The American Academy of Ophthalmology has designated March as national Workplace Eye Wellness Month. By raising awareness and sharing useful information throughout the month, the goal is to provide employers and workers with valuable resources that teach the importance of proper eye care and protection while on the job.
Experts project over 160 million people will be employed in the United States in 2022. Each day, 2,000 workers sustain job-related eye injuries that require eye medical treatment. Accounting for lost productivity, medical expenses, worker compensation, legal fees, fines, and higher insurance rates, eye injuries cost more than $900 million each year.
Whether you’re a mechanic or a computer engineer, eye injuries are part of the job. Here are some of the most common causes of workplace eye injuries.
- Flying objects (bits of metal, glass)
- Tools
- Particles
- Chemicals
- Harmful radiation
- Blue light exposure
Luckily, 90% of all work-related eye injuries can be avoided or reduced in severity by taking proper precautions. Malik Eye Care recommends taking 10 steps to help prevent eye injuries on the job:
Assess
Look carefully at job site operations. Inspect all work areas, access routes, and equipment for hazards to eyes. Study eye accident and injury reports. Identify operations and areas that present eye hazards.
Test
Uncorrected vision problems can cause accidents. Provide vision testing during routine employee physical exams.
Protect
Select protective eyewear that is designed for the specific duty or hazard. Protective eyewear must meet the current standards from the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and later revisions.
Participate
Create a 100% mandatory program for eye protection in all operation areas of your work site. A broad program prevents more injuries and is easier to enforce than one that limits eye protection to certain departments, areas, or jobs.
Fit
Workers need protective eyewear that fits well and is comfortable. Have eyewear fitted by an eye care professional or someone trained to do this. Provide repairs for eyewear and require each worker to be in charge of his or her own gear.
Plan for Emergency
Set up first-aid procedures for eye injuries. Have eyewash stations that are easy to get to, especially where chemicals are used. Train workers in basic first-aid and identify those with more advanced training.
Educate
Conduct ongoing educational programs to create, keep up, and highlight the need for protective eyewear. Add eye safety to your regular employee training programs and to new employee orientation.
Support
Management support is key to having a successful eye safety program. Management can show their support for the program by wearing protective eyewear whenever and wherever needed.
Review
Regularly review and update your accident prevention policies. Your goal should be NO eye injuries or accidents!
Put it in writing
Once your safety program is created, put it in writing. Display a copy of the policy in work and employee gathering areas. Include a review of the policy in new employee orientation.
Workplace Eye Wellness Month is the perfect time for employers to review or establish eye safety guidelines and discuss eye health with employees.
If you’re looking for more information on eye health and safety, schedule an appointment and visit one of our five offices located in Long Island, Queens, and New York City!