One of the first things you do in the morning is open your eyes. You may rub them so that you can more clearly see the clock, turn on lights as you walk through your house and look in the mirror to assess your face and hair. Perhaps you read the paper or check emails while you eat breakfast, and you drive yourself to work taking note of the sky and the possibility for rain.
How different your world would be if you could not see. Nevertheless, you may be one of the 20,000 people who will suffer an eye injury at work this year. The sad fact is that most eye accidents are preventable. Since March is Eye Safety Month, you may benefit from reviewing some important information about injury prevention and response in your workplace.
Where are the risks?
Every job has its risks, from the strain of hours in front of the computer to the danger of airborne debris at a construction site or manufacturing plant. However, if you work in construction, manufacturing or mining industries, you have a higher potential for more serious eye damage. Injuries in these lines of work also have a greater chance of causing permanent vision loss or blindness from hazards such as these:
- Loose particles of construction or manufacturing materials
- Drops of molten metal
- Caustic liquids that splash into your face
- Vapors from chemicals or gases
Any of these can result in a life-changing injury literally in the blink of an eye. You may be shocked to learn that 90 percent of such injuries can be prevented if you wear the appropriate eyewear for the type of work you do.
What to do in case of an accident
The eye is a delicate organ, and an eye injury is almost always the kind of injury that is best treated my medical professionals as quickly as possible. If you or a coworker suffers an injury to the eye, these signs may indicate a serious medical emergency:
- Pain and loss of vision
- Foreign body in the eye
- Cuts or tears in the eyelid
- Blood in the eye
- Unequal movement of the eyes
- Abnormal shape or size of the pupil
- Bulging of the eye
An eye injury can quickly end your ability to work, leaving you with few resources to provide for your family. While prevention is a far better plan, workers' compensation is available to assist you financially in the event of a workplace injury, and a compassionate Kentucky attorney is ready to help you navigate that often-complicated process.
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