Eye Protection - Prevention is the key
According to OSHA:
"Each day about 2000 U.S. workers have a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. About one third of the injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments and more than 100 of these injuries result in one or more days of lost work. The majority of these injuries result from small particles or objects striking or abrading the eye."
These alarming facts highlight the need for adequate eye protection, and how often workers fail to use protective safety glasses to protect their eyes.
What can cause eye injury?
- Metal slivers, wood chips, dust, and cement chips that are ejected by tools, or are wind blown
- Eyeball penetration by nails, staples, or slivers of wood or metal
- Large objects that strike the eye or face
- Blunt force trauma to the eyeball or eye socket due to a collision or accident
- Chemical burns to one or both eyes from splashes of industrial chemicals or cleaning products
- Thermal burns to the eye
- UV radiation burns (welder's flash) routinely damage workers' eyes and surrounding tissue
- Acquiring infectious diseases via ocular exposure
What constitutes protective eyewear?
To adequately protect your vision the type of eye protection that you as a worker must use should meet requirements of OSHA and ANSI. This means if you work in a hazardous or potentially hazardous work environment, regular eyeglasses SHOULD ONLY be used in CONJUCTION with ANSI approved eye protection. Your eye safety depends on you. Nothing can replace the loss of an eye or your vision. If you value your vision you should protect your eyesight from workplace hazards by wearing approved protective eye protection.
The above information or recommendations are for general guidance only and should not be relied upon for legal compliance purposes. We do not make any warranty, expressed or implied, that your workplace is safe or healthful or that it complies with all laws, regulations or standards. |
