What occupational injury sends 2,000 workers for medical treatment every day?

(Hint: October is National _______ Prevention Month)

Are you thinking cuts? or maybe falls? Wrong. It’s eye injuries.[1]

As soon as possible following an injury to the eye, a worker should receive attention from a medical expert. Some simple first aid steps may be used, depending on the type of injury, before the worker is referred to an occupational medicine clinic or hospital.[2]

• for particles in the eye (e.g. dust, metal, wood, other particles), irrigating with an artificial tear solution may wash out the particle; if not, close the eye, cover the eye with a loose bandage to prevent movement of the eye, and obtain medical care.

• for a blow to the eye, a cold compress can be applied gently

• for cuts to the eye or eyelid or an object stuck in the eye, do not wash out the eye or remove the object; shield the eye with a rigid cover (like the bottom half of a paper cup) and seek medical attention immediately

dirty eye station for chemicals in the eye, immediately flushing the eye with clean water (for at least 15 minutes) is vital. Employers should check, preferable weekly, that eye washing stations are working and accessible, unlike the one to the right (photo courtesy of Ken Arp, senior industrial hygienist with Iowa OSHA)

A reminder: injured workers should be taken to the medical facility; do not ask them to drive themselves.

Of course the best option is not to need first aid at all. Remove or substitute workplace hazards that put the worker at risk of an eye injury. It that’s not possible, provide the right type of eye protection for the task—safety glasses, goggles with/without side shields, face shields or face-covering helmets—and encourage proper use. Prevention of an eye injury is the key.

1-NIOSH (Eye Safety): www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/
2-American Optometric Association (Protecting Your Eyes at Work): www.aoa.org/x4736.xml

October 2012


UI HealthWorks is a member of the WORKSAFE IOWA Occupational Medicine Associate Network, the only university-affiliated network of occupational health providers.

WORKSAFE IOWA is an outreach program of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health.


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