WHS 1 Toolbox Talk Eye Safety Evolve Safety

WHS. 1 – Toolbox Talk Eye Safety Evolve Safety – We cover Australia and want to manage WHS on your site – enquiries@evolve-safety. com

WHS. 1 – Eye Safety Creating and maintaining a safe working environment is the responsibility of employers and employees. It is a team effort! • A risk assessment will determine when the risk of an eye injury is extremely likely. • Some areas, such as construction, grinding or machining locations will have mandatory eye protection signage. • The wearing of eye protection is not optional when you have been instructed to use it. • Employers are required to provide their workers with properly fitting protective eyewear - appropriate to the job and to ensure that workers use the eyewear. • Eye injuries happen when you least expect them – when you do a job that’ll only take a minute; when your safety glasses are 10 metres away; when the boss isn’t around and nobody will know you aren’t wearing your PPE. • Don’t risk it! Wear the correct PPE when the job needs it. 2 Evolve Safety – We cover Australia and want to manage WHS on your site – enquiries@evolve-safety. com

WHS. 1 – Eye Safety Eye injuries impact everyone, not just the injured worker. • Why is eye safety important? • WHS regulations require that employers provide a safe work environment, which includes supplying the appropriate personal protective eyewear. • For workers, eye injuries can lead to pain and discomfort, medical costs, lost work time, lost wages and even permanent disability. • For employers, eye injuries may impact on productivity and worker morale. An eye injury at work may severely impact daily living, family and recreational activities and one’s enjoyment of life. 3 Evolve Safety – We cover Australia and want to manage WHS on your site – enquiries@evolve-safety. com

WHS. 1 – Eye Safety Injury Statistics Each year, over 1400 Australian workers have a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. • Eye injuries are common in all industries, but workers in construction, mining, agriculture and manufacturing have the highest rates of eye injuries on the job. • From 1999 -2006, 24. 5% of eye injuries occurred whilst working for an income. • The most common diagnosis for eye-related injury and disease compensation claims was a foreign body in the eye. • The median time lost from work because of a foreign body in the eye in 2004– 05 was 1. 6 -1. 8 weeks. 4 Evolve Safety – We cover Australia and want to manage WHS on your site – enquiries@evolve-safety. com

WHS. 1 – Eye Safety Common Eye Injuries The most prevalent sources of eye injuries include the following: • Scrap materials, waste, and windblown dust. • Flying material particles or slivers from wood, metal and cement. • Chemicals or chemical products. • Falling or misdirected objects. • UV light from welding torches. • Additional risks exist from coolant and oil sprays and air supply lines 5 Evolve Safety – We cover Australia and want to manage WHS on your site – enquiries@evolve-safety. com

WHS. 1 – Eye Safety Common eye injuries (Continued) Swarf penetration injury Injury from wire wheel attachment ‘Arc Eye’ – sunburn to the cornea from welding 6 Injury from a chemical splash Foreign body in the eye from grinding Evolve Safety – We cover Australia and want to manage WHS on your site – enquiries@evolve-safety. com

WHS. 1 – Eye Safety The proper type of eye protection must be selected to match the type of hazard. The most common types of eye protection include the following: • Safety glasses with side protection shields - designed to withstand impact from common workplace hazards and to provide the minimum level of workplace protection. • Goggles – provide a tighter seal than glasses, against dust ingress. • Face shields - are used to protect the wearer’s face and eyes from dangers such as sparks or chemical splashes and can be used as a secondary barrier, in addition to goggles or safety glasses. • Welding helmets/goggles - protect the eyes from intense UV welding radiation, which can cause severe burns to the eye and surrounding tissue. 7 Evolve Safety – We cover Australia and want to manage WHS on your site – enquiries@evolve-safety. com
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