FACTS

1. Particles of rocks, soil, crop material or other foreign objects thrown from equipment that chops or grinds can cause unexpected eye injury to the operator or bystander.
2. Eye injuries are more likely to occur when servicing equipment than when operating it.
3. Simple hand tools can cause severe eye injuries.
4. Almost 70 percent of all eye injuries result from flying or falling objects striking the eye.
5. Contact with chemicals (liquids, gases, dusts, fumes, or vapors) causes another 20 percent of eye injuries.
6. Swinging objects — most of the remaining injuries are caused by objects that swing from an attached position. Tree limbs, ropes, chains, or tools are common examples.
7. Bloodborne pathogens and bodily fluids — In health care, maintenance, and housekeeping fields, there is a danger of these liquids being splashed into the eyes.
8. Other causes — electrical arcs and sparks, molten metal, and radiant energy from welding, cutting, lasers, and ultraviolet and infrared light also contribute to eye injury.
9. While eye injuries can occur in just about any job, mechanics, repairers, carpenters, plumbers, assemblers, sanders, and grinding machine operators are most likely to be victims.

STATS

• Eye injuries in the workplace are very common. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that every day about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment.
• 60% of workers who suffered an eye injury were wearing no eye protection or the wrong type of eye protection at the time of the accident.
• 90% of work-related eye injuries could be avoided if workers wore eye protection. (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
• BLS reported that more than 50 % of workers injured while wearing eye protection thought the eyewear had minimized their injuries.