Essential Eye Safety Tips for the Workplace
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Healthy Vision in the Workplace
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Essential Eye Safety Tips for the Workplace
- 1. Healthy Vision in the Workplace Produced by the American Optometric Association
- 2. Healthy Vision in the Workplace • Eye safety statistics • Types of eye hazards • Types of eye protection
- 3. Eye Safety Statistics • According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), every day nearly 2,000 U.S. workers sustain job-related, vision threatening eye injuries that require medical attention.
- 4. Eye Safety Statistics • Approximately 60 percent of workers with eye injuries in a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) study were not wearing the proper protective eyewear at the time of their injury.
- 5. Types of Eye Hazards • Foreign bodies • Eye Strain • Ultra-violet radiation
- 6. Foreign Bodies in the Eye • The BLS study reported that 94 percent of the eye injuries which occurred while a worker was wearing protection were caused by sparks, debris or chemicals striking the eye from around or under the protective shield.
- 7. Foreign Bodies in the Eye • Nearly 70 percent of the eye injuries reported in the BLS study came from flying debris, sparks and small objects striking the eye. • Most of the objects were smaller than a pin head.
- 8. Protective Eyewear • Protective eyewear needs to be properly fitted to be effective. • Training employees on the proper use of protective eyewear can reduce workplace eye injuries.
- 9. Protective Eyewear • Safety Glasses • Goggles • Face Shields and Helmets
- 10. Safety Glasses • Safety glasses may look like normal eyewear, however they are designed to provide much more protection.
- 11. Safety Glasses • Lenses and frames are much stronger than regular glasses and are constructed to prevent the lenses from shattering or being pushed toward the eyes.
- 12. Safety Glasses • Those working in an area that have the danger of small particles, flying objects or dust should have the wraparound- style of safety glasses or use side shields.
- 13. Goggles • Goggles with polycarbonate or Trivex® lenses are highly impact resistant and provide protection from dust and chemical splashes.
- 14. Goggles • They cover a large area around the eyes and protect against hazards from any direction. • Goggles can be worn over prescription glasses and contact lenses.
- 15. Face Shields & Helmets • These secondary protectors do not provide adequate protection alone and should always be used with primary eye protection devices such as safety glasses and goggles.
- 16. Eye Safety in the Workplace • Employers are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to provide face and eye protection to workers at risk for job-related eye injuries.
- 17. • Eye strain is the most common eye problem for those who use computers frequently at work. Eye Strain
- 18. Eye Strain • Computer use requires specific vision skills that require additional demands on the visual system and contribute to eye and vision discomfort.
- 19. Eye Strain • Ocular motility • Accommodation • Vergence
- 20. Eye Strain • Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is the complex of eye vision problems related to near work that are experienced during or related to computer use.
- 21. • The use of hand-held devices such as ‘smart phones’ and PDA’s can also cause eye strain. Eye Strain & Hand-held Devices
- 22. Prolonged usage of these devices may lead to a host of issues: • Eyestrain • Headaches • Burning or tired eyes • Loss of focus • Blurred or double vision • Neck & shoulder pain Eye Strain & Hand-held Devices
- 23. Ease the Strain • Give it a rest • Size up • Sharpen up • Reduce glare
- 24. Ease the Strain • Look down • Think blink • Diet and nutrition
- 25. Ultra-Violet Radiation • Exposure to the sun’s ultra-violet (UV) radiation can damage the eyes.
- 26. Ultra-Violet Radiation • Non-solar sources of UV radiation include: • Arc welding • Curing of paints and inks • Disinfection of equipment in hospitals and laboratories
- 27. Ultra-Violet Protection • Wear protective eyewear any time the eyes are exposed to UV rays. • Choose quality sunglasses that block out 99 -100 percent of UV radiation and screen out 75 – 90 percent of visible light. • Clear lenses can be treated with a coating to protect eyes from UV.
- 28. New occupational tasks can result in new vision needs. • A change in one’s job tasks may require different focusing abilities. This is especially true for workers over 40 years old, whose eyes are susceptible to presbyopia, a natural loss of focusing ability.
- 29. Eye Safety at Home & Play • Many people are conditioned to wear protective eyewear at work, but forget to wear it at home and during recreational activities such as: • Yard work • Hammering • Wood working • Grinding • Playing sports – baseball, hockey, golf
- 30. In Conclusion… Eye safety in the workplace is proven to prevent loss of vision. To further ensure healthy vision be sure contact your optometrist to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.
- 31. Questions?
- 32. Thank You!
Editor's Notes
- Thank you for having me speak to your group. March is Save Your Vision Month. This is an annual campaign that helps to raise awareness of the importance of regular, comprehensive eye exams and offers suggestions on how to maintain good eye health. Today, I will be speaking on Healthy Vision in the Workplace. It doesn’t matter if you work in an industrial setting or an office setting – good vision, healthy eyes and proper eye safety are important.
- Some of the topics we will cover today include: some important statistics on eye safety go over the different types of potential eye hazards that you may come in contact with while on the job and the different types of protection available Please feel free to ask questions as we go through the information.
- There are a variety of hazards, accidents and activities that lead to eye injuries including chemical, grease or oil splashes, burns from steam, flying chips of wood or metal, eye strain and ultra-violet or infrared radiation.
- Objects in the eye often cause minor irritations but there is a risk of more severe damage if the eye receives cuts or scrapes.
