Tips for Eye Injury Prevention in the Workplace
Nearly 2,000 workers suffer job-related eye injures each and every day. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 40 percent of all work-related eye injuries occur in three industries: Construction Manufacturing Mining These workplace injuries cost more than $300 million per year in terms of compensation, treatment, and lost productivity. Much of the problem can […]
July 20, 2017
Nearly 2,000 workers suffer job-related eye injures each and every day. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 40 percent of all work-related eye injuries occur in three industries:
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Mining
These workplace injuries cost more than $300 million per year in terms of compensation, treatment, and lost productivity. Much of the problem can be eliminated through incorporating eye safety and eye wellness practices into the daily work routine.
For people who work in office settings, daily preventative measures recommended by the AAO include:
- Positioning computer monitors 25 inches away from the face
- Taking a 20-20-20 visual break, which means looking away from the monitor at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes
- Reducing glare on cell phones and other digital devices
- Adjusting lighting near each work station
In construction, manufacturing, and mining, the most dramatic reduction in eye injury can be accomplished by wearing protective eyewear. In fact, ninety percent of on-the-job eye injuries might be avoided if workers consistently wore eye protection.