March is national workplace eye wellness month. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health there are about 2,000 work related eye injuries that occur each day requiring medical treatment. The majority of these injuries could have been prevented with proper eyewear and safety precautions. The two main reasons why work related injuries occur are: the person is not wearing eye protection and if they were wearing eye protection they were wearing the incorrect type for the situation. The most common injuries that occur are: chemical burns, scratched corneas, metal, wood or plastic foreign bodies, infectious diseases, and radiation exposure from ultraviolet or infrared wavelengths. It is very important to follow the safety protocol provided by the employer to ensure proper safety eyewear is used. The Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an organization that requires one to use face and eye protection when there is a possibility of injury that could be prevented with the proper protective equipment. Ask your employer about the OSHA standards for the recommended safety eyewear for your environment as different eyewear is often needed for different situations. For example: those who work in an environment where blood splatter or needles are used it is very important to wear protective eyewear as infectious diseases can be transferred by a membrane on the eye. Splash shield or goggles are very important for those working with chemicals and solutions that could cause a chemical burn if it came in contact with the eyes. If an injury does occur to the eye(s) seek immediate care from your eyecare practitioner. Your eye care practitioner will help you obtain the proper eyewear for your job needs. Dr. Cody Jones will be happy to answer any questions regarding proper safety eyewear. Furthermore, it is important to have yearly comprehensive eye exams to screen for any sight threatening diseases that may be occurring in the eyes. At these exams Dr. Jones will make sure you have the proper safety eyewear for your job to help prevent any potential injuries. To make an appointment or if you have any questions call Complete Family Eye Care at (208) 785-7274 and our staff will be happy to help you!
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 17:24:16 +0000
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