March is Eye Safety Month

Every day, approximately 2,000 workers in the United States suffer eye injuries on the job. However, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that up to 90% of these injuries may be avoidable simply with the use of basic eye protection. As a result, March has been designated as Eye Safety Month to turn a spotlight on prevention methods for avoiding eye injuries in the workplace.

Protect Your Eyes from Job-Related Hazards

While some people may view eye injuries as hazards of their professions, the reality is that eye injuries can – and should – be avoided. Employers should take steps to ensure that their job sites are free from unreasonable risks and that their employees have access to adequate eye protection. However, as a worker, you should play an active role in your own eye safety as well.

Follow these tips to protect yourself from eye injuries on the job:

• Choose safety eyewear that is designed for your work environment. On construction sites, wear glasses that protect your eyes from flying objects. At the hospital or in the lab, wear goggles that keep out liquid chemicals. If you are welding or your eyes will be exposed to radiation, wear protection that is rated to withstand the exposure.
• Wear your eye protection at all times. Even if you are just passing through the job site; it only takes an instant for an eye injury to occur.
• Avoid unnecessary risks whenever possible. Use work screens, guards, and other safety apparatus to keep dangerous objects away from your eyes.
• Take care of your eye protection. If it gets damaged, replace it.

Eye Safety for Office Workers

Eye safety is also a serious concern for office workers. Staring at a computer screen for hours on end is known to be hard on the eyes, and over time can lead to vision impairments. When spending hours in front of your computer, consider these basic rules for protecting your vision:

• Give your eyes a break with the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, spend 20 seconds looking at something 20 feet away.
• Use a high-resolution monitor and increase your font size instead of bringing your face closer to the screen. Your eyes should be about 25 inches away from the screen.
• Reducing glare takes strain off your eyes. To reduce glare, use overhead lighting – avoid placing lights behind you or directly behind your screen.

Contact the Rhode Island Offices of The Bottaro Law Firm, LLC Today

Mike Bottaro and the legal team at the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC represent individuals who have suffered from workplace injuries. If you have suffered an eye injury on the job, we may be able to help you seek worker’s compensation benefits for your medical bills and lost time from work. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, please contact us today.