In The Blink Of An Eye [Aug 2009]
Protecting Against Potential Eye Hazards
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE
PROTECTING AGAINST POTENTIAL EYE HAZARDS
In just the blink of eye, an incident can injure or even blind a worker who is not wearing proper protective eyewear. Each day several thousand people suffer an eye injury that requires medical treatment and days away from work. The most common answer given by workers with eye injuries when asked why they weren't wearing safety glasses was "I didn't think that I needed it!" Experts believe that the right eye protection could have lessened the severity or even prevented 90% of eye injuries in accidents.
Data from a study by the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics involving 4.7 million occupational injuries and illnesses suggest that eye injuries accounted for 47 percent of all head injuries involving days away from and 70 percent of all face injuries involving days away from work. It is estimated that such incidents cost the economy over $300 million per year in lost production time, medical expenses and workers compensation.
Potential eye hazards can be found in nearly every industry. However, workers in the manufacturing and trade industries and those in the occupational group operators, fabricators, and labourers and in precision, production, craft, and repair occupations were most at risk of incurring an eye injury.
The typical eye injuries occurred by rubbed or abraded foreign matter, such as metal chips, dirt particles, and splinters, or by striking the eye; surface wounds, such as abrasions, scratches, and foreign bodies (splinters and chips) were among the most common types of injuries to the eyes.
Eye protection means more than just wearing the contact lenses or glasses you may use for vision correction. Remember that eyeglasses aren't sufficient protection. The type of eye protection needed will depend on the activity you are involved in.
Protection at work
The eye protection needed to do your job safely is determined by the local regulation. Most regulations specify the kind of approved eye protection to be used for each high risk activity. Too many workers who wear eye protection still suffer injuries, so how much protection is enough? Too many people rely on a quick call to the manufacturer to determine the type of protective eyewear for a specific situation.
An onsite hazard assessment is indispensable to determine which of several eye hazards exist for each job. The following eye safety checklist prepared by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health is a useful tool in most workplaces:
People who have received this sort of awareness training need to have the training regularly refreshed to keep it at the forefront of their mind. It's no good just going out and getting them trained, only to allow them to forget all about it a few months later. Refresher training doesn't even have to be formal, you could devise a simple game or quiz or just hold a discussion with members of your workforce to reinforce messages from the training.
One such widely recognised programme is 'Working safely', which is accredited by the UK-based professional body the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). This course isn't a qualification, but everyone who completes it successfully gets a certificate at the end of the course. It's run by licensed trainers, who will be recognised members of IOSH. If a more formal qualification is required there are, in addition to IOSH, a number of other bodies which run these types of programme.
Create a safe work environment
- Minimize hazards from falling or unstable debris
- Make sure that tools work and safety features (machine guards) are in place
- Make sure that workers (particularly volunteers) know how to use tools properly
- Keep bystanders out of the hazard area
Evaluate safety hazards
- Identify the primary hazards at the site
- Identify hazards posed by nearby workers, large machinery, and falling/ shifting debris
Wear the proper eye and face protection
- Select the appropriate eye protection for the hazard
- Make sure the eye protection is in good condition
- Make sure the eye protection fits properly and will stay in place
Use good work practices
- Caution - Brush, shake, or vacuum dust and debris from hardhats, hair, forehead, or the top of the eye protection before removing the protection
- Do not rub eyes with dirty hands or clothing
- Clean eyewear regularly
Prepare for eye injuries and first aid needs
- Have an eye wash or sterile solution on hand
Don't let your guard down. Have your protective eye wear handy at all times. And remember, your best protection is common sense. If it looks dangerous, it might well be.
General considerations in selecting PPE
Once the risks which are actually present have been determined and, where appropriate, other control measures used to reduce the level of risk, then consideration can be given to further reducing the risks by use of PPE.
In circumstances where PPE is the only protection against a particular hazard, it becomes vital that suitable PPE is chosen for the job.
The performance standard required from PPE is determined directly by the nature and level of risks involved in performing the task. Selection of PPE without reference to the risks involved in doing the work can be a waste of resources and may provide no protection.
In selecting PPE it is important to ensure that the chosen item of PPE will provide the necessary protection under the conditions of use.
Adequate protection will only be offered when:
- The right items or combinations of PPE are worn
- The PPE being used is suitable for the welding environment
- The PPE fits each worker properly without causing undue discomort
- The worker is given information and training in the use of PPE
- The PPE in use is maintained regularly
Wearing several different types of PPE at the same time (e.g. eye and hearing protection) may lead to unnecessary discomfort for the worker and in some cases it may compromise the effectiveness of some items and it may be better to select one item in which the protective components are integrally combined by one manufacturer.
PPE requirements
PPE requirements for working in confined spaces where hazardous fumes and gases may accumulate or shielding gases may create an oxygen deficient atmosphere, would be very different from those in a well-ventilated workshop, so in discussing PPE requirements reference is made to the risks rather than any specific operation.
Once the risks arising from the work activities have been determined and, wherever appropriate, other means have been used to reduce the level of risk to as low as is reasonably practicable, consideration can be given to further reducing the risks by use of PPE.
When choosing safety eye wear it should be noted that:
- It is important to consider comfort and fit when considering suitable eye protectors. Single size non-adjustable spectacles are common but cannot be expected to provide comfort and fit to all wearers
- If good fit is not achieved, eye protectors may not provide the intended level of protection. To provide good comfort and fit many types of spectacles have adjustable side arms and tilting frames. Some goggles are provided with deformable foam flange seals to achieve improved comfort and fit
- Various types of lens material are available together with various coatings to provide additional properties such as abrasion resistance, impact resistance and anti-fogging. Given the choice in safety eye wear, wherever possible workers' involvement in the selection process should be sought;
- Sidearms of spectacles and head- bands of goggles can disturb the fit of full facemask and ear protectors and the nose bridge of spectacles and goggles can disturb the fit of half mask and filtering piece respirators and vice-versa
- Safety eye wear may need to be worn behind the welding shield, e.g. when slag is removed or a weld is ground, and therefore it is required that it be compatible with the shield. If goggles are used, types that resist misting are preferred (marked 'N' in BS EN 166)
Author
Uzma Mir, Director, IMS Certification FZE
UK based IMS Certification International plc is an ISO certifying body that audits and certifies organizations on the key management standards like ISO 9001 QMS, ISO 14001 EMS, OHSAS 18001 HSMS and ISO 27001 ISMS.
5EB/148 Dubai Airport Free Zone, P.O. Box 293848, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 4 609 1171Fax: +971 4 609 1175www.imscertification.com
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