Many occupations come with a heightened risk of eye injuries. All employers should take steps to reduce the risk of workers suffering from an eye injury. Preventative measures, such as providing eye protection, aren’t expensive, but they go a long way toward keeping employees safe.
Each year, there are around 300,000 workers in the United States who suffer eye injuries at work and end up in the emergency room. Around 90% of those could have been prevented by simply wearing eye protection. Approximately 40% of eye injuries that occur at work happen to people in the manufacturing industry.
Problems with eye protection
One of the more common reasons why workers don’t wear eye protection is that the options they have at work aren’t suitable. Employers should ensure that they offer personal protective equipment that meets safety requirements and the needs of their employees. Here are some common issues:
- The available eyewear is poorly made and causes pain or discomfort for the worker.
- The eyewear fogs up, and the worker can’t see to complete the job duties they’re responsible for.
- The employees think that eye protection is unnecessary, but there aren’t any firm penalties or consequences for failing to wear appropriate safety fear while working.
Any worker who suffers a work-related eye injury should ensure they get immediate medical attention. These injuries can be very serious, and some can be permanent. Workers’ compensation coverage should take care of the medical bills and other related financial damages. Some workers will have to file an appeal to get the benefits they’re due, so be prepared for this.
