Certificate Request FormSafety Updates
Eye Safety – June 2001
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that eye injuries cost more than $300 million dollars in lost production time, medical expenses and workers' compensation. Over 1,000 eye injuries occur in the workplace each day. We have seen a steady increase in eye injuries in all of our Safety Groups over the past few years. That is why we think it is critical that we make eye protection a priority on our injury prevention list!
Written Program
Having a written program is not all that is needed. Your employees need to be trained in your program, and vision protection must be available and it must be used.
Not Wearing Personal Eye Protection?
If your employees aren't wearing their Personal Eye Protection, you'll have to find out the root cause. Could it be a language barrier? Have you informed them of all the workplace hazards to which they can be exposed? Do they understand and remember what they've been told? Does management support the company policy for eye protection and have you applied discipline to those who fail to comply? It could be as simple as the vision protection you provide is uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Seeing Eye Protection in a Different Light
After determining the root cause, you may have to retrain your employees or provide another type of eye protection. If the rate of injury continues to rise after doing all that, then it may be one of the following:
- Personal Eye Protection is not appropriate for the hazards.
- Side guards or shields are being removed.
- Personal Eye Protection doesn't fit well or is the wrong type.
After you determine the right protection for the hazards encountered and have retrained your employees, you will want to be sure that, when an eye injury occurs, everyone is prepared. Make eye injury care a part of your safety program. Be sure that emergency eye wash stations are adequate, current and close to the hazards.
Many work–related eye injuries can be prevented through proper training, company policy and use of the right Personal Eye Protection. Refer to our Lovell Talk Topics (Lovell 52 and Lovell 2000) for assistance with safety talks on eye protection.
Greg Perricone, Safety Consultant
If you have any questions on this or any other safety issue, please call your local area representative or the Lovell Safety Office at 212–709–8600.
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