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ZIP Tips: Eye Injuries
What can cause eye injuries at work? -
Flying objects. Many injuries result from flying or falling particles, sparks, or larger objects striking or scraping the eye. These materials are often ejected by tools, blown by wind, or they fall from above. Dust, cement or wood chips, metal slivers, nails, and staples are common culprits. -
Objects swinging from a fixed or attached position. Tree limbs, ropes, chains, or tools can be pulled into the eye while the employee is using or holding them. -
Contact with cleaning products and other industrial chemicals. In addition to potential damage from contact with acids, fuels, solvents, cement powder, or other chemicals, the pain from contact may cause a person to close his or her eyes, trapping the irritant, and possibly causing more damage. -
Exposure to ultraviolet light. Welder’s arc, for example, can cause thermal burns that damage eyes and surrounding tissue.
How can eye injuries be prevented in the workplace?
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Inspect and identify all work areas, access routes, operations, and equipment for potential hazards to eyes from impact, heat, chemicals, dust, glare, or optical radiation. Review past eye damage incident and injury reports. -
Uncorrected vision problems can cause incidents; specify vision abilities required for each job or task. Employees should have their vision tested regularly. -
Protect your eyes. OSHA standards require that employers provide employees protective eyewear suited to a specific duty or hazard. No one size-fits-all standard fits every industry, so safety managers must determine what types of safety gear to purchase. -
For goggles, safety glasses, face shields, full-face respirators, or a combination of these worn together to be effective, they must fit workers well. Injury can result from objects or chemicals going around or under the protector. Eye protectors should also allow air to circulate between the eye and the lens. -
For employees who wear prescription lenses while engaged in operations involving eye hazards, OSHA requires eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design, or eye protection that can be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the proper position of the prescription or protective lenses. -
Locate eyewash stations where they are easy to reach, especially where chemicals are used. -
Set a good example by always wearing protective eyewear when needed.
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