
How often do workers get eye injuries at work?
Each day about 2000 U.S. workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. About one third of the injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments, and more than 100 of these injuries result in one or more days away from work.
How many workplace injuries can be avoided?
That's 270,000 workplace injuries that could be avoided each year. Eye injuries make up nearly 45% of all head injuries that lead to missed workdays. Eye injuries account for an estimated annual $300 million in medical bills, compensation, and time off.
How much do eye injuries cost in the US?
Eye injuries account for an estimated annual $300 million in medical bills, compensation, and time off. Men ages 25-44 comprise 80% of all workplace eye injury victims.
What can employers do to prevent eye injuries?
Employers can ensure engineering controls are used to reduce eye injuries and to protect against ocular infection exposures. Employers can also conduct a hazard assessment to determine the appropriate type of protective eyewear appropriate for a given task.

How many eye injuries occur in American workplaces a day?
1,000 eye injuriesEvery day, an estimated 1,000 eye injuries occur in American workplaces. No matter what we do, flying particles, dusts, splashes, or flying objects are often part of the job and expose PPD employees to potential eye injuries.
How many people suffer job related eye injuries each year?
Every year, 800,000 eye injuries occur on the job, including 36,000 that require time off from work. But according to eye health and safety organization Prevent Blindness America, wearing proper eye protection can prevent 90 percent of all eye injuries.
What percentage of workers who had eye injuries were not wearing eye protection?
Not wearing eye protection. BLS reports that nearly three out of every five workers injured were not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident. Wearing the wrong kind of eye protection for the job. About 40 percent of the injured workers were wearing some form of eye protection when the accident occurred.
What is the estimated percentage of work place related emergency room visits for eye injuries that could have been prevented with protective eyewear?
90 PercentAn Estimated 90 Percent of Work-Related Eye Injuries Could be Avoided. On-the-job safety goes well beyond avoiding slips, falls, and heavy lifting. Caring for your eyes should be a high priority and part of an overall workplace wellness routine.
How common are eye injuries at work?
Each day about 2000 U.S. workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. About one third of the injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments, and more than 100 of these injuries result in one or more days away from work.
What percentage of injuries occur to the eyes?
Eye injuries make up nearly 45% of all head injuries that lead to missed workdays. Eye injuries account for an estimated annual $300 million in medical bills, compensation, and time off. Men ages 25-44 comprise 80% of all workplace eye injury victims.
What percentage of workplace eye injuries are preventable?
90 percent“Yet 90 percent of all workplace eye injuries are preventable with the use of proper eyewear and safety measures,” said Daniel D. Garrett, Prevent Blindness America (PBA) spokesperson.
What causes 70 per cent of all eye injuries on the job?
According to the NIOSH data, 70 percent of occupational eye injuries were caused by contact with an object or equipment. Exposure to harmful substances or environments accounted for 26 percent of injuries. Scrap, waste, debris, chemicals and welding torches were just some of the sources of eye injuries at work.
How many eye injury are there in construction?
NIOSHTIC No. In construction, more than 10,600 eye injuries each year force workers to miss work. Construction has a much higher rate of eye injuries than any other industry. The Hazards: Nails, tiny pieces of metal, splinters, and cut wire ends fly in the air.
What is the most common eye injury in the workshop?
1. DustDust. Dust is probably the most basic, most common eye hazard that workers face. ... Flying Objects. Another common eye hazard is flying objects. ... Chemicals. Eye injuries can also occur from chemical splashes, mists, vapors, and fumes. ... Optical Radiation. ... Penetration.
How many eye injuries occur each year UK?
Site of InjuryNumber of RIDDOR reported non-fatal injuries to employeesOver 7-day incapacitationTotalEye729814Ear103104Other parts of face8931,347Head (excluding face)2,5883,47723 more rows•Sep 24, 2021
When do most eye injuries occur?
Using protective eyewear can prevent 90% of all eye injuries. Nearly 35% of all eye injuries occur in people 18 to 45 years of age.
How Do Eye Injuries Happen to Workers?
1. Striking or scraping: The majority of eye injuries result from small particles or objects striking or scraping the eye, such as: dust, cement ch...
How Do Workers Acquire Eye Diseases?
Eye diseases are often transmitted through the mucous membranes of the eye as a result of direct exposure to things like blood splashes, and drople...
What Can Workers Do to Prevent Eye Injury and Disease?
