Prevention of Eye Injuries at Work

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Eye MD Association are observing Eye Safety Month in March to raise awareness of the need to reduce eye injuries in the workplace. The Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyers of Parsons Law Group hope to see more initiatives to improve eye safety at worksites.

Workplace safety efforts tend to center on preventing falls and exposure to toxic substances. But Prevent Blindness America says that as many as 2,000 workers sustain eye injuries every day in this country. Of those injuries, approximately 10 to 20 percent are disabling and result in temporary or permanent loss of vision.

Workers in Atlanta run the risk of all types of eye injuries. Pieces of metal, flint, wood shavings or other debris can fly into a person’s eye on a job site. Toxic chemicals or acids can splash into a worker’s eyes. And nail guns are a major hazard, injuring hundreds of workers every year.

Prevention of eye injuries is simple and involves the use of appropriate eye protection gear. Employers must provide eye protection equipment, depending on the type of hazards that workers are subjected to. For instance, someone working with chemicals can wear a face shield to help reduce the risk of injuries.

It’s important for employers to make sure that their employees have access to eye protection gear, as well as eye washing stations that are located appropriately. Employers must also make sure that workers are aware of how to use the eye protection equipment properly.

Michael Parsons is an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer, representing injured workers in the metro Atlanta region and helping them recover the workers’ compensation benefits that they deserve.