The vision of all is the most precious sense. Given the fact that eye injuries are quite common in the workplace, it is very important to protect your eyes and vision. If the nature of your job is such, eye injuries and accidents can be caused by grease splashes, radiation exposure, flying particles of metal or wood, grease splashes and steam burns. In worse case scenarios, one can also end up damaging the eye itself with cuts and scrapes.

You will be surprised to know that eye exposure can also put workers at risk of developing diseases. With eyes being one of the most sensitive yet exposed parts of our body, direct exposure of the mucous membrane to respiratory droplets, blood exposure or contaminated objects or fingers, can cause infectious diseases. Thankfully, with the right eye protection, these injuries and hazards can be avoided.

EYE INJURIES AT WORK

Workers usually experience eye injuries at work in two cases; first, when they are wearing the wrong eye protection and second when they are not wearing eye protection at all. Choosing the right eye protection for your eyes or face is equally important and depends on the individual, type of exposure and circumstances.

COMMON EYE SAFETY DANGERS AT WORK

Let’s discuss the common eye hazards that can occur at your workplace and what gears you can use to protect yourself from them.

1. Flying Object

The most unpredictable and sudden hazard that you can face is a Flying Object and may include particles of wood, chips or metal fragments. In most of the cases, they may come flying at you or strike you in the face or eye, as a result of someone else working nearby. Tasks that require you to be careful include hammering, sanding, riveting, machining, grinding, chipping and chiseling. It is always a good idea to be mindful of your surroundings and wear the right eye protection. What to wear? Safety glasses are the answer here! They are similar to normal eyewear but lenses and frames are much stronger than regular ones. They provide significant eye protection against flying particles or objects. You can have these made with non-prescription or prescription lenses.

2. Radiation

Second, on our list is radiation. Unprotected exposure to optical radiation can cause significant damage and result in cataracts, retinal burns, even blindness. Tasks like welding or laser operations create ultraviolet and infrared radiation, high concentrations of heat. Safety goggles can help you gain significant protection from radiation. Being highly resistant, these goggles act as a shield around the eye to protect it from hazards. Safety glasses are easy to wear and can easily be placed over contact lenses or prescription glasses. It is also a good idea to use goggles with special filters to protect your eyes from radiation exposure. According to research, for an eyewear protective gear to be effective it should be comfortable to wear, maintain close fit, provide adequate ventilation and offer a wide-angle field view.

3. Dust

Often taken lightly, third on the list is Dust. It is the most basic hazard faced by outdoor workers. Usually, those working in mines, construction or woodwork face dust hazards. While most of the time its harmless, dust hazard has the potential of causing short-term trauma. You may want to ditch bulky goggles for this one and go for a full-rim safety glasses. With full foam or rubber sealing the edges, they fill in the gaps between glasses and your face, hence don’t let the dust particles pass through.

4. Chemical

Upon hearing the term ‘Chemical’, we often think of dangerous products that can only be found in the labs. However, in case of eye injuries even a simple splash of gasoline, paint thinners, grease, oil or cleaning products is more than enough to do the deed. Not just splash, but direct contact with fumes, vapors, and mists of chemicals can also cause serious, irreversible damages. Face shield along with safety glasses will provide full protection for workers exposed to harmful chemicals. Even if the shield is lifted, safety glasses will help protect their eyes. In case, if your eyes are exposed to chemical splash you can immediately visit the eyewash station. If at a remote location, make sure to keep and use an eye saline bottle to flush out your eyes.

5. Penetration

Last and the most serious hazard is Penetration. If an object or tool gets pierced in the eye, it can lead to permanent damage. The most common objects to penetrate are nails and staples. Despite being dangerous, this hazard can easily be avoided. All you need is a pair of safety glasses and a little bit of common sense. Be mindful when using these objects and assure that they are placed empty and disconnected once used. If any object penetrates in your eye, do not attempt to remove it on your own. Instead, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Conclusion

To conclude, the first step for eye protection at the workplace is being aware of the fact that the risk of injury will always exist. However, by following these three things you can keep your eyes and vision safe:

Avoid hazards in the first place, by use of work screens, engineering controls or machine guards. Use the right eye protection gear. Make sure your safety gears remain in workable, good condition. Yes, eye protection devices can provide a great deal of safety for your eyes, but only if they are kept in proper working order. If your protection gears are dirty or scratched, they may cause glare and reduce vision. Such conditions become a major cause of accidents. Hence, it is important to frequently check your safety gear and replace those that have become old or faulty. Because precaution is better than cure.

During the sustaining, any eye-related injury, make sure to seek medical attention immediately. If you experience blurred vision, eye pain or loss of vision, seek attention immediately. And always remember, safety comes first!