26 Jan Eye Protection

Eye Protection

The protection of your sight requires three extremes: extremely easy, extremely important, and too often, extremely forgotten. Once you have lost an eye or your ability to see, it’s too late. Protecting your eyes is the easiest thing to do, if you care about your eyes.

Guide for Discussion

Types of Eye Injuries

• Small flying objects such as dust or other microscopic objects.
• Particles resulting from chipping, grinding, sawing, brushing, hammering or using power tools (including nail guns).
• Liquids such as chemicals, tar, asphalt solvents, paints or masonry cleaning solutions.
• Invisible light rays such as those generated by welding operations or by a laser beam.

Eye Injuries

• Personal protective eyewear can prevent 100% of eye injuries
• Choose protective eyewear that includes side protection
• Particles of metal, wood, dust, cement and drywall ejected by tools, wind or falls are the most common source of eye injuries
• Brush, shake or vacuum dust and debris from hardhats, hair, forehead or the top of eye protection before removing
• Do not rub eyes with dirty hands or clothing
• Remind each other every time you see someone not wearing safety glasses
• Look around and check for eye hazards before taking off your safety glasses

Methods of Protection

• Safety glasses
• Safety goggles
• Face shields with safety glasses
• Welding hoods

Additional Discussion Notes:

Remember: There are all kinds of safety glasses or goggles available on the market; some are really cool. Eye injuries occur in a split second. Don’t blind yourself to the necessity of protecting your eyes.