- There is a solution to prevention and avoiding eye injuries. Experts agree that 90 percent of all eye injuries in the workplace could be prevented by wearing properly designed and fitted protective eyewear. A large majority of employers provide protective eye equipment to employees. However, a much smaller portion of employers provide training for the proper use of eyewear. Employers may choose to implement a Vision Conservation Program to administer all aspects of eye safety. Vision conservation programs are most successful when occupational health, safety officers, industrial hygiene and optometric professionals are included.
- When it comes to protective eyewear, no one size or style fits everyone. Just as you need to be properly fitted for prescription eyeglass or contact lenses, protective eyewear also needs to be fitted and designed to match the hazards. What type of protection best suits the task or tasks can be determined through a hazard assessment for each activity.
- Safety glasses shield the eyes from front and side impact. The lenses and frames used for safety glasses are much stronger than regular eyeglasses and are constructed to prevent the lenses from shattering or being pushed toward the eyes. Safety lenses are available in glass, plastic, polycarbonate and Trivex® materials. All four types must meet or exceed the minimum requirements for protecting your eyes – however, polycarbonate and Trivex® lenses provide the highest level of protection from impact. Safety glasses must meet the rigid standards of the American National Standards Institute. Look for the ANSI Z87.1 mark on the lens or frame.
- Similar to safety glasses – safety goggles with polycarbonate or Trivex® lenses are highly impact resistant. Safety goggles provide protection from dust and chemical splashes.
- Safety goggles differ from safety glasses in that goggles proved complete eye coverage with a sealed rim around the eyes.
- Face shields and helmets are not protective eyewear and must be worn with safety glasses or goggles. Full face shields are used to protect workers exposed to chemicals, heat or blood borne pathogens. Wearing safety glasses or goggles under face shields also provides protection when the shield is lifted. Helmets are used when welding or working with molten materials.
- According to the American Optometric Association’s 2009 American Eye-Q® survey, more than four out of five Americans spend time in front of their computer or hand-held devices. Eye strain is the most common eye problem for those who use computers frequently at work.
- Any computer use requires specific vision skills that place extra demands on the visual system and contribute to eye and vision discomfort.
- Such visual skills include: Ocular motility – which is the ability of the eyes to move in various positions Accommodation – the ability of the eyes to focus clearly at various distances Vergence – the ability to move the eyes in or out
- The American Optometric Association defines Computer Vision Syndrome or CVS as: the complex of eye vision problems related to near work that are experienced during or related to computer use. CVS is characterized by visual symptoms which result from interaction with a computer display or its environment. In most cases, the symptoms occur because the visual demands of the task or tasks are greater than the visual abilities of the individual. For those parents in the room, I would like to note that CVS is not restricted to adults. Children are also spending more and more time in front of computers and using hand-held devices. They can experience CVS too!
- Until recently, most Americans dealt with eye strain only as it related to their computer screens. While smart phones, PDAs and other hand-held gadgets may be great time-saving devices, the users are experiencing additional vision and other problems. Additionally, the Eye-Q survey revealed that 42 percent spent three or more hours a day looking at a computer or hand-held device.
- Here are some ways to ease the eye strain that results from using the computer and hand-held devices. Give it a rest – Whether you are working at a computer or from your PDA - remember the 20-20-20 rule. At least every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and view something 20 feet away. Size up – The smaller screens on hand-held devices usually have tiny type that forces squinting and bringing the screen closer to the eyes taxes the visual system. Try increasing the font size so the device can be held at a more comfortable distance. Sharpen up – Most hand-held devices allow users to adjust both the screen resolution and contrast. Avoid using in bright light, which reduces contrast. Also, the brightness of a computer monitor should be adjusted based on the brightness of the surrounding area. Reduce glare – When possible, try to make sure lighting is not directly behind or in front of the head. Reducing glare eases reading and may make a bigger difference than increasing the type size.
- Look down – Just as on a computer screen, it's easier on the eyes to focus on reading material that is below eye level. Keep your hand-held device positioned so that you are viewing it below eye level. Think blink – People tend to blink less frequently when viewing a computer screen (and hand-held devices). Blinking is a natural way to help moisten the eyes and prevents dryness and irritation. Diet and nutrition – Numerous studies have shown how diet and supplements can improve vision. The Omega 3’s in flaxseed and fish oil supplements improve long-term lubrication for the eyes.
- Most of you are well aware of the harm the sun’s ultra-violet or UV radiation can do to your skin. However, exposure to UV radiation can also harm the eyes and affect vision. The longer the eyes are exposed to UV radiation, the greater the risk of developing later in life conditions such as cataracts or macular degeneration. While those who work outdoors are most likely to be affected by long-term exposure to UV radiation, others may also be exposed to non-solar sources.
- Since it is unclear how much exposure to UV radiation will cause damage – it is recommended that you wear quality sunglasses that offer UV protection whenever you spend time outdoors – that includes cloudy days and even in the winter. When selecting sunglasses choose those that: block our 99-100 percent of UV radiation screen out 75-90 percent of visible light Are perfectly matched in color and are free of distortion and imperfection Have gray lenses for proper color recognition Again – the lenses in sunglasses should be made from polycarbonate or Trivex® material if you participate in potentially eye hazardous work.
- It is also important to note that a change in one’s job tasks may require different focusing abilities. Those workers who recently received new job duties may experience some changes in their vision. This is especially true for those over 40 years whose eye are susceptible to presbyopia which is the natural loss of focusing ability.
- I have been talking about eye safety in the workplace and it is, indeed, a very important topic. However, I would like to take a moment to remind you that eye safety should also be practiced at home and during recreational activities. Protective eyewear should be worn while doing the following activities: Yard work Home improvement projects such as – woodworking, hammering and grinding And when playing sports – for example – baseball, hockey and golf.