When you hear about workplace accidents, you might think of serious incidents involving amputations, head injuries or spinal injuries. However, workplace eye injuries can be equally devastating, especially if they result in any form of sight loss or reduced vision.
This post aims to highlight some of the most common causes of eye injuries in the workplace, including being struck in the eye by debris, being exposed to toxic chemicals and the risks involved in working with electrical hazards. What’s more, we explain some of the steps that employers can take to prevent their staff from suffering an eye injury at work.
Read on for more about the types of workplace accidents that can cause eye injuries and what can be done to try and prevent them.
Flying Particles & Debris
The first type of accidents that can cause eye injuries at work are those caused by debris, flying particles and foreign bodies entering the eyes. In construction and manufacturing, for example, there is a risk of being struck in the eye by metal shavings, sawdust and other types of debris.
As with the other common causes of workplace eye injuries, foreign bodies can be prevented from getting anywhere near your eyes if your employer provides safety glasses, face masks or other forms of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This is not something that they are allowed to charge you for because, if any type of PPE is needed to keep you safe, your employer must ensure that they provide it for free as per the rules of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.
Some of the most common activities that could result in debris coming into contact with your eyes in the workplace include sawing, drilling, cutting, sweeping and pouring. If machinery is used to carry out these tasks, a good way to protect workers is to install (and properly maintain) safety screens or shields to prevent the escape of as much debris as possible.
Importantly, if you believe debris has entered your eye at work, you should seek immediate first aid advice and consider seeking professional medical advice at a hospital if you are concerned about any ongoing symptoms.
Chemical Exposure
There is a risk of eye injuries at work wherever hazardous chemicals are used. Surprisingly, this doesn’t just mean you’re at risk where industrial acids at alkalis are used – there is also a danger to your health when using some cleaning solutions, hair products and paints.
Therefore, employers need to ensure that staff are properly trained on how to use chemicals safely and provide them with data sheets that outline any risks as per the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). Again, PPE must be provided to staff where other measures cannot be used to provide protection.
Getting splashed by chemicals is just one of the ways staff can sustain eye injuries at work. Another is where they are exposed to chemical vapours and fumes. This might seem surprising, but it is possible for some chemical fumes to result in temporary or permanent vision problems as well as burns to the eyes.
In these environments, face masks may be needed as well as improved ventilation to ensure that chemical fumes are extracted from the workplace as soon as possible.
If your eyes are suffering from chemical exposure, it may be a medical emergency that first-aiders cannot help with. Therefore, you should consider calling NHS 111 or dialling 999 for urgent medical treatment.
Radiation & Light Exposure
If you work with UV lights or infrared radiation, there is a chance that your eyes can be damaged if proper protective measures are not carried out. Those who could be most at risk include those working as welders, lab technicians, health workers and those working in beauty salons.
Exposure to UV radiation has been linked to a range of eye problems, from irritation such as redness, excessive watering, itching and dryness, to more serious conditions including certain cancers affecting the eye and surrounding tissues. Where there is a risk of radiation or exposure to dangerous light sources, eye protection must be provided.
The same is true for those working with lasers whilst performing their workplace duties. This might include workers in the automotive and aerospace industries, manufacturing, the military, welding and those who work with medical devices.
To protect these workers from suffering an eye injury at work, it’s not simply a case of providing a pair of plastic safety goggles. Instead, specialist eye protection (sometimes made of glass or polycarbonates) using optical filters may be required. This could be in the form of goggles, protective screens or masks.
Electrical Hazards
Eye injuries at work can sometimes be caused by electrical hazards, which makes electricians, welders and those working with live electrical sources particularly at risk. The best way to prevent these types of eye injuries is to ensure that all equipment is properly maintained and in a good state of repair. Of course, protective eye protection should also be given to staff where needed.
As well as arc flash and electrical sparks, there can also be a risk of exposure to electrical sparks when metal is being cut during manufacturing and in similar procedures. The risk of eye injuries caused by sparks in the workplace can be mitigated by wearing safety glass or installation screens. Additionally, staff must be trained on the proper techniques of working in these conditions and on safe working distances.
Improper Use Of PPE & Safety Equipment
As we’ve already covered, employers have a duty to provide free PPE to staff who are are risk of eye injuries at work. However, this is not always as simple as you might think.
The employer’s duty doesn’t end once they have provided the PPE to each member of staff who needs it. They must also:
- Ensure that PPE is always available when it is needed.
- Ensure that PPE fits each member of staff properly.
- Check the state of PPE regularly to check that it’s still safe to use.
- Not force or ask staff to work without PPE to protect their eyes.
- Train staff on where they must use the PPE and how to use it properly.
Additionally, staff also have a duty to try and protect their eyes from injury. In practice, this means following all safety training they have been provided and, most importantly, wear any eye protection they have been given whilst performing tasks where there is a risk of injury.
Preventative Tips For Employers & Employees
To help prevent some of the most common causes of eye injuries at work, employers can:
- Regularly train staff on how to prevent eye injuries. Training isn’t a one-off activity but something that should be regularly assessed.
- Conduct regular risk assessments and review any reported accidents to see if changes can be made to working procedures.
- Provide first aid training and equipment so that there is somebody on hand to help if a worker does suffer an eye injury.
As an employee, you have the right to raise any concerns you have about workplace safety to your employer. Therefore, if you think a particular process could result in an injury at work, you should raise your concerns with a supervisor. This can be a quick discussion, but you may wish to follow up with an email if you don’t believe your query will be dealt with effectively.
Conclusion
As we’ve shown, there are a variety of common causes of eye injuries at work. They range from being struck in the eye by debris to suffering an eye injury caused by workplace lasers.
Importantly, almost all of the things that can cause workplace eye injuries are preventable. If staff are trained and provided with the right protective eyewear, the risk of suffering an eye injury at work can be reduced significantly.
Did you know that if your eye injury was caused due to negligence, you may be able to claim compensation? Read our guide on eye injury at work compensation claims for more information.
Our team could help start your claim today, so please feel free to call with any questions or use our live chat service to get in touch.