It’s estimated that nearly one million American have had
their eyesight negatively impacted by an eye injury. And, while 90% of
workplace eye injuries can be avoided by following proper safety protocol, more
than 700,000 Americans suffer eye injuries at work every year.
Here’s how you can prevent workplace eye injuries…
- Keep up with your regular, comprehensive eye
exams. Undiagnosed and untreated vision problems can be the cause of
accidents. Thanks to modern technology, routine testing and monitoring over
time, it’s not unusual for an eye healthcare provider to detect vision problems
before a person even notices an issue. When your eyesight is compromised—
whether it’s depth perception, vision sharpness, eye strain, or otherwise—it
can impact your ability to work safely.
- Analyze accidents. Accidents happen – and
when they do, it’s best practice to determine the cause and if/how it can be
avoided in the future. Sometimes a slight shift in procedure can stop countless
unnecessary workplace incidents before they happen.
- Follow safety protocol. Oftentimes in
select work environments specific eyewear is mandated. Protective eyewear
should meet Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requirements. These
regulations are in place for a reason – they could save your sight!
- Know proper first aid. Do you know what
to do in the event of an eye injury? Determine clear first-aid procedures as
appropriate for your workplace, such as eyewash stations in workplaces that
uses chemicals or particle irritants.
- Trust the experts. Always seek the
expertise of an eye care professional after an eye injury. Even if it’s your
opinion that the injury was minor and didn’t cause damage, being seen by an eye
doctor will help detect even the smallest problem that may progress over time
due to an eye injury.