Five Most Common Eye Injuries at Work and How to Prevent Them | Workplace Eye Awareness Month

Injuries at work are common. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, private industry employers reported 2.6 million workplace injuries and illnesses. Some of those injuries affected the eyes.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, roughly 2000 workers in the United States sustain an eye injury at work each day. Some eye injuries are serious and cause lost time from work.

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March is Workplace Eye Awareness Month. It is a reminder to all of us to take on-the-job eye safety seriously. 
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Most common types of workplace eye injuries 

Various types of employment can lead to an eye injury. In fact, most industries can have a potential eye hazard, even if rare. Certain occupations have a higher risk of workplace eye injuries. For example, jobs such as construction, landscaping, and automotive repair, carry a higher risk of injury. 
Below are five of the most common types of workplace eye injuries.

Scraping injuries: Scraping injuries to the eyes can occur from flying debris that scrapes the eye, such as woodchips, metal shavings, and dust. This type of injury can lead to a corneal abrasion.

Penetrating injuries: Penetrating eye injuries may occur when an object, such as a staples, nail, or metal sliver, goes through the eye, causing blunt force trauma. The extent of the injury varies greatly, but this type of eye injury can result in vision loss. 

Chemical burns: Chemical burns in the eyes can occur any time a liquid containing certain chemicals gets into the eyes. Chemical burns can also happen if you touch certain chemicals and then rub your eyes. Common culprits that can cause chemical burns include:

• Bleach
• Industrial acids
• Lime
• Cement 
• Fertilizers

Flash burns: Flash burns are less common than chemical burns. They are most likely to occur from work that ignites a spark, such as welding.

Computer eyestrain: Although eyestrain is not an injury, it can lead to headaches and eye discomfort. Computer eyestrain occurs due to prolonged use of digital devices, such as cell phones, e-readers, and computers. It can cause burning, dry eyes, and blurred vision.

Can workplace eye injuries be prevented? 

In many cases, workplace eye injuries can be prevented. There are several things an employee can do to decrease their risk of an eye injury, including the following:

Don’t ignore proper procedure: When performing work duties, make sure you always follow proper procedure. Being careless or going too fast can lead to mistakes. Not following directions when using chemicals can also increase your risk of injury.

Wear the right eye protection: Using eye protection can prevent most types of job-related eye injuries. Use eye protection that is right for the type of job you are doing. Eye protection can include a face shield and goggles. 

Become educated: Learn what type of protective eyewear is best for which activity. For example, if you handle chemicals, goggles and a face shield work best to prevent chemical splashes. Also, always check the Material Safety Data Sheet when working with chemicals to learn safe handling procedures.

Have an emergency plan: Employers should have a first-aid plan for dealing with eye injuries, such as an eyewash station to flush the eyes after a chemical splash.

We hope the above information reminds you to stay safe at work. If you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600.