Tips for preventing workplace eye injuries

Colorado employers are responsible for ensuring the safety of their workers. This may mean providing eye washing stations, goggles and other tools to help keep your eyes free from harm. However, there are steps that you can take to minimize your risk of harming your vision while on the job.

Look away from the screen occasionally

Ideally, you will look away from your phone or computer screen for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Doing so will prevent your eyes from drying out or otherwise becoming irritated. It can also prevent eye strain that can result in soreness and a partial loss of vision. If you are hurt because you couldn’t look away from your screen on a regular basis, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

Wear protection when working in proximity to airborne debris

If you are a carpenter or welder, you’ll likely work in environments full of airborne wood shavings or sparks. In the event that any of these get in your eye, you could suffer a variety of injuries such as a scratched retina or a burnt eyeball. Wearing goggles or face coverings can provide a layer of protection against this type of hazard. You may also want to wear eye or face protection if you work with chemicals or come into contact with large amounts of dust or pollen.

Do you know what to do in an emergency?

The first thing that you should do is familiarize yourself with the location of eye washing stations. If none are available, you should know how to get in touch with your supervisor so that you can get help in a timely manner in an emergency situation.

An eye injury could make it harder to remain employed or take part in activities outside of work. Therefore, it’s important to take your safety training seriously so that you can minimize the risk of getting hurt.

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