March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month. Eye injuries in the workplace are very common. More than 2,000 people injure their eyes at work each day. About 1 in 10 injuries require one or more missed workdays to recover. Of the total amount of work-related injuries, 10-20% will cause temporary or permanent vision loss.

 

What causes eye injuries?

• Flying particles: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that about 70% of the accidents studied resulted from flying or falling objects or sparks striking the eye. Injured workers estimated that nearly 60% of the objects were smaller than a pin head. Most of the particles were said to be traveling faster than a hand-thrown object when the accident occurred.
• Chemicals: Contact with chemicals caused 20% of the injuries.
• Other causes included objects swinging from a fixed or attached position, such as tree limbs, ropes, chains, or tools which were pulled into the eye while the worker was using them.

What contributes to eye injuries at work?

• Not wearing eye protection: BLS reports that nearly 60% of workers injured were not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident.
• Wearing the wrong kind of eye protection for the job: About 40% of the injured workers were wearing some form of eye protection when the accident occurred. These workers were most likely wearing protective eyeglasses with no side shields.

Eye protection.
 Experts believe the right eye protection could have reduced the severity or even prevented 90% of eye injuries in accidents. This protective gear may include:

• Safety glasses with side shields
• Goggles
• Face shields
• Welding helmets

Additional safety protection.

In some situations, additional safety precautions may be needed such as:

• Safety glasses with prescription lenses
• Tinted or shaded lenses
• Safety sunglasses

Safety gear is only effective if taken care of and used correctly. Always choose the appropriate equipment for conditions and make the necessary adjustments to ensure proper fit.

 

Click on the links below to learn more.

Safety Matters: Selecting Safety Sunglasses

Playing It Safe: Protect Yourself From Eye Injuries