According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 2,000 Americans suffer eye injuries at work every day. Even the smallest eye injuries can cause life-long vision problems. There are so many workers who suffer from disabilities every year, and those disabilities are often related to eye injuries, visual field loss, reduced depth perception, and other forms of vision loss.
While eye injuries can happen in any job or profession, they are, of course, most common in construction and trade industries where employees can face many risks in the course of their career.
Eye injuries on construction sites can be caused by so many aspects. Some of the most common types of eye injuries can include:
- Corneal scratches
- Chemical burns
- Fractures to the bones around the eye
- Eyelid lacerations
- Bleeding between the cornea and the iris (Hyphema)
- Inflammation of the iris
- Corneal flash burn
These are only some of the possible eye injuries that can occur on construction sites.
The Bureau of Labor statistics shows that these types of labor workers are more likely to acquire an eye injury sometime during their career:
- Carpenters
- Plumbers and pipefitters
- Electricians
- Welders
- Construction laborers
Tips to Avoid Eye Injuries
According to the ISHN (Industrial Safety & Hygiene News), there are eight ways employers can avoid workplace eye injuries:
- Identify the hazards and take precautionary measures
- Ensure your employees wear appropriate eye protection gear
- Organize training programs and plan for emergencies
- Inspect and eliminate inefficient eye gear
- Place eye safety signage for preventing eye injury
- Install emergency eye wash stations
- Implement smart eye safety practices
- Schedule eye exam for employees by an eye doctor
Your Rights After a Workplace Accident
Employers, subcontractors, property owners, and product manufacturers all play crucial roles in promoting safe workplaces and safe work practices. They can potentially be held liable when workers suffer injuries in preventable workplace accidents.
