FACTS
- Particles of rocks, soil, crop material or other foreign objects thrown from equipment that chops or grinds can cause unexpected eye injury to the operator or bystander.
- Eye injuries are more likely to occur when servicing equipment than when operating it.
- Simple hand tools can cause severe eye injuries.
- Almost 70 percent of all eye injuries result from flying or falling objects striking the eye.
- Contact with chemicals (liquids, gases, dusts, fumes, or vapors) causes another 20 percent of eye injuries.
- Swinging objects — most of the remaining injuries are caused by objects that swing from an attached position. Tree limbs, ropes, chains, or tools are common examples.
- Bloodborne pathogens and bodily fluids — In health care, maintenance, and housekeeping fields, there is a danger of these liquids being splashed into the eyes.
- Other causes — electrical arcs and sparks, molten metal, and radiant energy from welding, cutting, lasers, and ultraviolet and infrared light also contribute to eye injury.
- While eye injuries can occur in just about any job, mechanics, repairers, carpenters, plumbers, assemblers, sanders, and grinding machine operators are most likely to be victims.
STATS
- Eye injuries in the workplace are very common. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that every day about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment.
- 60% of workers who suffered an eye injury were wearing no eye protection or the wrong type of eye protection at the time of the accident.
- 90% of work-related eye injuries could be avoided if workers wore eye protection. (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
- BLS reported that more than 50 % of workers injured while wearing eye protection thought the eyewear had minimized their injuries.