Eye Injuries and Protection

Approximately 2000 eye injuries occur everyday in the workplace (in the US). The construction Industry has one of the highest rates of injury. Common sources of injuries are from dust, metal, wood, slag, drywall, cement and other fine particles. Rebounding nails are also one of the most common causes of vision loss for construction workers. Wet or powdered cement in the eyes may cause chemical burns. Improper or non-existent eye protection when handling chemicals can also lead to chemical burns if splashes reach the eyes. Improper eye protection can lead to weld flash burns to eyes for welders, helpers and bystanders. Laser burns from cutting machines or surveying equipment can be another source of eye burns.

All injuries must be taken seriously, as even minor injuries can cause life-long vision problems. Suffering a simple scratch from sawdust, cement, or drywall could cause painful corneal erosion. Everyone working in or passing by a construction site must be aware of the risk, as dusty or windy conditions may lead to particles in the eyes. Coworkers may generate hazardous conditions that could cause eye injuries to others.

Even passing through an area where work is being performed may lead to eye injuries if the hazard isn't controlled. Machine guarding may prevent particles from becoming airborne. Weld curtains can protect bystanders from weld flash burns to the eyes. All workers in an area that may contain eye hazards must wear proper eye protection. The most common injuries to the eyes are from those who didn't think they needed eye protection.

All eye protection must have a “Z87” or “Z87+” mark along the frame or lens. Safe eye protection includes safety glasses (prescription or no-prescription), clear or tinted goggles, faceshields, welding helmets, and some full-face type respirators that meet the ANSI Z87.1 Eye and Face Protection Standard.

Safety glasses are the most common type of eye protection. Safety glasses are used as protection against impact. Side protection is required when hazards from flying objects are present. Most safety glasses include wrap around side shielding. Some safety glasses are made in different sizes to fit different shape faces. Some styles fit better than others. Safety glasses should fit snug against the face to provide the best protection. Face shields provide protection from impact to the face, but not the eyes. Safety glasses must be worn underneath a face shield.

Goggles provide more protection than safety glasses. Goggles are used for higher impact protection, greater particle protection, chemical splashes, and welding light protection. Goggles with direct venting (small holes around the sides) tend to fog less, but should not be used with liquid or fine dust hazards. Goggles for splash or high dust protection should have indirect venting.

Tinted safety glasses used in torch soldering must have a shade number (1.5-3) on the lens, but do not provide adequate protection for gas or arc welding which need shades 4 or higher (the shade number is marked on the lens and shows how dark the lens is). Welding goggles with shade numbers 4-8, must be used for gas welding or cutting. Welding helmets are needed for all arc welding requiring shade numbers 10-14. Safety glasses must be worn underneath welding helmets.

More information can be found here:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/default.html

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/eyechecklist.html

http://www.safetyequipment.org/eyeface.htm

http://www.elcosh.org/docs/d0100/d000018/d000018.html

http://www.elcosh.org/docs/d0500/d000553/d000553.html

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/eyefaceprotection/index.html