Protecting Your Eyes

Protecting Your Eyes

Eye Wellness in the Workplace

Our eyes can be exposed to various hazards on the job—from digital screen strain to chemical splashes and airborne debris.

A 2023 report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) revealed 13 million people around the world have impaired vision “linked to their work” and that 3.5 million eye injuries occur on the job each year.

Whether you work behind a desk or out on the shop floor, taking care of your eyes is imperative. This guide provides strategies for eye protection by reducing workplace hazards and implementing safety measures. By understanding risk factors and applying proper controls, employees and employers can create a safer work environment.

 

Protecting Employees

Employers have a responsibility to protect their workers from known hazards, including hazards to eye health. They can do this by:

• Making employees aware of hazards. Through proper training and signage, employers should ensure workers know about the objects, chemicals, and other hazards that could damage their eyes and the proper precautions to take.

• Having eyewash stations readily available and training employees in basic first-aid so they can respond in the event of an eye injury.

• Following the hierarchy of controls to mitigate hazards to eye health.
  • Eliminate any hazards that are not necessary to the work, for example, removing a hazardous chemical that can damage the eyes.
  • Substitute hazardous materials with safer ones, for example, switching from a high-volatility cleaning solvent to a less volatile one to reduce eye irritation.
  • Use engineering controls to separate workers from the hazard, for example, installing machine guards or protective barriers to shelter them from flying debris.
  • Use administrative controls to change the way work is done, for example, implementing an eye safety training program.
  • Provide workers with properly fitted PPE and train them to use it properly, for example, UV-protection safety glasses for workers exposed to bright light.

Employers can also offer routine vision testing for their workers to help identify any problems with sight. Some of these suggestions and more are outlined in Prevent Blindness America’s 10 Ways to Prevent Occupational Eye Injuries.

 

More on Eye Protection

Eye injuries in the workplace often result from hazards such as projectiles, dust, or harmful substances. Workers should wear proper PPE that fits and that meets ANSI or ISO standards. Types of eye protection include:

• Safety glasses, which feature stronger lenses and frames than typical eyeglasses, may include side shields, and protect against hazards such as dust and flying particles.

• Goggles, which are impact-resistant and shield the eye in all directions, offering protection from dust, chemicals, and projectiles.

• Face shields, which cover the full face but should be worn over safety glasses or goggles, protecting against chemicals, bloodborne pathogens, and heat.

 

Even at Your Desk

As innocuous as it may seem, even desk work poses a threat to the eyes. When your work requires staring at a screen for long stretches, consider the following steps to protect against digital eye strain, which can account for symptoms such as blurred vision, dry eyes, and headaches.

• Take regular breaks, following the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, stop looking at your screen, find an object 20 feet away, and stare at it for 20 seconds. This can reduce strain on your eyes from prolonged focus on the screen.

• Set up your workstation properly. Position the top of your screen at or slightly below the level of your eyes. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends sitting arm’s length (or about 25 inches) away from your screen.

• Optimize your screen experience. Adjust the brightness and contrast on your screen to a comfortable level for your eyes, and limit other bright lights in the room to reduce glare on your screen.

• Consider computer glasses. Also known as blue light glasses, these filter out blue light emitted from your computer screen and other devices to reduce digital eye strain.

And, of course, don’t forget to blink! The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports an individuals’ number of blinks per minute may be reduced by as much as two-thirds while using digital devices. Reminding yourself to blink regularly can help to prevent dry eyes. You can also use artificial tears to moisturize your eyes.

Whatever the type of work you do, your eye health is of the utmost importance both on and off the job. Consider the eye health hazards that exist at your workplace and how you can best protect yourself and others. By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide you can better promote eye wellness.

 

Tags: Eye Wellness Eye Protection Eye Health Impaired Vision Workplace Eye Injuries ILO IAPB AAO

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