Eye injuries at work are surprisingly common – and expensive
The personal and economic toll of eye injuries at work is alarming. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20,000 eye injuries occur in the workplace each year. Injuries on the job often require one or more missed workdays for recovery. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that workplace eye injuries cost an estimated $300 million a year in lost productivity, medical treatment and worker compensation.
These injuries range from simple eye strain to severe trauma that can cause permanent damage, vision loss and blindness.
The most important thing you can do to protect your vision at work is to always wear appropriate protective eyewear. This can prevent more than 90% of serious eye injuries.
Please note: The Optical Shoppe can recommend the best eye protection for your occupation. Call 908-719-2020 to make an appointment.
Top causes of workplace eye injuriesUse machine guarding, work screens or other engineering controls to protect your eyes from hazards such as:
- Flying shards of metal or glass;
- Tools that slip or malfunction;
- Particles such as wood splinters, metal shavings or crystalline silica;
- Spattered chemicals;
- Any combination of these or other hazards.
Learn more from the American Academy of Ophthalmology
