) regulations and best practices.

If a patient or co-worker gets an eye injury at work they should seek immediate medical attention to prevent serious vision loss or blindness. Even injuries that appear unserious can result in more sustained and permanent vision loss if left untreated.

If a patient is unsure of the extent of the damage, they should look for signs such as:

• Pain or trouble seeing.

• A cut or torn eyelid.

• Difficulty moving or seeing out of one eye.

• An individual eye that sticks out compared to the other.

• An unusual pupil size or shape in the eye.

• Blood or irritation in the clear part of the eye.

• An object or piece of debris located under the eyelid that can't be easily removed.

In the event of an injury, patients should seek immediate medical attention. Before seeing the doctor, do not touch, rub, or apply pressure to the eye.

For cases with chemical exposure or debris, patients should find the nearest eyewash station at their workplace and wash their eyes immediately. In the event an eyewash station is not near or accessible, any source of clean water may be used.

If patients fall or hit their eye, they should not apply pressure to the affected area. However, they may use ice or a cold compress to reduce any swelling.