Common Eye Injuries and Costs

Every year, more than 20,000 eye injuries occur in the workplace, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This number is alarming, mainly because there are easy ways to protect your vision daily without paying too much. OSHA reports that the estimated cost for workplace eye injuries is $300 million a year in lost productivity, medical treatment, and worker compensation. At SafeVision, we aim to change that statistic by providing the information needed for our clients to protect their eyes while on the job. On that note, here are the most common eye injuries to be aware of:

The Causes of Common Eye Injuries

Eye injuries can range from a simple strain to permanent damage or vision loss. How you get those injuries can come from multiple hazards you might not be aware of while working. Some common causes for these injuries are:

• Particles such as dust in the air
• Flying objects (bits of metal, glass)
• Chemicals
• Tools
• Any combination of these or other hazards

One of the easiest ways to protect your vision at work is by always wearing safety eyewear. Safety eyewear alone can prevent 90 percent of severe eye injuries. Whether you’re behind the desk or the controls of a machine, SafeVision has eyewear options for every job to protect your vision.

Ways to Protect Your Vision

You can do a few things to decrease your chances of eye injury. The first is to evaluate your surroundings and know the dangers of your job. Then, you can eliminate any additional hazards you might find before starting your work. These hazards could require work screens, machine guarding, and other engineering controls. And finally, the most important thing you can do is wear proper safety eyewear. In the workplace, these three steps are typically the responsibility of the business owner or safety director. If you’re not sure if your company has an Environmental Health and Safety Manager then seek out your HR manager.

These three steps alone can help reduce eye injuries significantly.

These steps are essential for anyone working in a more industrial environment. Eye injuries are most common in:

• Construction
• Mining
• Manufacturing
• Welding

But that doesn’t mean those who sit behind a desk are totally safe either. There are also high numbers of eye injuries for:

• Leisure and hospitality
• Education
• Healthcare

That is why wearing proper safety eyewear compliant with OSHA regulations for eye and face protection and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is important.

Eye Injury Costs & Compensations

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the estimated average cost of eye injury workers’ compensation claimed nationally is $26,568 (in lost wages and medical costs). Depending on how severe the eye injury is, a workers’ settlement offer would cover expenses for medical attention, physical therapy and other ongoing medical treatment, and wage loss. While this might seem like it’s not that much, these expenses can add up if multiple injuries occur. There is also the risk of losing working men because of their injuries, impacting workflow.

SafeVision’s Corporate Programs

At SafeVision, we offer corporate programs to bring prescription safety eyewear to all industries. As the leading manufacturer of safety prescription eyewear in North America, SafeVision has continuously provided businesses and industries with comprehensive eye protection products and programs for over 75 years. Our knowledge and experience are your best assets when creating or managing single or multi-location safety eyewear programs. Let us help prevent common eye injuries in your workplace. Visit www.safevision.com to shop our selection of safety eyewear or speak with one of our representatives about starting a corporate program for your company.

Together we can prevent 90% of common eye injuries and save your company money!