Work-Related Eye Injuries
June 29, 2017
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), work-related eye injuries are responsible for approximately $300 million in costs associated with lost productivity, medical treatment, and Workers’ Compensation. With over 20,000 workplace eye injuries occurring in the United States each year, these injuries occur too frequently, considering they are largely preventable if the appropriate safety gear is used. In fact, wearing protective eye gear at all times can prevent over 90 percent of serious eye injuries.
Tips to Prevent Eye Injuries
In order to protect your eyes from things such as flying bits of glass, metal, tools, particles, chemicals, or any other hazards that could injure your eyes, remember to keep the following tips in mind:
- Familiarize yourself with the potential eye safety hazards at work
- Eliminate any hazards prior to starting a task or project.
- Make sure that all guard, screen, and other controls are in place before using
- Always use proper safety gear for the eyes
OSHA recommends specific eye protection based on the types of hazards that are present in the workplace. The safety gear provided at your job should be compliant with these recommendations. For example, if you are working in an environment that has a lot of particles, dust, or chemicals in the air, you should wear safety goggles with side shields. If you are working in the vicinity of hazardous radiation, you should always wear specially designed safety glasses, face shields, or helmets that are specifically made for that type of work, also.
Signs of a Serious Eye Injury
Eye injuries can range from a minor eye strain to a more severe trauma, vision loss, and permanent blindness. Regardless of the severity of an eye injury, it is always a good idea to have your eyes checked by a medical professional such as an ophthalmologist, who can determine the best course of action based on the type of work injury. Never attempt to treat an eye injury yourself, as certain things could make the injury worse or cause permanent vision loss. If you or another worker has any of the following signs, seek medical help immediately:
- The person is in extreme pain or is having trouble seeing
- There is a cut on the person’s eyelid
- One eye is not moving or focusing like the other one
- One eye is protruding
- The injured eye has an unusually small or large pupil size
- There is blood in the whites of the eye
- There is something in the person’s eye or under the eyelid that cannot be removed
The sooner you are able to have your eye injury examined and treated, the less likely it is that the injury will progress to something worse. If something does not feel right, report the injury and do not hesitate to have it checked, especially if you work in an environment where you are exposed to potential eye irritants.
Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Represent Workers with Eye Injuries
If you have suffered an eye injury while on the job, you may be entitled to compensation, including lost wages and medical expenses, through your employer’s Workers’ Compensation plan. The Baltimore Workers’ Compensation lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton are on your side and will fight to ensure that you receive the maximum benefits to which you are entitled. We will protect your rights throughout the entire claims process. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 844-556-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to serve victims throughout the state of Maryland.
