PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT - EYE INJURY PREVENTION

One thousand eye injuries occur in American workplaces every day. These injuries are responsible for over $3,000,000.00 annually in medical, lost production and workers' compensation costs

Why are these injuries occurring?

> Three out of five injuries happen because the worker was not wearing any eye protection at the time of the accident.
> About 40% of the injured workers were wearing some type of eye protection, but it was the wrong kind and failed to protect adequately. The leading cause in this category is the lack of side shields.
> Accident studies reveal flying or falling objects and sparks as the cause in 70% of eye injuries. Nearly 60% of the objects causing eye injury are smaller than a pin head.
> Nearly 20% of all eye injuries are caused by contact with chemicals. This includes splashing or chemicals being sprayed directly into the eye.
> 40% of eye injuries occurred among craft workers, such as mechanics, repairers, carpenters, and plumbers. 30% of eye injuries occurred among operatives, such as assemblers, sanders, and grinding machine operators.
> 50% of the injured workers were employed in manufacturing. 20% were employed in construction.

How to prevent these injuries?

First make sure you select the proper eye protection for the task. 94% of the eye injuries that occurred to workers wearing eye protection resulted from objects or chemicals going around or under the protector.

Second, make sure the eye protection you have selected fits properly and is clean. One of the leading reasons for workers removing or not wearing eye protection is the lens became dirty and they could not see what they were doing. Eye protection is usually not worn because they do not fir properly and cause discomfort.

Nearly 20% of eye injuries happened to workers wearing face shields or welding helmets while grinding. Only 6% of the workers injured while wearing eye protection were wearing goggles.

CHOOSE THE BEST PROTECTION, MAKE SURE IT FITS, KEEP IT CLEAN AND WEAR IT

Training Roster

Training Acknowledgement

OSHA Eye Protection Standard

Eye and Face Protection Guidance