Eye safety

1. SAFETY THEME
EYE SAFETY

2. When we do our jobs we are very comfortable in what we do and
sometimes we get a little careless with some of our most precious
gifts, our EYES, HANDS, and FEET.
We are given two of each, however, just try to think of what it would
be like to do your job with one of any of them missing. These are the
tools we work with everyday and cannot be ordered through the
supply system.
DO I HAVE TO WEAR EYE PROTECTION ?
SEE THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS
AND THINK FOR A MOMENT….

3. A carpenter was nailing a cleat on a scaffold board.
The nail apparently hit a knot in the wood causing it
to fly back into the man’s safety glasses with such
velocity to cause the nail to penetrate. The result
was a small scratch to the corner of the eye.
Subsequent tests were carried out to try to hammer
a nail through the lens of a pair of safety glasses –
that proved difficult to achieve.
Without safety
glasses
With
safety
glasses
A do it yourself enthusiast aged 32
was hammering a nail into his roof
when he felt a sudden pain in his left
eye. The nail had bounced back and
perforated the corneal limbus. At
surgery the nail was found to have
penetrated the vitreous through the
ciliary body, avoiding the lens.
Despite having prophylactic
antibiotics he developed intractable
endophthalmitis and lost the sight of
the eye. Wearing protective glasses
would have saved it.
Just a nail?!

4. Working with hazardous substances….
Caustic
burns!!!
Chemical
burns!!
Alkali
burns!!
Eye
Laceration

5. This worker was welding and was not wearing eye protection. This worker has
photokeratitis (welder's burns) from looking at a bright light without protection. The
slit lamp exam will reveal diffuse punctate uptake of dye. These burns are very painful
but heal quickly without sequelae. Treatment consists of patching (controversial),
cycloplegic drops, antibiotics, tetanus prophylaxis, and analgesia.
Welding
Grinding
Lab employee was splashed in the face with 98% Sulfuric Acid. Employee
had on ANSI approved safety glasses, but was NOT using a face
shield. The burns clearly show the outline of her safety glasses. The
employee is permanently scarred from the accident. Doctors all agreed
that without safety glasses this employee would have been blinded from
this incident. On top of not having the proper PPE available to them, there
was no emergency eyewash or shower anywhere nearby. Employee had to
be carried to the main locker room to be showered, approximate travel time
between shower and accident was 10-15 minutes!!!!
Sulfuric Acid burns
Performing routine jobs….

6. 10.6% of Lost Time Injuries
reported for January –
September 2002 in SAIPEM
activities are of the type :
“foreign body into the eye”
welder
40%
pipe fitter
40%
mechanic
10%
helper
10%
EYE SAFETY - STATISTICS
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
percent
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
EYE INJURIES - FOREIGN BODY INTO THE
EYE

7. COMMON HAZARDS
• Dust, concrete and metal particles
• Falling or shifting debris, building materials, glass
• Smoke, noxious/poisonous substances
• Chemicals (acids, bases, fuels, solvents, wet or dry cement powder, lime)
• Welding light and electrical arc
•Thermal hazards and fires
COMMON EYE INJURY
• Corneal abrasions and conjunctivitis
• Concrete or metal particles or slivers embedded in the eye
• Chemical splash or burn
• Welder’s flush burn
• Eyeball laceration
• Facial contusion and black eye
EYE SAFETY – HAZARDS & INJURIES

8. ASSESS
• Conduct a through analysis plant operation;
• Inspect work areas , access routes and equipments;
• Examine eye and face accidents and injury reports;
• Identify operations and areas that present eye
hazards.
An eye hazard assessment should result in:
• Safe work environment : - identifying and minimizing hazards from falling or unstable debris;
- making sure that tools work and machine guards are in place;
- ensure that workers know how to use tools properly;
- keep the bystanders out of the hazard area.
• Evaluate safety hazards: - recognise the primary hazards;
- recognise the hazards from nearby workers, large machinery.
• Test the eye vision of workers.
EYE SAFETY

9. PROTECT
• Select protective eyewear designed for a specific
operation or hazard.
• Base selection on protection needs, quality,
comfort and cost, and make sure that employees
are properly fitted and trained in the use and
maintenance of their eyewear.
Chipping, grinding, sanding, machining, masonry work and
generally impact hazards call for safety spectacles with
sideshields or rigid and flexible goggles. Secondary protective
devices such as face shields are required in conjunction with
primary protective devices during severe exposure to impact
hazards.
Molten metal or chemical splash call for goggles and
faceshields which do not allow liquid to drip or splash under
eyewear.
Goggles are appropriate during dusty operations, such us
sanding.
EYE SAFETY

10. Welding jobs require their own special helmets, either with
stationary or front lift windows, to protect against the burns as
well as sparks and molten splashes.
TRAINING
Once eyewear is selected, ongoing
educational programs are necessary to
establish, maintain and reinforce the need
for the effective use of protective eyewear.
• Discuss workplace hazards with employees on a regular basis and remind them that
eye protection is mandatory.
• Include information about eye protection program in new employee training.
• Discuss the most common causes of eye injuries
• Make employees responsible for the care and maintenance of their own eyewear.
EYE SAFETY

11. FIRST AID
• Post first aid instructions close to potential danger spots.
• Instruct employees in first aid treatments for each type of injuries might come in their
work.
• Place signs indicating “eye protection required” permanently in areas that present
hazards to the eye.
EYE SAFETY

12. Protecting your eyesight should be one of the most paramount
concerns whether you are on the job or not. Your company may
provide you with the protection, and have 100% eye protection policy.
However id your responsibility to wear the eye protection. Without
your commitment, you put yourself at risk losing your eyesight.
COMMITMENT
EYE SAFETY
Note: all the images and information can be found on www.Safteng.net ;
www.cdc.gov/niosh www.osha.gov and www.occupationalhazards.com