Wear personal protective eyewear, such as goggles, face shields, safety glasses, or full face respirators.The eye protection chosen for specific wo...
What Can Employers Do to Prevent Worker Eye Injury and Disease?
Employers can ensure engineering controls are used to reduce eye injuries and to protect against ocular infection exposures. Employers can also con...
How many eye injuries are preventable?
Of these 300,000 eye injuries, it’s estimated that 90% of them were preventable if the workers had been wearing the appropriate eye protection. That's 270,000 workplace injuries that could be avoided each year.
How much does eye injury cost?
Eye injuries make up nearly 45% of all head injuries that lead to missed workdays. Eye injuries account for an estimated annual $300 million in medical bills, compensation, and time off. Men ages 25-44 comprise 80% of all workplace eye injury victims.
How much of your impressions are made by sight?
Here are some facts. You perceive up to 80% of all impressions by means of sight. If your other senses are compromised, it’s your eyes that will best protect you from danger, not to mention provide a more rewarding life. Preserving and protecting this organ is critical.
Is safety eyewear glamorous?
Let's face it, safety eyewear doesn't always have the most glamorous look. Everyone likes to wear things they feel good in, so it's no surprise that safety eyewear falls to the wayside for some. Remember, the best eye protection is the protection that's worn.
Is eye protection unnecessary?
It's "unnecessary.". Despite decades of reported eye injury experiences and how to prevent them, human ignorance and resistance are still big problems. Many workers think of eye protection as unnecessary and choose to not wear their required eye protection.
How many times do you blink a minute?
Looking at a distance allows your eyes to relax and return to a regular rate of blinking again. Normally, people blink about 14 times a minute [6] and with every blink, your eyes are lubricated with fluid that contains moisturizing elements, including oil.
How to reduce eye strain?
You can reduce eye strain by adjusting the lighting in your surroundings. For more eye safety tips, visit eye injury prevention at work.
What is the best way to protect yourself from flying debris?
Wear protective eyewear: Ensure that your eye protection is appropriate for the type of hazard that may be present in your workplace, such as flying debris, falling objects, chemicals, intense light, and heat. Your eyewear must be American National Standards Institute ANSI -approved and OSHA compliant.
What to do if your eye hurts?
If an eye injury does occur, an individual should seek care from an ophthalmologist or go to an emergency room for immediate care. Caring for your eyes on the job should not be limited to those who do physical labor, however. People who spend long hours working on a computer can experience eye discomfort. Focusing on small font type ...
How far away from your face should you place your computer?
Position your computer 25 inches away: If you are working on a desktop computer, try placing the monitor at an arm’s length away from your face.
When is the eye health month?
As part of an ongoing effort to stress the importance of workplace eye wellness, the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and the American Academy of Ophthalmology is encouraging the public to do right by their eyes and wear appropriate eye protection during the month of March.
Is eye care a priority?
On-the-job safety goes well beyond avoiding slips, falls, and heavy lifting. Caring for your eyes should be a high priority and part of an overall workplace wellness routine. Each day, about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment [1]. However, 90 percent of these accidents can be avoided by wearing eye ...
American Academy of Ophthalmology urges making eye health part of a daily work wellness routine
SAN FRANCISCO — On-the-job safety goes well beyond avoiding slips, falls, and heavy lifting. Caring for your eyes should be a high priority and part of an overall workplace wellness routine. This is important because each day, about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment [1].
About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, we protect sight and empower lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for our patients and the public.
How many times do you blink a minute?
Looking at a distance allows your eyes to relax and return to a regular rate of blinking again. Normally, people blink about 14 times a minute, and with every blink, your eyes are lubricated with fluid that contains moisturizing elements, including oil.
How to reduce eye strain on computer screen?
If you use a glass screen device, adjust the low light filter setting to lower screen brightness or use a matte filter to reduce eye strain. Adjust environmental lighting at your work: If your computer screen is brighter than your office surroundings, your eyes need to work harder to see.
How to avoid eye strain?
The academy offers these tips to help avoid workplace eye injury or strain: Wear protective eyewear: Ensure that your eye protection is appropriate for the type of hazard that may be present in your workplace, such flying debris, falling objects, chemicals, intense light, and heat.
How much does eye injury cost?
Workplace Eye Injuries Cost More Than $300 Million a Year. Each day, about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. However, 90% of eye injuries can be avoided by wearing eye protection.
