Preventing Eye Injuries at Work | Home Eye Safety & Eye Injury Prevention Month

At work, we are often occupied with organizing projects, meeting deadlines, checking items off our to-do list, and just getting our jobs done, but we should also keep our safety, including our eye safety, in mind.

Eye injuries are one of the most common types of injuries at work. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 2,000 people in the United States sustain a work-related eye injury each day. ​
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Although some injuries are minor, many are severe enough to require one or more days away from work. Some injuries can even lead to permanent damage. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that thousands of people are blinded each year due to work-related eye injuries.
 
In addition to traumatic eye injuries, we must remember that workers are also exposed to infectious diseases through their eyes in work-related accidents. Our eyes have permeable mucous membranes that allow substances to pass through when exposed to certain substances. When exposed to blood splashes and respiratory droplets of infected individuals, for example, infectious diseases can be acquired through our eyes.
 
Let’s look at how we can prevent both traumatic eye injuries and exposure to infectious diseases through our eyes.
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Causes of Eye Injuries at Work

There are many different causes of eye injuries at work, including:

• Chemical splashes: If you work with or around chemicals, you know they can splash, including on the face and into the eyes, causing burns. Chemical burns can be serious and even lead to blindness in severe cases.
• Impact injuries from tools: Industrial and construction worksites are one of the most common sites of eye injuries in the workplace. Eye injuries can also occur when using certain tools at work, such as welding equipment, power tools, and lawn equipment.
• Foreign objects in the eye: Flying wood, metal chips, and other debris in the air or on the hands can make its way into the eye. Injuries from foreign objects can lead to scratches and corneal abrasions. Common types of work activities that lead to foreign objects in the eyes include sawing, masonry work, and chipping. Drilling, sanding, and woodworking can also lead to injuries from flying debris.
• Blood splashes: Medical workers, first responders, and police officers often come into contact with blood. Blood that splashes into the eye can transmit diseases, such as hepatitis, HIV, and staph infections.

• Radiation exposure: Certain jobs may involve working around radiation. Radiation exposure to the eye can lead to burns and permanent damage if proper precautions are not taken.
  

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Preventing Eye Injuries & Exposure with Proper Eyewear

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), about 90 percent of eye inquires at work could be prevented by wearing proper protective eyewear. Several factors determine the type of eyewear that is appropriate for you in your workplace – most importantly, the type of hazards you are at risk of encountering. Protective eyewear options include:

• Goggles: Goggles are one option for eye protection that may be especially useful if you work with or around chemicals.
• Face shields: Face shields also protect against splashes and are often used in a hospital setting to protect against infectious disease. Keep in mind that face shields alone do not protect your eyes from impact injuries. If impact injuries are a risk, safety glasses also need to be worn.
• Welding helmets: Welding helmets may be required for people who work around hazardous material, such as fiber optics.

• Safety glasses: Safety glasses may be a good choice if you’re working around flying debris or dust. Safety glasses are designed to resist impact. Glasses should have side protection to prevent injury from different angles.

 
Protective eyewear is tested to determine its impact and scratch resistance. Whatever type of protective eyewear you choose, make sure it meets the standards established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Safety glasses and goggles should have lenses that are made of impact resistant materials, such as polycarbonate.
 
Please note that proper protective eyewear does not include your regular eyeglasses or sunglasses. You may need corrective lenses to see properly and UV protection when working outside, but neither type of eyewear will protect your eyes from traumatic injury or splashes. In fact, if you wear regular eyeglasses or sunglasses without proper protective eyewear over, those glasses can actually cause more harm to your eyes if they shatter in the event of a traumatic accident. 
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Eye Injury Prevention Tips

While using the most appropriate protective eyewear for your job and the hazards it presents is the most important thing you can do to prevent eye injuries, you should also take a few additional steps to protect your eyes:

1. Make sure protective eyewear fits properly. If you wear ill-fitting goggles or safety glasses, you’re not getting the full benefit or protection you need to prevent injury. Safety eyewear should be adjustable or custom fit to provide complete and appropriate coverage.
2. Make sure your protective eyewear allows for good peripheral vision and is comfortable. If safety eyewear is uncomfortable, you might avoid wearing it even when you should.
3. Know what safety hazards your job presents. Assess your work environment carefully to determine what poses a risk, so that you can take the needed precautions. If your employer does not provide the appropriate protective eyewear, make sure you bring it to their attention so you can get the eyewear you need.
   
4. If you work with or around chemicals, know where the nearest emergency eye flush station is. If you do not know, ask. In the case of a chemical splash, you will need to flush your eye immediately for at least 15 minutes and seek emergency medical attention. 

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Recognizing a Work-Related Eye Injury

Recognizing a work-related injury as soon as possible is critical. While you should not treat a serious injury yourself, quickly identifying an injury will allow you to get professional medical help fast.
 
Some signs of an eye injury are obvious. In other cases, symptoms may be mild or subtle. If you know or suspect you’ve sustained an eye injury or you have any of the following signs, see an ophthalmologist immediately:

• Pain
• Blurred or cloudy vision
• Torn eyelid
• Unusual pupil size

• A feeling that something is stuck under the eyelid

 
If you sustain an eye injury at work (or anywhere), see an eye doctor immediately. Do not touch or rub your injured eye or try to remove any objects yourself. Also, do not stop on the way to the ophthalmologist or emergency room for pain medication. You need to get to the doctor as soon as possible to have the best chance at protecting your eye and vision.
 
In the case of chemical burns, flush your eye with clean water for at least 15 minutes and seek emergency treatment immediately. Your employer should provide eye flush stations per OSHA regulations. Go straight there and have a coworker call 911.
 
Even injuries you think are minor can lead to major eye problems. If you have any questions or concerns about eye safety at work or you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our ophthalmologists, please call our office at 508-746-8600.
 
In our next post for Home Eye Safety Month / Eye Injury Prevention Month, we’re talking about “Safe Celebrations: Preventing Eye Injuries During the Holidays”. Don’t miss it! Holiday season will be upon us in no time.