RJ Sullivan

Eye Injuries at Work - What to Do When it Happens

Over one million people have eye injuries at work every year.  It's imperative for everyone to know how eye injuries occur and what to do immediately after an injury occurs.

Over one million people suffer eye injuries at work every single year and of those one million 100,000 injuries are debilitating. The eye is an extremely soft, sensitive part of our bodies and needs to be taken care of so that injuries can be avoided. However, when injuries do happen it's critical to know the steps to minimize the effect of the injury.

Eyestrain

To help prevent eye strain re-focus your eyes at a different distance every hour. However, this might not be enough. Many times dust and pollen get in the eye. When this happens - do not rub the eye. Pull the eyelid down and out to dislodge the material. Use a handkerchief if needed to gently loosen the particle. It's also ok to rinse the eye at a faucet or at an eye wash station. If a particle embeds in the eye, bandage it and get medical attention immediately.

Chemical Splashes

Immediately, go to the nearest faucet or eye wash station, spread the eyelid open and let the water flow over the affected area. Be careful not to let the water flow to an unaffected area like the other eye. Continue to rinse for 15-20 minutes and then immediately get medical attention.

Light

If you work with welding torches, lasers or sun lamps you can be especially affected by light. Infrared radiation and intense light can cause burns on the cornea and ultraviolet light can cause changes with the eye. Many times the affects aren't apparent until 6-12 hours after exposure. You may notice a roughness in the eye or blurred vision, pain and unusual sensitivity. The best policy for light is to make sure that you take precautions like personal protective equipment in the first place. Once a burn occurs to the retina, the injury is permanent. However, corneal burns usually heal in a few days. If you experience a burn or injury due to light, stop immediately and get medical attention. Recognizing it early will help save you from a lifetime of hardship.

Getting medical attention immediately is of utmost importance in all eye injuries. Make sure that you and everyone in your organization has the appropriate eye safety training to reduce injuries. Although this article provides tips for eye injuries it is no substitute for the proper training or the advice of a doctor. Don't be one of the 100,000 people who suffer permanent debilitating injuries to their eyes every year.

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