January is National Eye Care Month, so it’s a good time to train your employees on vision health and safety.
Get employees’ attention by saying that you’re going to put the focus on the built-in camera that is their eyes. Explain that the cornea that shields the eye is capable of out-performing the best optics ever produced, but it is paper-thin and delicate, so it must be safeguarded diligently.
Ask your employees if they take good care of their snapshot and video cameras. Undoubtedly they do, so follow up by emphasizing that it’s even more imperative for them to take good care of their eyes, because there is no substitute if their eyes are destroyed or severely damaged.
Instruct them to have their vision tested, particularly if they experience:
- Blurred or foggy vision
- Double vision
- Loss of side vision
- Inability to adjust to reduced light
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If they find out they need a prescription for eyeglasses, recommend that they:
- Choose lenses that are shatter resistant.
- Get properly fitted frames.
- Wear the glasses or contacts faithfully as prescribed.
In addition, remind your employees that they need to get their vision rechecked periodically, because outdated prescriptions can distort their vision and strain their eyes.
Whether or not your employees need a prescription, instruct them to always take these precautions to protect their precious sight:
- Wear eye protection whenever hazards require them—whether at work or at home.
- Avoid looking directly into any source of brilliant or potentially harmful light unless your eyes are shielded.
- Wipe face and eyes with clean hands only, to avoid transferring any particles to the eyes.
- If something does get into the eye, do not rub it; get the proper first-aid or medical treatment immediately.
- If eyes are burned, flush immediately with cool water for several minutes. Keeping the eyes open to the soothing and diluting water may be somewhat uncomfortable, but it can help save sight until you can seek medical attention.
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If your workplace has particular eye hazards, customize this session with more specific safety precautions and procedures for your employees to follow.
Why It Matters
- According to OSHA, thousands of workers are blinded each year from work-related eye injuries.
- These injuries could have been prevented with proper eye and face protection.
- These eye injuries cost more than $300 million per year in lost production time, medical expenses, and workers’ compensation costs.