Once the eyes are injured, it may not be possible to recover your vision completely or at all. Minor damage can be fixed in many cases, but others whose eyes are hurt at work and other locations might never regain their sight. This is why it is critical to protect your eyes when working at home or at your place of employment.
What Should I Know About Protecting My Eyes?
Accidental eye injuries are a leading cause of visual impairment in this country, and men are more likely to experience eye injuries than women. Some of the leading causes for eye injuries are exposure to acids, workshop debris, consumer fireworks, chemicals, and construction accidents. Your eyes could also be damaged by foreign bodies, dust, and even the sun.
Always wear a pair of safety goggles when working with chemicals and cleaning agents. Keep them on if you are in a workshop, and when performing lawn work. Construction laborers should always have on goggles when using power and manual tools like saws and drills. Not all employers provide this protective eyewear, and it is often best to get your own as long as they conform to eye safety wear guidelines. The American National Standards Institute/International Safety Equipment Association standards for eye and face protection is an excellent resource for this, and covers eye protection for the most common job hazards.
Why Are Construction Workers Exposed to More Eye Hazards?
Every year, more than 10,600 construction workers suffer eye injuries that force them to miss work. This is not surprising as many of the tools referred to earlier often have points and sharp edges that can impact the eyes. Airborne dust, dirt, small metal shavings, small rocks, and other debris can also blow through the air and into the eyes, and are generally found at most construction sites. Work like sanding, sawing, and chiseling only increases the amount of contaminants in the air.
Construction equipment like welding tools, blowtorches, and furnaces create extreme temperatures, with resulting sparks and heat that can injure the eyes. Another hazard on construction sites is the different chemicals that are often used, like fuels and acids. If these kinds of chemicals penetrate the eyes, they can lead to permanent injuries (including blindness) and fatalities. The fumes they produce can also hamper your ability to see temporarily or forever. Yet even with these dangers present, many workers might not wear appropriate eye protection or have it on at all.
How Can I Prevent Eye Injuries at Work?
Wearing protective goggles is key for preventing work-related eye injuries, but other preventative measures should also be taken. Supervisors should carry out comprehensive safety reviews of work environments, including the potentials for falling objects, chemical spills, airborne hazards, and debris. They can also ensure that all the workers wear their goggles when needed, and not allow them to complete their work if they refuse to do so. Employee training is very important for eye safety, and can also focus on maintaining safe distances from hazards and restricting access to certain areas. Here are a few more safety tips:
- Employees who work outdoors should wear sunglasses with 97 to 100 percent UV protection to protect their vision
- Safety gear like protective eyewear should be stored in clean, secure locations away from sunlight and anything else that could hamper their effectiveness
- Goggles should be cleaned regularly and replaced as needed
- Sharing eyewear is never a good idea, as it could easily lead to eye infections and diseases.
As a final precaution, be sure to have your eyes examined every one or two years. Not only is this important for disease prevention and detection, it is needed for vision corrections through glasses and contact lenses. Remember, if you cannot see well at home or work, you could easily walk into something and get hurt; proper vision is also essential for other tasks like driving.
What Should I Do if My Eyes are Injured at Work?
It is important to seek help immediately if your eyes have been injured, no matter where you are: If left untreated, an eye injury could lead to low vision, complete blindness, and other issues. If a sharp object has gotten stuck in the eye, never attempt to remove as that could cause further damage. Call for emergency services, and leave the object where it is until they arrive.
When irritants like chemicals are in the eyes, they can be flushed out with clean water. Many construction sites have eye wash stations for this very reason, and employees should be trained on how to use them. They offer on-the-spot decontamination, and the first 10 to 15 seconds after being exposed to a dangerous substance (corrosive ones in particular) are critical; do not delay treatment. If your eye has a foreign substance that proves irritating, do not rub it either; flush it out as soon as possible.
Can I Be Compensated for My Work-Related Eye Injuries?
While every situation is different, employers are legally responsible for giving their workers reasonably safe job sites. If and when they are found to be at fault, there are state laws that allow compensation for those who are injured. Many employees claim eye injuries on workers’ compensation claims, but sometimes the benefits are not enough to cover the medical bills, rehabilitation, assistive devices, lost time from work, pain, suffering, and other damages. In other cases, the claims are denied.
If you accept benefits from a workers’ compensation claim, your options for seeking additional compensation will be limited if not impossible. That is why it can make sense to speak with a qualified workers’ compensation lawyer before pursuing damages, and many offer free initial consultations.
The Cherry Hill Workers’ Compensation Lawyers from Pietras Saracino Smith & Meeks, LLP Help Clients With Work-Related Eye Injuries
If you have been injured at work and are experiencing difficulties obtaining just compensation, the caring, skilled Cherry Hill workers’ compensation lawyers from Pietras Saracino Smith & Meeks, LLP may be able to help. Call our Cherry Hill, New Jersey offices at 856-761-3773 or complete our online form to learn more. We proudly serve clients in Camden, Cinnaminson, Delran, Maple Shade, Pennsauken, and South Jersey.
