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Say
"AYE" to Eye Protection
In these
days of rising prices, there is still one bargain to be found---EYE
PROTECTION.
Relatively
few dollars buys the safety equipment that can protect your
eyes from such on-the-job hazards as dust, glare, and flying
objects. But while such protective equipment as safety goggles,
glasses and face shields is affordable, eye injury or loss
is expensive to many - to the victim of the accident, the
department that employs that person, and even to the general
public.
The comparative
cost of eye protection is small. After all, how much is an
eye worth? We can be sure that many eye injuries are not the
result of lack of protection. Rather, they result from not
using the eye protective equipment provided. This protection
is not used due to many excuses, NONE of which are legitimate.
The highest
price for on-the-job eye accidents is paid by the victim of
such an accident: financial setbacks, time away from employment,
and Worker's Compensation only paying a percentage of their
weekly wage.
Perhaps
the steepest price the victim of an eye accident must pay
is in personal suffering. The pain and shock they must endure
cannot be calculated in terms of dollars and cents. If they
lose sight of both eyes, they have lost a whole way of life.
That's the price we, as employees, may have to pay when we
disregard wearing our eye protection when necessary.
An unprotected
eye can be a painful and expensive proposition.
OSHA General
Industry Standards provide guidance regarding protection
(also see Page 5 of County Policy A-2207).
WEAR EYE PROTECTION and WEAR IT CORRECTLY! If you are provided
eye protection and are unsure of what type it is or how to
wear the eye protection, contact your supervisor immediately
for appropriate training. Training is mandatory for each employee
that is required by his or her employer to wear personal protective
equipment.
Safety
glasses, goggles, and face shields can provide protection
for your eyes. An unguarded moment may result in tragedy.
What would make it even more tragic is if the accident occurred
while ample eye protective equipment was resting on the victim's
forehead instead of over their eyes.
OHSA's
eye protection web page has on on-line slideshow for eye
and face protection that illustrates various work conditions
and the types of protection that should be used.
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