Work-related eye injuries continue to remain problem in the Australian workforce. While most of the injuries that occur appear to be relatively minor, in severe cases, workplace eye injuries can result in trauma, vision loss and even blindness. Many industrial and commercial jobs require skillsets and tasks that can put the eyes in danger. Fortunately, preventing eye injuries is possible by following specific safety measures and enabling best safety practices. Read on to learn about five simple things you can do to protect your eyes at work.
1. Wear Protective Eyewear That Is Appropriate For Your Work Conditions
Proper wearing of personal protective eyewear that best suits your work conditions is by far one of the best ways to keep your eyes safe.
There are a wide variety of eye protection options, including:
Low impact protection – safety glasses, safety glasses with side shields, safety clip-ons, eye cup goggles, wide vision goggles, eye shields and face shields. Used for tasks including chipping, riveting, spalling, hammering, and managing a strap under tension.
Medium impact protection – safety glasses with side shields, safety clip-ons, eye cup goggles, wide vision goggles, eye shields and face shields. For tasks including scaling, grinding, and machining metals, some woodworking tasks, stone dressing, wire handling and brick cutting. Choose items marked with the letter ‘I’ to signify it is appropriate for medium impact protection.
High impact protection – face shields marked with the Australian Standards mark, and with the letter ‘V’ signify it is appropriate for high impact protection. For tasks involving explosive power tools and nail guns.
Welding protection – filters and face shields should have the Australian Standards mark.
Chemical handling – wide-vision goggles, eye shields or face shields marked the letter ‘C’ will signify it is splashproof and appropriate for chemical handling.
Dust – goggles marked with the letter ‘D’ will signify it is appropriate for protection against dust.
All workplaces are required to provide the necessary protective eyewear for their employees to safely perform their tasks. If you are unsure of the eyewear protection you need, consult your employer, WorkSafe or a trusted Optometrist. Fremantle is home to Abernethy Owens, and our experienced staff can help recommend the best ways to protect your eyes in your workplace.
2. Eliminate Hazards
A workplace environment where safety is a top priority will encourage workers to reduce and avoid hazards. Many workplaces involve hazards of all kinds, to reduce the risk of eye injury it’s important to control potential hazards and eliminate them where possible. Some suggestions may include:
- Replace high-risk equipment and toxic chemicals with safer alternatives wherever possible.
- Isolate high-risk equipment to a particular area.
- Install safety barriers.
- Ensure all safety devices, including guards or shields, are in good working order.
- Clearly label areas and equipment that require eye protection.
- Use water to dampen dusty environments.
- Manage fumes or dust with extractor fans.
3. Regularly Inspect Protective Gear
Safety eyewear must be regularly checked for any of the below signs of wear and damage:
- Cracks, holes, or scratches.
- Damage to the frames, nose pieces, body, and side shields.
- Tears in goggle seals.
- Headbands becoming loose.
All damaged or worn-out protective eyewear should be replaced immediately.
4. Practise Proper Hand Hygiene
The best way to protect your eyes from contaminants, in addition to protective eyewear, is to always wash your hands before touching your eyes. While your hands may tolerate a wide variety of pollutants, your eyes are a lot more sensitive. Pollutants and irritants can accumulate on your hands and under your nails easily while performing certain jobs, washing them thoroughly will remove any potentially harmful particles so they won’t accidentally touch your eyes. If you work with chemicals, dust, wood, metal, or aerosols, make a habit of washing your hands as soon as you finish working to reduce the risk of eye irritation.
5. Have an Emergency Eye Wash Station
In every workplace where there is the potential for eye injuries, there should be accessible eyewash stations near hazardous areas. Flushing out the eyes immediately after they have come in contact with chemicals or other pollutants can reduce the severity of the injury and even prevent severe long-term damage from occurring.
Most eye injuries that occur in the workplace are preventable. Don’t risk eye trauma or blindness, ensure you follow these simple safety tips to protect your eyes and your vision.
Need More Advice?
Abernethy Owens are independent optometrists with five practices throughout Perth. You will receive professional service from highly qualified staff from start to finish. Whether you need a routine eye examination or friendly advice on eye injury prevention, book an appointment online or call us today on 1800 411 744