When you were at work, everything seemed to be going well. Unfortunately, you felt like something had gotten into your eye. Over time, your eye started to itch and burn, and it eventually got to the point that you couldn’t see well or open it.
With this kind of situation, it’s vital that you get emergency care. Even if it’s just a small piece of debris in your eye, there is a potential that it could scratch your eye and even cause blindness.
Whenever you suffer an eye injury on the job, take the time to report that injury to your employer. Doing so helps you get the support you need and get coverage through workers’ compensation.
Did you know that eye injuries are common in the workplace?
Eye injuries are common in work environments. In fact, there are around 2,000 people who injure their eyes on the job every day. Of those, around one in 10 will lead to missed workdays, so that the worker can recover. Perhaps more shocking is the reality that up to 20% of these injuries will lead to temporary or permanent blindness or vision loss.
What are some common causes of eye injuries in the workplace?
Some common causes of workplace eye injuries include:
- Tools
- Particles
- Chemicals
- Flying objects
- Radiation
For example, if you’re walking with scissors and trip over a coworker’s open filing cabinet, you could fall and injure your eye with the scissors. If you clean an office space and accidentally spray chemicals into your eyes, they could cause temporary vision loss or blindness without emergency care.
How can you prevent an eye injury at work?
To prevent an eye injury at work, it’s important to look around and try to eliminate hazards before you start working. Machines should have guards, and you should use work screens or protective eye wear whenever necessary or required. Ask your employer about an eye hazard assessment for your workplace if you haven’t learned about eye safety dangers.
Any time there is a risk of eye injuries, protect your eyes with safety glasses, goggles or other provided protective eye wear. If you do end up getting something in your eye(s) or hurt your eye directly, speak with your employer, call 911 or go to the emergency room so that you can have the injury treated by a medical professional.