Eye Protection: One Size Does Not Fit All According to CDC NIOSH, each day about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. About one third of the injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments, and more than 100 of these injuries result in one or more days away from work. How do eye injuries happen to workers? Striking or scraping: The majority of eye injuries result from small particles or objects striking or scraping the eye, such as dust, cement chips, metal slivers, and wood chips. These materials are often ejected by tools, windblown, or fall from above. Large objects may also strike the eye or face, or a worker may run into an object causing blunt-force trauma to the eyeball or socket. Penetration: Objects like nails, staples, or slivers of wood or metal can go through the eyeball and result in permanent loss of vision. Chemical and thermal burns: Industrial chemicals or cleaning products are common causes of chemical burns to one or both eyes. Thermal burns to the eye also occur, often among welders. These burns routinely damage workers’ eyes and the surrounding tissue. 1910.133(a)(1) The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation. Workers must wear safety glasses that comply with ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 Standard for Eye and Face Why are these injuries happening? Part of the answer is obvious – eye protection was not being worn; but did you know that many workers were actually wearing protective eyewear at the time of the injury? The problem is that workers were wearing the wrong type of eye protection or the eye protection did not fit properly allowing the hazard to reach the eye. A recent survey published by HexArmor helps us understand why workers are ditching their safety eyewear. https://www.hexarmor.com/posts/workplace-eye-injury-statistics https://cdn.hexarmor.com/pdf/c9db4c71-83d6-4381-adfd-ece5f75eb5e2.pdf Fogging – 72% of respondents cited fogging as the biggest issue with their current eyewear. Comfort – 48% said their eyewear is uncomfortable to wear so they take them off regularly during the task. Fit – 29% said their glasses fit poorly, have large gaps, fall down their face, or are too tight. Style – 21% of respondents cited that they didn’t want to wear their safety eyewear because it wasn’t stylish enough. Training! You don’t know what you don’t know OSHA estimates that 90% of eye injuries can be prevented. Workers who were injured said they weren’t aware safety eyewear was required, didn’t know what type was required, or didn’t know where to find it. Workers should be trained, at a minimum, in these areas: • Job- and site-specific eye hazards. • How to recognize eye and face hazards, and how to communicate uncontrolled hazards. • How and where to locate eye protection. • The importance of good fit versus poor fit. • How to communicate concerns related to eye and face protection such as fogging, poor fit, uncomfortable, etc. •The user instructions, warnings, and limitations of the equipment – for example, proper cleaning, storage, and maintenance of eye protection. SAFETY FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT CONTACT: SAFETYQUESTIONS@FASTENAL.COM OR 1-833-FNL-SAFE
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