An Introduction To Workplace Eye Hazards

• August 19, 2020
• Posted By worksafe_admin

Why should I use safety eyewear?

Is there anything so important, yet so fragile, as the eye?

Those two balls of jelly allow us access into a world of colour and light.

Unfortunately, many people take them for granted and it shows. More than 20,000 workplace eye injuries occur every year in the United States, and the OSHA estimates that such injuries cost more than $300 million every year in lost productivity and costs!

You may think it won’t happen to you, but wouldn’t you rather avoid accidents that could have been easily prevented?

That’s why we should wear the right safety eyewear for the job, which can prevent more than 90% of all serious eye injuries.

When a stray piece of gravel can disable someone’s vision for life, investing in safety eyewear makes a whole lot of sense.

I do deskbound work. Am I safe?

Work-related eye injuries are not limited to physical impact! Computer screens radiate fatiguing blue light, leading to strained and fatigued workers.

Digital displays reduce our blink rate by as much as 50%, leading to sore, parched and red eyes. Over time, these injuries can have serious effects on our well-being!

We may experience a decrease in sleep quality, headaches or even a decrease in mental vivacity. So yes, deskbound workers need eye protection that’s especially suited to their working conditions.

What’s the standard to meet?

The American National Standards Institute created the ANSI Z87.1 standard, which contains rigorous criteria for safety eyewear durability.

When you buy safety eyewear, make sure the lens or frame is marked with ANSI Z87.1. Don’t settle for anything less!

How does safety eyewear help?

Safety eyewear has several advantages that dramatically reduce the odds of serious eye injury.

1. They act as a physical shield that prevents small particles from entering our eyes
2. They can be heat resistant, protecting our eyes from sparks and flames
3. They can be chemical resistant, shielding our eyes from stray splashes.
4. They can be treated with a filter that blocks harmful blue light.