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EYE PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE
Every day an estimated 1,000 eye injuries occur in American
workplaces. The financial cost of these injuries is enormous
-- more than $300 million per year in lost production time,
medical expenses, and workers compensation. No dollar figure
can adequately reflect the personal toll these accidents take
on the injured workers.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and the 25 states and territories operating their own job
safety and health programs are determined to help reduce eye
injuries. In concert with efforts by concerned voluntary groups,
OSHA has begun a nationwide information campaign to improve
workplace eye protection.
Take a moment to think about possible eye hazards at your
workplace. A 1980 survey by the Labor Department's Bureau
of Labor Statistics (BLS) of about 1,000 minor eye injuries
reveals how and why many on-the-job accidents occur.
WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO EYE INJURIES AT WORK?
-- Not wearing eye protection. BLS reports that nearly three
out of every five workers injured were not wearing eye protection
at the time of the accident.
-- Wearing the wrong kind of eye protection for the job.
About 40% of the injured workers were wearing some form of
eye protection when the accident occurred. These workers were
most likely to be wearing protective eyeglasses with no side
shields, though injuries among employees wearing full-cup
or flat-fold side shields occurred, as well.
WHAT CAUSES EYE INJURIES?
-- Flying particles. BLS found that almost 70% of the accidents
studied resulted from flying or falling objects or sparks
striking the eye. Injured workers estimated that nearly three-fifths
of the objects were smaller than a pin head. Most of the particles
were said to be traveling faster than a hand-thrown object
when the accident occurred.
-- Contact with chemicals caused one-fifth of the injuries.
Other accidents were caused by objects swinging from a fixed
or attached position, like tree limbs, ropes, chains, or tools
which were pulled into the eye while the worker was using
them.
WHERE DO ACCIDENTS OCCUR MOST OFTEN?
-- Craft work; industrial equipment operation. Potential
eye hazards can be found in nearly every industry, but BLS
reported that more than 40% of injuries occurred among craft
workers, like mechanics, repairers, carpenters, and plumbers.
Over a third of the injured workers were operatives, such
as assemblers, sanders, and grinding machine operators. Laborers
suffered about one-fifth of the eye injuries. Almost half
the injured workers were employed in manufacturing; slightly
more than 20% were in construction.
HOW CAN EYE INJURIES BE PREVENTED?
-- Always wear effective eye protection. OSHA standards require
that employers provide workers with suitable eye protection.
To be effective, the eyewear must be of the appropriate type
for the hazard encountered and properly fitted. For example,
the BLS survey showed that 94% of the injuries to workers
wearing eye protection resulted from objects or chemicals
going around or under the protector. Eye protective devices
should allow for air to circulate between the eye and the
lens. Only 13 workers injured while wearing eye protection
reported breakage.
Nearly one-fifth of the injured workers with eye protection
wore face shields or welding helmets. However, only six percent
of the workers injured while wearing eye protection wore goggles,
which generally offer better protection for the eyes. Best
protection is afforded when goggles are worn with face shields.
Better training and education. BLS reported that most workers
were hurt while doing their regular jobs. Workers injured
while not wearing protective eyewear most often said they
believed it was not required by the situation. Even though
the vast majority of employers furnished eye protection at
no cost to employees, about 40% of the workers received no
information on where and what kind of eyewear should be used.
-- Maintenance. Eye protection devices must be properly maintained.
Scratched and dirty devices reduce vision, cause glare and
may contribute to accidents.
WHERE CAN l GET MORE INFORMATION?
-- Your nearest OSHA area office. Safety and health experts
are available to explain mandatory requirements for effective
eye protection and answer questions. They can also refer you
to an on-site consultation service available in nearly every
state through which you can get free, penalty-free advice
for eliminating possible eye hazards, designing a training
program, or other safety and health matters.
Don't know where the nearest federal or state office is?
Call an OSHA Regional Office at the U.S. Department of Labor
in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas,
Kansas City, Denver, San Francisco, or Seattle.
-- The National Society to Prevent Blindness. This voluntary
health organization is dedicated to preserving sight and has
developed excellent information and training materials for
preventing eye injuries at work. Its 26 affiliates nationwide
may also provide consultation in developing effective eye
safety programs. For more information and a publications catalog,
write Prevent Blindness America, 500 E. Remington Road, Shaumburg,
IL 60173, 800-331-2020. www.preventblindness.org. Email address
of Sender...LCameron@PreventBlindness.org. Sender Name...Laura
Cameron. Sender Alternate Contact Information...Phone: 800-331-2020.
Sender Company Information...Prevent Blindness America.
EYE PROTECTION WORKS!
BLS reported that more than 50% of workers injured while
wearing eye protection thought the eyewear had minimized their
injuries. But nearly half the workers also felt that another
type of protection could have better prevented or reduced
the injuries they suffered.
It is estimated that 90% of eye injuries can be prevented
through the use of proper protective eyewear. That is our
goal and, by working together, OSHA, employers, workers, and
health organizations can make it happen.
This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S.
Department of Labor programs. To read the entire fact sheet,
click here: http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/training/OSHAEYE.HTM
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