Emergency Response for Workplace Eye Injuries

Without prompt and effective emergency response following a workplace eye injury, the damage could turn into a permanent vision loss. Do your workers know how to administer proper first aid for eye injuries?

Most eye injuries need prompt medical attention. But while waiting for assistance to arrive, your workers can do a lot to help minimize eye damage. Quick response to an eye injury can make the difference between a speedy recovery and permanently impaired vision.

Here’s a quick rundown of first aid for the most common workplace eye injuries.

For particles in the eye:

• 
  Don’t rub the eye.


• Lift the upper eyelid outward and down over the lower lid, and let tears wash out the particle.


• If that doesn’t work, flush the eye with water until the particle comes out.


• If the particle still doesn’t come out, or if pain or redness continues, bandage the eye lightly and get medical attention.

For chemical splashes or burns:

• 
  Hold the eye open and use the emergency eyewash to flush with water for at least 15 minutes.


• Remove any contact lenses.


• Call for emergency assistance.


• Check the MSDS for information about the chemical and supply this information to emergency medical personnel.

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For exposure to welding, lasers, or UV light:

• 
  Seek medical treatment even if the victim doesn’t feel any immediate discomfort. Pain, a gritty sensation, sensitivity to light, swelling, redness, or other burn symptoms might not appear for hours.


• Keep eyes closed while awaiting medical attention.

For blows to the eye:

• 
  Apply a cold compress without pressure for 15 minutes to reduce pain and swelling.


• Get medical attention at once if pain continues or if vision is affected.

For a penetrating object in the eye:

• 
  Call for emergency medical attention immediately.


• Do not remove, move, or put pressure on the object.


• Immobilize the object by placing a soft, bulky dressing around the object and securing it in place with a bandage.


• Bandage the other eye as well so that the victim will keep the injured eye still.

For cuts near the eye:

• 
  Bandage loosely and get medical attention.


• Don’t put pressure on the eye.


• Don’t rub or wash the cut to prevent further damage.

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Train Easily and Effectively

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All told, this "trainer’s bible" contains 50 prewritten meetings covering almost every aspect of safety you’d want or need to train on, in a format designed to be taught in as little as 7 minutes. Major topics include:

—Confined spaces
—Electrical safety
—Fire safety and emergency response
—HazCom
—Machine guarding and lockout/tagout
—Material handling
—PPE use and care
—Housekeeping/slips, trips, and falls
—and dozens more

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If you’d like to personally evaluate 7-Minute Safety Trainer and see how it can build safety awareness, we’ll be happy to send it to you for 30 days on a no-cost, no-obligation trial basis. Just let us know, and we’ll arrange it.

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