Five Tips for Preventing and Treating Workplace Eye Injuries

Did you know that about 800,000 eye injuries occur on the job annually? And that most of them occurred in production, service, and transportation industries?
Unfortunately, according to Prevent Blindness America accidents, 90% of eye injuries could have been prevented. It’s because chemical burns, punctures, and lacerations cause most eye injuries. And you would have avoided them if you had covered if the eyes.
The simple act of wearing safety glasses/goggles while working with harmful objects and substances can help. They especially prove helpful in protecting against dust, dirt, debris, and other things that can enter your eyes from a distance.

How to Prevent Workplace eye Injuries

Here are some other tips which can help prevent workplace eye injuries:

1. Refrain from Wearing Sunglasses While Working.

Sunglasses aren’t for challenging physical activity since they usually have plastic frames rather than metal frames like prescription eyeglasses.
The sunglasses without side shields pose an even greater risk of causing injury. There is not enough protection around the eyes from objects or chemicals that may be spilled or leaked.

2. Do Not Look into a Bright Light.

Many industrial jobs require working in very bright conditions, such as welding and other tasks illuminated by a big floodlight. Prolonged exposure to bright lights can affect your eyes. You can prevent this kind of eye injury if you pay attention to your body’s signals.
For example, turn away or close your eyes if the light is too intense for you. Make it a point to wear sunglasses with side shields if the sunlight bothers you. Most importantly, not staring directly at any intense light source protects your vision.
Also, be careful if there are many reflective surfaces around — like mirrored windows. There’s the risk that you may end up looking directly at the sun and damaging your sight when you look at these surfaces.

3. Wear Light-Attached Hats in Poorly Lit Areas

If you have to enter a poorly lit area, make sure that the site is well-lit. You this way, do not end up squinting. That’s why miners and construction workers wear hard hats with attached lights when they need to enter dark areas.
Besides, there’s the risk of something accidentally entering your strained eyes in low-light conditions. It’s also better to wear safety goggles while entering such areas.

4. Be Careful When Around Flammable Substances.

There are a few things you need to remember if you work around flammable substances:

• Do not smoke
• Wear protective clothing, like fire-resistant jackets, if you’re using flammable liquids,
• Make sure that the area is well-ventilated to help decrease your exposure to fumes.
• Be aware of ignition sources like sparks from welding equipment
• Keep matches and lighters away from these areas.

Lastly, avoid using old equipment that can malfunction and hurt you even more. Report any dangerous equipment or conditions to a safety officer, manager, or supervisor as soon as possible.

What Should I Do After a Workplace Eye Injury?

A patient with a corneal wound should preferably see an ophthalmologist the following day. There might be broken glass pieces or debris left behind in the eye if something sharp caused the injury. Patients with chemical burns and thermal burns will need to get prompt medical care as well.
Patients who cannot see a specialist immediately should keep their eyes moist with Artificial Tears (OTC) for at least 24 hours. This reduces friction between the eyelid and eyeball to decrease the pain of rubbing it while trying to sleep.
These drops also reduce the chances of infection because they help prevent bacteria from proliferating.

How Can a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Glendale Help Me?

There is legislation to protect you when working.
So, don’t be afraid to file for compensation if you suffer from a workplace eye injury. There are many ways in how Glendale workers’ compensation attorneys will help you seek compensation.
They will guide you through the process so that you can focus solely on recovering.