Did You Know?
Construction has a much higher rate of eye injuries than any other industry.
More than 2,000 people injure their eyes at work each day and 90% of eye injuries are preventable.
Hammering on metal which gives off metal slivers and the rebounding of the ordinary nail are two of the most common causes of vision loss in construction workers.
About 1 in 10 injuries require one or more missed workdays to recover from, and 10-20% of these workplace eye injuries will cause temporary or permanent vision loss.
Source: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Process Solutions
- Use engineering controls (best) such as machine guards that prevent the escape of particles or welding curtains for arc flash protection
- Use administrative controls (good) such as making certain areas “off limits” unless that is your work assignment area or putting passageways out of active work zones
- Use the proper protective eyewear (required, but doesn’t remove all risk)
PPE Solutions
- If your work puts you at risk of flying splinters, chips, or dust, wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields. Look for “Z87+” on the frame or lenses as an indicator of impact protection.
- Rinse irritated eyes. Dust can irritate your eye. If your eye feels gritty or itchy, flush it gently with clean water from a bottle, hose or eyewash station for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
- Safety eye and face protection includes non-prescription and prescription safety glasses, clear or tinted goggles, face shields, welding helmets, and some full-face type respirators that meet the ANSI Z87.1 Eye and Face Protection Standard
Resources
- Look for ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses
- Look further on Google search, home center stores, hardware stores and online industrial supply stores