Eye injuries in the workplace come from a variety of hazards, including flying objects, chemical fumes, physically rough irritants, as well as exposure to damaging environmental factors such as chemical fumes and ultraviolet radiation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 2,000 work-related injuries requiring medical attention are reported in the U.S. every day. With a total of about 800,000 eye injuries occurring on the job each year, 36,000 of which lead to lost time at work and 300,000 that lead to emergency room visits, the problem has serious implications for workers and businesses. Workers sustaining eye injuries on the job are entitled to receive benefits through workers’ compensation.
What are the Circumstances or Work Settings that Influence Workplace Eye Injuries?
Eye injuries can happen in any work setting, but some industries are more prone to them. Jobs that involve physical labor or heavy-duty tools leave their employees more susceptible to eye injuries than many other fields. Some of the industries that most commonly report employee eye injuries include the following:
- Construction trades
- Manufacturing jobs
- Production industry
- Transportation industry
- Shipyard jobs
- Longshore work
- Service sector
What Types of Eye Injuries are Among the Most Common in a Work Setting?
Eye injuries happen when any foreign particle or substance enters the eye, from microscopic airborne particles to large pieces of flying debris. Even invisible and nearly undetectable chemical fumes can damage eyes and threaten a person’s future eye health. The most common causes of on-the-job eye injuries include the following:
Irritation. When dust or other small particles travel through the air, they can get into someone’s eyes and cause huge amounts of damage that belie the small size of the irritant. A sharp or rough bit of cement, metal, glass, or wood can scratch the surface of a person’s eye.
Infection. A small cut seems like it should heal easily, but on top of the discomfort and damage of the irritant, an open abrasion can allow an infection to take hold.
Blunt trauma. Eyes are delicate and vulnerable to serious injury. Some active workplaces present a danger of being hit with a flying object. If a person directly receives a blow to the face or is struck in the eye, their eyesight can be permanently damaged.
Lacerations. Workplace accidents can result in cuts or punctures to a worker’s eye. These injuries must be addressed immediately and will likely require extensive medical attention.
Chemical burns. Direct contact with workplace chemicals such as caustic industrial acids and even some cleaning products is known to be dangerous to skin and lungs, but serious eye injuries can also be caused by these harsh chemicals. The fumes that are released into the air are not only absorbed by the lungs when breathing, but they are also capable of stinging the eyes and causing vision problems. One particular problem with these chemical irritations is that they may not be apparent right away, which might otherwise serve as a warning for people to cease the task at hand or leave the contaminated atmosphere to reduce their exposure. The physical response to exposure may not take place until it is too late.
Ultraviolet radiation exposure. Workers exposed to sunlight or artificial sources of ultraviolet light can suffer from eye diseases or disorders as a result. High levels of exposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause cataracts, squamous cell carcinoma of the eye, and pterygium, which is an abnormal eye tissue growth. Workers who perform their jobs outdoors are at risk of exposure to excessive sunlight, but indoor use of lasers, germicidal lamps, or welding arcs cause similar issues.
Are These Eye Injuries Preventable?
With the proper precautions taken by employers to ensure safety procedures are in place and protective equipment is available and employed, most workplace eye injuries can be prevented. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), proper selection and use of eye and face protection would prevent thousands of eye injuries that occur annually in work settings.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests that a lack of appropriate protective eyewear is the problem, estimating that using such equipment would prevent more than 90 percent of serious eye injuries.
What are the Business Costs Associated with Preventable Eye Injuries?
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that eye injuries cost about $300 billion every year from lost productivity, workers’ compensation claims, and other related expenses.
What Actions Should be Taken to Avoid Eye Injuries in the Workplace?
Strategies recommended to employers to prevent eye injuries at work include the following:
- Execute an eye hazard assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities.
- Provide employees with protective eyewear that meets industry standards for safety.
- Ensure that employees at risk for eye injuries because of their jobs consistently wear protection, such as safety glasses or goggles appropriate for the tasks they performing.
- Train employees in eye safety protocols and other safety measures.
- Remind employees of eye safety with intermittent recaps and posted signs and safety posters.
- Post warning notices to bring people’s attention to any imminent eye-related dangers present when hazardous work is being performed in the area.
- Set up an eye wash station and ensure that workers are aware of its location and how to use it.
- Encourage all staff to notify management if a safety hazard is discovered.
- Urge employees to receive routine eye examinations to ensure any problems are caught early.
- Ensure that employees who wear glasses have protection that fits well with their glasses, or that they are provided with prescription glasses or goggles to wear instead.
- Make efforts to educate workers of the dangers of removing uncomfortable or ill-fitting protective eyewear; ideally, provide alternatives that work better.
- Educate employees about the chemicals on site that are hazardous and can cause eye damage, demonstrating how to handle and store them safely.
- Require employees to engage safety mechanisms on any tools or equipment that may present a danger of an eye injury.
What Should be Done in the Event of a Workplace Eye Injury?
When an eye injury occurs at work, the first concern should be to obtain appropriate medical attention. Some eye injuries are more obvious than others, but an injury to this sensitive area should be addressed as soon as symptoms arise.
Once the immediate medical needs are addressed, the incident that caused the injury should be brought up with a manager. The report should be in writing that indicates the date of the reporting as well as the date and details of the incident and the injury. Technically, an injured worker has two years from the onset of symptoms to file a claim, but filing as early as possible is always recommended.
The manager or human resources contact will take steps to file an injury report to notify the company’s workers’ compensation insurance provider. The insurer must reach out to the injured employee in a timely fashion to inform them of their rights and coverage, or lack thereof.
Are the Services of a Lawyer Needed for a Work-Related Eye Injury?
When an eye injury happens at work, workers’ compensation is supposed to cover the claim and provide benefits to help the employee as they recover, or to support ongoing care. Sometimes, however, the employer or the insurance company will deny the claim or offer only a minimum amount of coverage, which may be insufficient to cover the losses involved.
It can be extremely beneficial for an injured worker in that circumstance to engage the services of a lawyer to protect their rights and ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve.
Cherry Hill Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Pietras Saracino Smith & Meeks, LLP, Help Injured Employees Obtain Benefits after a Work Accident
Workers who become injured in an accident on the job should be able to collect workers’ compensation benefits to help with the costs of their medical treatments and recovery as well as payments for income they lost while unable to return to work after the incident. The Cherry Hill workers’ compensation lawyers at Pietras Saracino Smith & Meeks, LLP, can take on insurance companies and employers that attempt to deny the coverage that is rightfully yours to claim. Call us today at 856-761-3773 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, we serve clients in Camden, Cinnaminson, Delran, Maple Shade, Pennsauken, and throughout South Jersey.
