During this special month, Prevent Blindness America reminds us to have regular eye examinations and wear protective eyewear when needed, whether we're on and off the job.
The most common causes of workplace eye injuries are flying objects (bits of metal or glass), tools, particles, chemicals, radiation, or any combination of these hazards.
There are three key things you can do to protect your eyes:
* Know the eye safety dangers on your particular job.
* Eliminate hazards before you start work. Use machine guarding, work screens, or other controls.
* Use proper eye protection.
Always use safety eyewear whenever there is a chance of eye injury. Anyone working or passing through hazardous areas should wear protective eyewear.
Safety eyewear includes prescription and non-prescription safety glasses, goggles, face shields, welding helmets, and full-face respirators. The type of protection you need depends on the hazards in your workplace. If there are flying objects or particles in your work area, you must at least wear safety glasses.
