Use the Correct Eyewear for the Job
The proper safety eyewear is one of the most important items you can put on. Yet many workers don’t wear eye protection, wear the wrong type, or think their regular eyeglasses protect them.
As a result, about 2,000 people have workplace eye injuries in the U.S. every day. That’s half a million people a year. Nine out of 10 of those injuries could have been prevented with these simple steps:
- Select protective eyewear that you will wear. Fit, style, lens coatings and even prescription lenses are some of the options available. Even the best eye protection can’t protect you if it stays in your toolbox.
- Maintain a safe work environment. Follow workplace safety guidelines to prevent accidents. Make sure your protective eyewear is clean, in good condition and fits properly.
- Know your hazards. Common on-the-job hazards are impacts from flying objects such as large chips, fragments, particles, sand and dirt. Other common hazards are heat, chemicals and dust.
- Choose the proper eye protection for the hazard you face. Select the kind of eyewear and protective lenses that meet standard safety requirements for the hazards you encounter. Many manufacturers provide detailed information to help you choose the right product.
Need advice? Make an appointment with an optometrist for help choosing proper safety glasses or for prescription lenses.
Don’t Wait to Be Seen
Even if an eye injury seems minor, the results could be catastrophic: permanent vision loss. A person who has any of these signs after an injury should see a medical doctor right away:
- Obvious pain or trouble seeing
- A cut or torn eyelid
- One eye does not move as well as the other
- One eye sticks out compared to the other
- Unusual pupil size or shape
- Blood in the clear part of the eye
- Something in the eye or under the eyelid that can’t be removed
Choose Healthy 