Our eyes are one of the most important senses that we rely on daily. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do most of our daily tasks, including reading, driving and, in particular, work. For people whose jobs involve manual labor, it’s not uncommon to experience an eye injury, perhaps from flying debris or harmful chemicals. Given the vital role our eyes play in our lives, it’s essential to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our sight. In this blog post, we explore some of the common causes of workplace eye injuries and how best to protect your vision at work.
Flying objects
Flying debris can easily find its way into our eyes, particularly in industries like construction, manufacturing, carpentry, and welding. Tools like hammers, saws, drills, and chisels often cause eye injury when not handled properly. When working, always put on specialized eye glasses designated for the task. To protect your eyes from objects like chemical vapors and dust in your work environment, consider wearing goggles or safety glasses. If you wear prescription glasses or lenses, ensure they have durable safety frames and lenses.
Chemicals
The use of chemicals at work is another leading cause of eye injuries. Industries like cleaning, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides processing all require the handling of various chemicals that can cause damage to the eyes. Chemicals found in these settings can cause conjunctivitis, acute corneal burns, and cellular destruction in the eye. Always ensure you have eyewear protection for your eyes when dealing with chemicals in your work area.
UV Rays
Workers such as welders, construction workers, and farmers who spend a lot of time working outdoors are particularly susceptible to ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can harm their eyes. It is crucial to put on working glasses tinted for the outside environment, UV-resistant sunglasses, or welder’s goggles that have adequate filters to protect the eyes. UV radiation commonly leads to photokeratitis, also known as Welder’s flash, which leads to eye redness, scratchy, and painful eyes.
Lack of training
Inadequate training on eye safety practices can be costly. Lack of proper training or disregard for safety protocol can create an unsafe environment that puts you and your colleagues at risk. Ensure you learn and understand all required safety measures, protective equipment, and procedures necessary to protect from eye injury in your work environment. Also, make sure you keep up to date with changes to the safety protocols or contact experienced workmans’ comp lawyers for an advice.
Accidents that affect the head
Head accidents could happen in any industry, and it’s unfortunate that these incidents have a higher likelihood of occurring in the construction, forestry, mining sectors. Whenever accidents lead to head injuries, the eyes can be affected as well. The eyes can develop swelling, chemical reactions, bleeding, and other harmful results that can negatively impact your vision. Always wear the correct protective headgear to ensure maximum protection from head injuries that can harm the eyes too.
Eye injuries in the workplace are a significant danger, but protective equipment can mitigate this hazard. Nobody wants to suffer a life-changing accident in the workplace, but failing to take care of your eye safety will put you in danger. By understanding the various risk factors that exist, staying vigilant, and wearing the right safety gear for your work environment, you can reduce the chances of sustaining an eye injury. Remember, You only have two eyes, and you need to focus on protecting them.