Eye Safety 1 You Can Prevent Eye Injuries

Eye Safety 1

You Can Prevent Eye Injuries l Every year, thousands of people are blinded from work-related injuries l Of the employees who damage their eyes: – 60% were not wearing any eye protection – 40% were wearing the wrong eye protection l If you are unsure if your eyes are properly protected, talk to your supervisor about it 2

Protect Your Eyes With Safety Glasses l Guards against forceful impacts and heat l Can withstand impact of a quarter-inch ball traveling at 150 feet per second l Most equipped with side shields l Ensure proper fit 3

Protect Your Eyes With Goggles l Provides a secure shield around your eyes to guard against flying particles l Wear over contact lenses if in areas with dust or chemicals l Ensure proper fit l Special lenses protect against bright light 4

Protect Your Eyes With Face Shields and Helmets l Guards you against liquid metal, chemical splashes or flying particles l Will not protect against forceful impacts l Wear goggles under face shields l Welding shields protect your eyes from intense light 5

Protect Your Eyes and Those Around You l Never remove protective equipment that guards you from airborne particles l Inform co-workers of situations that could damage their eyes l There is no excuse for not wearing the proper protective eyewear 6

Be Aware of Your Environment l False sense of security is dangerous l Your eyes can be damaged from: – Forceful impacts – Small particles – Chemicals – Liquid metal – Heat, lasers and radiation 7

Forceful Impacts Can Damage Your Eyes l Objects that hit your eye with a forceful impact come in many shapes and sizes l These impacts can: – Create a black eye – Rupture your eyeball – Break bones around the eye – Push your eye back into its socket 8

How To Treat Eye Injuries From Forceful Impacts l Go to see a health care provider if bleeding does not stop or vision is blurry l Use ice packs to reduce the swelling l Apply a warm cloth to absorb blood l Avoid medication with aspirin l Let the health care provider know if you are taking anti-blood clotting medication 9

Small Particles Can Damage Your Eyes l Small particles can become airborne and lodge themselves in your eye l These particles can cause: – Bleeding of your blood vessels – Blurred vision – Sensitivity to light 10

How to Treat Eye Injuries From Small Particles l Most of these injuries will not cause permanent damage if treated right away l If a small particle is stuck in your eye: – Try to guide it out by blinking – If you cannot guide it out, go see a health care provider – Do not rub your eyes 11

Chemicals Can Damage Your Eyes l Chemical burns can be liquid, gas or vapor l Exposure to chemical substances can cause: – Irritation – Temporary or permanent damage to the eye – Blindness l Severity of the injury is influenced by the length of time the chemical is on your eye 12

How to Treat Eye Injuries From Chemical Burns l First 10 -15 seconds are most critical l Wash eyes for 15 minutes using emergency eyewash equipment l If pain continues, see a health care provider 13

Other Hazards That Can Damage Your Eyes l Hot liquid metal can cause severe burns and tissue damage to your eyes l Heat, lasers and radiation cause permanent damage to your eyes l If you injure your eye from any of these hazards, immediately go to the hospital 14

Care of Personal Protective Equipment l Protective eyewear will not withstand repeated impact or abuse l Replace glasses when lenses are broken or you cannot see through them for any reason l Replace knotted, twisted, worn or stretched out goggle straps l Clean after every use 15

Summary l Every year, thousands of people are blinded from work-related injuries l The most common injuries are from forceful impacts, chemicals and small particles l There is no excuse for not wearing your protective eyewear 16