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Eye Safety in the Workplace

Each day, more than 2,000 U.S. workers experience eye injuries, according to Prevent Blindness America. Up to 90 percent of these incidents could have been prevented---or the injuries minimized---by wearing proper eye protection.

  1. Hazards

    • Protective eye-wear guards against airborne materials (such as glass or metal), dust particles, sparks, tools, hazardous chemicals and radiation. Eye injuries result in lost production and high costs---37,000 missed workdays and more than $300 million per year, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    Safety Measures

    • Inspect buildings and machines to determine required safety eye wear. Train and inform all employees of the dangers, preventive measures and procedures for eye injuries. Equip machines with proper guards or other safety mechanisms.

    Types

    • Require eye protection in necessary areas, even if employees are just passing through. Protection depends upon the materials used in a workplace. Some types include safety glasses, goggles, face shields, helmets with face guards and full-face respirators.

    Considerations

    • Encourage annual eye exams. Poor vision can lead to workplace accidents. Also, ensure protective wear fits each worker properly. Employers are responsible for protecting their employees. Not following safety procedures can mean fines by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and possible legal action.

    First Aid

    • Eye wash stations---reachable within 10 seconds--are required around chemicals and other solutions. Flush out contaminated eyes for 15 continuous minutes. According to Uvex---a safety eye wear company---the absence of eye wash stations was the fifth most-cited Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violation in 2005.

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