Common Eye Injuries on the Job

Common Eye Injuries on the Job

By Pyle Law, Reviewed by E. Thomas Pyle October 27 2020 9:37 pm

Eye injuries on the job happen far too frequently, and most of these serious injuries are completely preventable – when employees are provided with and are required to wear the appropriate protective goggles or glasses. Eye injuries lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in losses each year. 

Our vision is obviously not something any of us should ever take for granted, but every day, thousands of preventable eye injuries happen on the job. If you have suffered an eye injury at work, a Kansas workers’ compensation attorney can help. 

The Overwhelming Statistics 

According to EHS Today (Environment, Health, and Safety Today), the statistics related to eye injuries are quite startling, including:

• 800,000 people suffer eye injuries on the job every year. 
• A full 36,000 of these injuries are so serious that they require taking time off from work. 
• Wearing the appropriate eye protection could prevent a full 90 percent of these injuries from occurring (according to the eye health safety organization Prevent Blindness America).

Eye accidents on the job are far too common and are often preventable. Both employers and employees alike need to take eye protection far more seriously – every single day.

Safety Strategies 

The most common causes of eye injuries in the workplace include cuts, lacerations, punctures, and chemical burns. The best practices for helping to prevent these serious injuries include the following:

• Employers should complete an eye-hazard assessment of the job site and should remain alert to potential eye-safety hazards.
• Whenever potential eye hazards are present, everyone working in the vicinity should wear the appropriate protective glasses or goggles at all times. 
• Employers should have the appropriate number of clearly marked eye-wash stations, and workers should learn where they are and should be trained on how to use them effectively.
• Employees should notify employers of any and all potential safety hazards that they come across on the worksite
• Employees should have regular eye exams to help ensure that they can see well enough to continue working safely, and those who experience reduced vision should request protective glasses or goggles with prescription lenses. 

EHS Today also shares that, according to the United States Department of Labor, about $300 million is lost annually as a result of eye injuries that lead to dead production time, workers’ compensation costs, and medical expenses. Eye injuries on the job happen entirely too often, and they can be extremely damaging.  

Consult with an Experienced Kansas Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today

Eye injuries are highly preventable but happen far too often on the job. If you’ve suffered an eye injury while at work, the dedicated workers’ compensation attorney at Pyle Law in Kansas has the experience, resources, and commitment to help skillfully guide your claim toward a resolution that supports your most complete recovery. Our intrepid legal team has reserves of experience bringing successful eye injury claims, and we are here for you, too. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at 620-374-9299 today.