Safety Rules to Prevent Workplace Eye Injuries
Factory and construction site workers are at serious risk of eye injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 2,000 employees sustain eye injuries on the job every day.
Workplace Eye Injuries
The most common types of eye injuries include:
- Penetration. Sharp objects such as nails and staples can penetrate the eye, resulting in permanent vision loss.
- Chemical burns. Industrial chemicals and caustic cleaning products can lead to chemical burns in one or both eyes.
- Impacts and scrapes. Most eye injuries occur when small objects or particles, such as dust or pieces of metal, scrape or hit the eyes.
- Thermal burns. Welders are at risk of thermal burns, which can cause ocular injury and damage to the surrounding tissue.
Employer Responsibilities
Employers are responsible for instituting safety procedures and providing equipment to prevent worker injuries, including damage to the eyes.
- Conduct a hazard assessment. This includes an eye risk assessment to identify hazards from nearby workers, heavy equipment, and falling or unstable objects.
- Eliminate hazards. Employers should install appropriate work screens and machine guarding to keep bystanders away from hazardous areas and dangerous equipment. They should also ensure that tools are functioning properly and that all safety features are operational.
- Provide proper eye protection. Employers should equip workers with the correct type of eye protection for their workplace environment. Employees exposed to dust or flying objects need safety glasses with side shields. Workers using chemicals should wear goggles, and welders require helmets or face shields.
Receiving Compensation
Employers often fail to provide proper safety equipment and eye protection, endangering the health of their workers. If you’ve suffered work-related eye injuries, you’re entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. In Texas, employers who don’t subscribe to the workers’ compensation system may be sued by injured workers.
To receive the compensation you deserve, you need representation by an experienced attorney. To learn more, contact the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., by clicking the Live Chat button on this page.