Tips for keeping eyes safe while working

More than 2,000 workers in South Carolina and throughout the country experience an eye injury each day. About 10 percent of these injuries require a worker to spend time away from the job recovering. Furthermore, at least 10 percent of injuries will cause either permanent or temporary blindness or other vision loss. There are steps that workers can take to prevent or minimize the chances of getting an eye injury at work.

One tactic is to limit the glare that workers see when looking at a computer, tablet or phone screen. Special glasses can prevent glare, and they should also be able to protect workers from other hazards that they may experience on the job. Any eye protection equipment a person wears should meet the ANSI Z87+ standard. It should also be tailored to an individual’s eyes and other facial features to ensure that it fits properly.

Furthermore, employers should purchase equipment based on quality as opposed to price. Doing so will make it easier to keep workers protected and also send a message to those workers that their safety is a top priority for the company. Glasses and other eye equipment should be both comfortable and relatively stylish. This may impact whether a worker uses the equipment or uses it properly.

If a worker is hurt on the job, he or she may be entitled to receive compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. This is generally true regardless of who caused the accident or why it happened. Those who have questions about their case may want to ask an attorney understands the workers’ compensation system. An attorney may also be helpful for those who are appealing a denial or otherwise need assistance obtaining a favorable outcome in their case.