Many occupations bring with them the risk of ocular injury, particularly to unprotected eyes. All workers should be made aware of the particular safety hazards at their workplace and follow the recommended safety practices and standards that their government and/or employer has put in place. Selection of protective eyewear appropriate for a given task should be made based on a hazard assessment of each activity, and encompass the applicable regulatory requirements.
The use of safety eyewear or goggles (and/or a helmet or appropriate protective face gear such as a respirator) during any activity that places a worker at risk is crucial for avoiding ocular injuries. Eye protection should be custom-fit to an individual or adjustable and should provide appropriate coverage of the face and eyes contingent on the potential hazards. All protective eyewear and other gear should be comfortable and allow for sufficient peripheral vision.
In addition, equipment that has the potential to cause injury should be checked regularly to ensure that it is in good working order and that the appropriate shields, guards, and other safety elements are in place and operate correctly.
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Typical Ocular Trauma Hazards
Industrial equipment of various kinds, including cutting and grinding equipment, have the potential to throw off small particles or objects that may strike or abrade the eye. Examples include metal slivers, wood chips, dust, plaster, and cement chips that are ejected by tools, wind blown, or fall from above a worker. Nails, staples, or slivers of wood or metal can penetrate the eye and result in permanent vision loss.
Blunt eye trauma can occur when a large object strikes the eye or the face, or a worker runs or walks into a stationary object.
Chemical burns to the eyes from splashed or spilled chemicals or cleaning products present an important risk for industrial and agricultural workers.
Thermal burns to the eye may occur among welders, their assistants, and nearby workers. Thermal burns or UVR burns from arc welding equipment have the potential to damage workers’ eyes (welder’s flash) and surrounding tissue.
Healthcare workers, dentists, laboratory staff, janitorial workers, animal handlers, and others may be at risk of acquiring infectious diseases via ocular exposure. Infectious diseases can be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the eye and produce systemic infection; HIV and hepatitis viruses are of special concern. This can occur as a result of exposure from blood splashes, respiratory droplets generated during coughing or suctioning, or from having manual contact with infected tissue or surfaces and then touching the eyes. Less significant from the viewpoint of long-term morbidity, but far more common in clinical practice, is the accidental transmission of viral conjunctivitis among vision care professionals. This is generally due to improper hand washing and the reuse of contaminated equipment (especially slit-lamp-mounted applanation tonometers) or diagnostic eye drops.
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