How to Protect Your Eyes at Work | World Day for Health and Safety at Work

Eye injuries at work occur frequently. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020, over 18,000 workers sustained an eye injury on the job. This number may be even higher since not all eye injuries are reported. Eye injuries at work may range from minor problems such as eye strain to severe injuries that may cause vision loss.

Most eye injuries at work are preventable. April 28th is World Day for Health and Safety at Work. It is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of taking precautions to remain safe and healthy at work, including eye safety. 
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Continue reading for helpful recommendations for promoting eye health and safety on the job.

Know the risks

When you think of eye injuries at work, you may think of flying wood, metal, or glass shards. You may also think that eye injuries mostly happen in specific work environments, such as construction sites.

While it's true that certain types of workplaces, such as the construction trades, may have a higher risk of eye injuries, many other work environments also have the potential for eye injuries. For example, anyone who works around tools can experience a slip or malfunction that leads to an eye injury. If you work around chemicals, it's possible that they can splatter into the eye, causing an injury. 

Infection from blood or vomit splattering into the eye in a healthcare environment can also lead to eye infections. 

The bottom line is it's important to understand that an eye injury could occur in any type of workplace. It's also essential to know the particular risks that your workplace environment poses. 
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Use appropriate eye protection 

Using appropriate eye protection for your job is one of the best ways to decrease your risk of an eye injury. According to Prevent Blindness, wearing eye protection can reduce the risk of an eye injury by 90%.

The eye protection you need depends on the hazards you may face in the particular job you are doing. For example, you should wear safety glasses with side protection if you're working around potentially flying shards of metal, wood, or glass. Goggles are necessary if you're going to be handling chemicals that could splash. Specifically designed safety glasses are needed if you're working around lasers, fiber optics, or welding.
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Adjust your workspace

Not all eye issues at work involve traumatic injury. For instance, eyestrain can commonly occur if you work at a computer all day. Eyestrain can lead to headaches, burning, watery eyes, and blurred vision. Adjusting your workstation can decrease the risk of eyestrain. Consider these suggestions:

• Optimize your computer monitor angle so that you are roughly 24 inches away from the screen, decreasing eyestrain. 
• Position your monitor to reduce glare from light sources or the window.
• Keep your screen's brightness about the same as that of your surrounding lightning. This helps reduce the strain on your eyes. 
• Increase font size as needed. Don't make your eyes work harder than they have to. Increase your font size so that it is easily readable. 

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Know what to do if you or a coworker sustains an eye injury

There are some things that may immediately help treat an eye injury. However, there are also things you should not do that can worsen the situation. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, follow the recommendations below if you sustain an eye injury at work. 

• Go to the nearest emergency department or call 911 if you sustain a serious eye injury.
• Place a shield over the area around your injured eye to protect it from further damage.
• If you sustain a chemical splash, rinse thoroughly with clean water or use the nearest eye wash station.
• Do not try to remove an object lodged in the eye.
• Do not rub or put pressure on your eye after an eye injury. 

If you have any questions about eye safety, we are happy to help. If you are in doubt about the seriousness of an eye injury, it's always best to have it checked out by an eye specialist.

Additionally, 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.