Two Thousand Injuries a Day
Recognizing Safety Glasses for High-Risk Occupations

Personal protective eyewear such as safety glasses with side shields, goggles, face shields, and/or welding helmets can protect you from common hazards, including
flying fragments, large chips, hot sparks, optical radiation, splashes from molten metals, objects, particles and glare. The risk of eye injury and the need for preventive measures depend on your job and the conditions in your workplace.

Employers can take several precautions suggested by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to make the work environment as safe as possible
and help reduce the risk of visual impairment and blindness caused by injury:
• Conduct an eye-hazard assessment;
• Remove or reduce all eye hazards where possible;
• Provide appropriate safety eye protection for the types of hazards at the worksite;
• Require all employees in hazardous situations to wear the appropriate eye protection;
• Keep eye protection in good condition and assist workers with attaining the proper fit;
• Keep bystanders out of work areas and/or behind protective barriers;
• Use caution flags to identify potential hazards such as hanging or protruding objects;
• Provide emergency sterile eyewash solutions/stations near hazardous areas; and
• Post first-aid instructions and information on how to get emergency aid.

Eye safety should receive continuing attention in workplace educational programs. Procedures for handling eye injuries should also be established and reinforced.

Workers should have a comprehensive dilated eye examination on a regular basis (typically every two years) to help ensure good eye health. Maintaining healthy vision is important to avoiding injuries on the job.

Up to 90 percent of all job-related eye injuries can be prevented with the proper implementation of an effective safety eye care program, which includes vision screenings and the mandatory use of
protective eyewear.

Please consider the following suggestions when establishing an eye safety plan in your workplace:
• Ensure that each worker has adequate vision to perform his/her duties effectively and safely.

Uncorrected vision
problems can lead to accidents. Consider including routine eye and physical examinations in your pre-placement requirements of your employees.
• Determine the vision requirements of the job, and provide a vision screening of each worker to determine if he/she meets those requirements. The worker may need corrective eyewear, such as
glasses or contacts, to perform his/her job safely. However, please note that contact lenses and glasses are NOT substitutes for protective eyewear.
• Conduct a thorough examination of the workplace, inspecting work areas, equipment and any chemical substances. Determine the potential eye hazards of the job and require the use of appropriate protective eyewear.
• Remember that day-to-day enforcement of eye safety regulations is imperative. Post a copy of the regulations in employee common areas. Include a copy of the regulations in new employee training handbooks.
• Mandate that everyone use eye protection, not just workers, when entering a work area with potential eye hazards.

• Make sure that safety eyewear has a “Z87” marked on the frame or lens. For more information on protective eyewear, or for more advice on establishing an eye safety program in your
workplace, please see your Eye M.D. (ophthalmologist) or call the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Treating an Eye Injury
If there is an eye injury, see an Eye M.D. (ophthalmologist) or visit the nearest emergency room right away, even if the injury seems minor at first. A serious eye injury is not always immediately obvious.
Delaying medical attention can cause the damaged areas to worsen and could result in permanent vision loss or blindness.

• Do not rub the eye. If any tissue is torn, rubbing may cause more damage.
• Shield the eye from pressure or rubbing action by taping or securing the bottom of a foam cup or similar type of shield against the bones surrounding the eye (brow, cheek and bridge of nose).
• Do not apply ointment or medication to the eye. These medications may not be sterile and could make the eye area slippery, which could slow the Eye M.D.’s examination.
• To treat cuts or punctures to the eye, bandage the eye without any pressure and seek emergency medical care immediately. Do not attempt to wash the eye or remove any object stuck in the eye. A paper cup held over the injured eye can help protect it until you can get to your Eye M.D. or emergency room.
• In case of a chemical burn to the eye, immediately flush the eye with clean water and seek emergency medical treatment right away.
• To treat a blow to the eye, gently apply a small cold compress to reduce pain and swelling, but don’t apply any pressure. Remember that even a light blow can cause a significant eye injury. If a black
eye, pain or visual disturbance occurs even after a light blow, immediately contact your Eye M.D. or emergency room.
• To treat sand or small debris in the eye, use eyewash to flush the eye out. Do not rub the eye. If the debris doesn’t come out, lightly bandage the eye and see an Eye M.D. or visit the nearest
emergency room.
• Avoid giving aspirin, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs thin the blood and may increase bleeding. Also, the pain associated with an eye injury is often
excruciating and a non-prescription medication may not help. Do not delay help by waiting for a painkiller to take hold. Go directly to an Eye M.D. or emergency room.
• In the workshop or garage, consider the work you will be doing and wear safety goggles to shield your eyes from flying fragments, fumes, dust particles, sparks and splashing chemicals. Many objects
can fly into your eyes unexpectedly and cause an injury.
• In the industrial workplace, wear appropriate safety eyewear (with a “Z87” mark on the lens or frame) for your occupation.

Work site injuries often involve automobile repair-related workers and construction-related workers, such as welders, plumbers, construction laborers, machine operators and carpenters. 100,000 workers each year are disabled because of vision loss due to injury. Many of the thousands injured each day didn’t think they needed eye protection or wore eyewear inappropriate for the job.

Check with your employer or Eye
M.D. to learn about the safety eyewear appropriate for your occupation. Fit and Care of Safety Glasses?
If eye protection is required, establish a complete eye safety protection program including selection, fit testing, training, maintenance and inspection.

Fit
• Ensure your safety glasses fit properly. Eye size, bridge size and temple length all vary. Safety glasses should be individually assigned and fitted.
• Wear safety glasses so that the temples fit comfortably over the ears. The frame should be as close to the face as possible and adequately supported by the bridge of the nose.

Care
Safety glasses need maintenance:
• Clean your safety glasses daily. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Avoid rough handling that
can scratch lenses.
• Scratches impair vision and can weaken lenses;
• Store your safety glasses in a clean, dry place where they cannot fall or be stepped on. Keep
them in a case when they are not being worn;
• Replace scratched, pitted, broken, bent or ill-fitting glasses. Damaged glasses interfere with vision
and do not provide protection; and
• Replace damaged parts only with identical parts from the original manufacturer to ensure the same
safety rating.

How to Select Proper Safety Glasses and Face Protection?
If you are at risk for eye or face injury at work, you should wear appropriate protection.
To select the proper protectors follow the recommendations in the adjacent table. FSM