In every workplace, there will be a number of hazards that can cause irritation and injury to the eye, and in extreme cases, diseases from infection can also develop.

In fact, Dr. Paul Olsovsky, OD explains that there are a number of practices and habits that can keep employees safe from eye injuries and the development of eye-related diseases while at work.

Maintaining Eye Health and Safety in the Workplace

There are four key actions that employees should take on a daily basis in order to protect their eyes while performing their job’s duties. The use of appropriate eye protection, maintaining a safe work environment, cleaning eye protection gear regularly, and washing hands before touching the face are all crucial steps for preventing injury and disease.

Wear Eye Protection

Eye protection gear is the most common and effective step for improving eye safety in the workplace. The type of eye protection provided to an employee will vary depending on the hazards associated with their job: standard safety glasses, goggles, full face shields, and even full-face respirators may be used. Most safety goggles can also include an employee’s eyeglass prescription in them as well.

Work Behind Shields When Available

In work environments where flying debris is a fairly regular occurrence, employers will often have shields installed throughout the area to protect workers. This cuts down on the amount of dust and debris that can affect an employee while they perform their daily tasks.

However, these barriers are only useful when employees actually use them – working behind shields when they are provided is the easiest way to minimize the risk of damage or irritation to the eyes. This action should always be combined with additional safety measures when necessary.

Clean Eyewear After Every Use

Although cleaning eyewear after every single use is often an overlooked practice, it is very important for maintaining eye health. Washing the entire face, head, following certain workplace exposures is common, and eyewear should also be added to this regimen. This practice ensures that any residual dust and debris will be removed from the eyewear, reducing the risk of debris getting into the eye.

Eyewear should be sanitized with the appropriate solution and dried thoroughly. This will ensure there is no hazard the next time it is put on, and it won’t accumulate any harmful pathogens like mold or bacteria from being left wet.

Additionally, it’s important to check with the eye doctor, or prescribing entity if the safety goggles have prescription lenses. There may be alternative cleaning methods that need to be followed.

Only Rub Eyes with Freshly Washed Hands

This may sound like an intuitive practice, but it often takes conscious effort to avoid touching the face or rubbing the eyes before the hands have been washed. However, it is a crucial step for preventing infectious bacteria from coming into contact with the eye and causing irritation.

Final Thoughts

It is thoroughly evident that using the above practices for eye protection in the workplace is a key component of ensuring employee health and company productivity.