Eye Safety Standards in the Workplace
Employers of workplaces in the United States involving any kind of airborne particles or harmful chemicals must follow the standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding eyewear protection and eye care emergencies.
Prescription safety lenses are required to be provided by employers for their employees needing corrective eyewear. Another option is a safety shield for covering and protecting the eyeglasses of the employee. There are working types needing safety shields, safety glasses, and some require wearing safety shields over their safety glasses.
Safety eyewear must be appropriate depending on your workplace to avoid risks for eye injuries.
The following are risk factors for eye injuries at workplaces:
- Malfunctioning tools
- Distraction
- Feeling fatigued
- Overtime work
- Rushing
- Doing an unfamiliar task
- While using tools
Eye Injury Prevention From Airbags
Without safety airbags on your motor vehicles, you are at a higher risk for severe injuries. To lessen eye and head injury for airbags:
- Wear your seatbelt and adjust it properly.
- The seat’s headrest should be adjusted for proper support.
- Sit at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel.
- Don’t smoke while driving.
- Children at the back must wear seatbelts and adjust safety seats properly.
Laser Pointer Related Eye Injuries
Laser pointers can cause temporary loss of vision and damage the retina permanently when directly pointed at the eye. The potential eye injuries made the FDA mandate putting labels on laser pointers for possible damage to the retina.
Champagne Cork Related Eye Injuries
Flying champagne corks can cause eye bleeding or retinal detachment, eye lens dislocation, and orbital bone structure damage when it has ruptured the eyeball. These injuries that result in vision loss are prevented through:
- Before opening the bottle, do not shake it because the pressure may build up inside and the speed of the cork increases.
- The cork must be pointed away when the bottle is opened.
- Hold down the cork with your palm when removing the wire.
- Place a towel over the cork while the base of the bottle is being twisted.
Firework Related Eye Injuries
These are the safety measures to prevent eye injuries offered by the American Academy of Ophthalmology:
- Do not allow children to play with fireworks.
- Firework viewing must be 500 feet away.
- Lighting of fireworks should only be done by trained professionals.
- Inform the fire or police department of any firework remains and must be left untouched.
Paintball Related Eye Injuries
Traumatic cataracts, eye socket blowout fractures, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and eyeball rupture which could lead to vision loss and blindness are common injuries from paintball.
In paintball, you should never remove your headgear because it protects both eyes and ears. It is also required to wear your headgear within the area even if the game has not started. This is to avoid the occurrence of documented injuries when players remove their headgears.
