How to Keep Your Vision Safe in Every Situation
Eye injuries are a serious risk in many workplaces, with nearly one million Americans experiencing eye injuries every year, over 700,000 of which happen on the job. Surprisingly, 90% of these injuries can be prevented with the proper safety measures and protective eyewear (AAO.org). In this blog, we’ll dive into the best practices for preventing eye injuries, the common causes of eye damage, and how to choose the right protection for your work environment.
Best Practices for Eye Injury Prevention
- Conduct Regular Eye Hazard Assessments:
Before starting any task, identify potential hazards by assessing the environment. Look for flying objects, tools, chemicals, or any source that could pose a risk to your eyes.
- Eliminate Hazards Before You Start:
Engineering controls, such as machine guarding or work screens, can be highly effective in removing hazards from the workplace before you even begin a task.
- Wear the Right Eye Protection:
Always wear eye protection that is appropriate for the tasks at hand. Proper eye protection can prevent over 90% of eye injuries in the workplace.
- Routine Vision Testing:
Encourage regular vision tests for employees to ensure no uncorrected vision problems exist, which could lead to incidents or injury.
- Employee Education and Training:
Provide ongoing eye safety training to employees, emphasizing the importance of wearing protective eyewear. Make it part of new-hire orientation and remind workers regularly of the dangers of neglecting eye safety.
- Establish Emergency Procedures:
Have emergency eyewash stations in places where chemicals or other hazardous materials are present, and make sure workers know how to respond in case of an eye injury.