Protect your Eyes

Professions that expose employees to flying debris, high-tension cables or ropes, bright light, and chemicals can be particularly dangerous to the eyes. Eye safety is every bit as important as any workplace precaution. Be sure to commit to maintaining eye safety at work.

According to http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au, high-risk conditions for eye injuries at work include workplaces with:

• Extremely bright lighting
• Chemicals
• Compressed air
• Dust and grit
• Grinding/drilling/welding machines

Most of the above are not surprising, but the ill effects of bright lighting mean that some office workers are at danger of hurting their vision. Anything that causes eye pain needs to be investigated.

High risk industries include: construction, repair and maintenance, retail, agriculture, and manufacturing as being among the most dangerous.

Eye injuries at work vary in severity from minor irritations to serious abrasions, burns, or punctures. In a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, eye problems suffered by Australian workers over several years fit mainly into the following categories:

• Foreign body in the eye
• Pain in the eye
• Injury to the eye
• Red eye
• Abnormal sensation
• Visual disturbance

Goggles, safety glasses, full-face masks, and even special helmets can protect eye health in the workplace, and they must be worn, no matter the inconvenience or discomfort. Workers should be provided with eye safety equipment if they are exposed to any possible workplace dangers.

When an eye injury occurs, immediate treatment is necessary. The treatment depends on the type of injury. In the event of

• Exposure to chemicals, continuous flushing of the eyes if they are exposed to chemicals, but a trip to hospital is also necessary.
• A blow to the eye, apply a cold compress helps
• Bleeding and severe pain, means a physician must be consulted.
• An irritating object in the eye can often be rinsed out. Patients should never rub the affected eye, but if the particle will not easily come out, a physician visit is required.
• Severe injuries that can permanently compromise vision must be treated as an emergency.
• Treating eye injuries always requires a cautious approach.

Eye safety in the workplace should be emphasized to protect employees’ vision and their quality of life. Workers routinely wear heavy boots and protective clothing, so they should not object to wearing proper eye protection as well.