March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month

From ehs.okstate.edu

The human eye is often taken for granted. While people are accustomed to eating healthy foods and receiving the proper amount of exercise, many rarely consider their vision health. When it comes to our eyes, it is most important to protect the eyesight we have been given. During Workplace Wellness Month, Friends for Sight reminds everyone that workplace eye safety actions are easy to incorporate and invaluable to maintain long-term vision health.

WHAT CAUSES EYE INJURIES?

• Flying particles. BLS found that almost 70% of the accidents studied resulted from flying or falling objects or sparks striking the eye. Injured workers estimated that nearly three-fifths of the objects were smaller than a pin head. Most of the particles were said to be traveling faster than a hand-thrown object when the accident occurred.
• Contact with chemicals caused one-fifth of the injuries. Other accidents were caused by objects swinging from a fixed or attached position, like tree limbs, ropes, chains, or tools which were pulled into the eye while the worker was using them.

WHERE DO ACCIDENTS OCCUR MOST OFTEN?
Craft work; industrial equipment operation. Potential eye hazards can be found in nearly every industry, but BLS reported that more than 40% of injuries studied occurred among craft workers, like mechanics, repairers, carpenters, and plumbers. Over a third of the injured workers were operatives, such as assemblers, sanders, and grinding machine operators. Laborers suffered about one-fifth of the eye injuries. Almost half the injured workers were employed in manufacturing; slightly more than 20% were in construction.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that almost three out of five workplace eye injuries are due to not wearing appropriate eye protection. Whether it is goggles, helmets, face shields, or just safety glasses, simply wearing them will protect and in many cases save eyesight. Health care workers especially require proper eye protection. Infectious diseases can be transferred through the mucous membrane of the eye. When there is any type of eye hazard, proper eye protection should be worn at all times.

In the workplace, technology, specifically computers, poses a significant risk to our vision. Over exposure to computer screens, a common problem during the 8-hour work day, can cause our eyes to lose their ability to function properly. To remedy vision strain while still being productive, follow these suggestions:

1. Keep the computer roughly 30 inches away from your eyes.
2. Rest your eyes every 15 minutes.
3. Remember to blink frequently. This simple action reduces dry eye and maintains eye health.

Take care of your eyes and if you want Hometown to “look” at your insurance coverage, we are here for you. Call us today at 1-800-568-7283 or email us at service@hometowninsurance.com