MRO Today - The eyes have it

The eyes have it
With a little work, your plant won't be a site for sore eyes

by Anne Chambers

Eye safety is a problem for employees and employers. The statistics are overwhelming:

More than 400,000 workplace-related eye injuries occur each year.

More than 100,000 eye injuries each year result in either temporary or permanent vision loss.

In addition to vision loss, there is an economic impact. Eye injuries cost companies and workers around $500 million each year.

There is good news, though. Ninety percent of all work-related eye injuries can be avoided through the use of proper protective eyewear.

When protective eyewear is used in conjunction with machine guards, engineering controls and sound manufacturing practices, such injuries can be prevented.

What follows is a three-step approach to practicing safe sight.

Step 1: Identify hazards
A good eye protection program starts with hazard identification. Employees and employers can work together to identify hazards. Safety eyewear manufacturers and/or distributor representatives are available to help with a hazard survey as well as provide assistance in selecting appropriate eyewear for workplace hazards.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has identified five basic hazard categories, including impact, heat, chemical splash, dust and optical radiation.

An eye protection survey is used to identify potential workplace hazards and help select appropriate eye protection. The survey identifies hazards such as impact caused by flying fragments, objects, chips and particles and then identifies the required types of eye protectors.

The nature of the hazard determines the class of eye protection. Primary class protectors (spectacles and goggles) can be worn alone. Secondary class protectors (face shields and welding helmets) must be worn in conjunction with primary protection.

A good exercise for employers and employees is to list work hazard categories together along with specific work activities that create the hazard type. Once hazards are identified, denote the required primary and/or secondary eye protectors.

ANSI has published a protective eyewear selection chart that relates hazards, assessment notes, the type of recommended protectors and limitations. Consult the official ANSI chart (www.ansi.org) for full information.

Step 2: Engineer out the hazards
Once you've identified hazards, engineer them out as much as possible. Don't rely on protective eyewear alone to provide complete hazard protection. Use protective eyewear in conjunction with sound engineering practices, machine guards, engineering controls, etc.

Step 3: Select appropriate eyewear
Select protective eyewear using three simple criteria: protection, comfort and style. Other lens selection criteria include the ability to replace lenses, lens coatings to minimize scratching and fogging, maintenance of eyewear, and tinted or special task lenses.

SIDEBAR
Safety training workshops reduce costly eye injuries
Education is a strategy used to reduce workplace injuries. Eye safety fairs and workshops increase awareness and instruct employees on proper work methods.

Successful eye events include:
-- A pre-event promotional effort including workplace posters, newsletter articles, etc., that builds worker interest in the program.
-- An instructional presentation identifying hazards and the type of protective eyewear that guards against hazards. Contact your safety eyewear manufacturer or distributor for a copy of their workplace training presentation.
-- A custom fitting designed to recommend the necessary eyewear type.
-- Workshop safety certificates for program participants. This adds credibility and value.
-- A guide or brochure reinforcing the presentation message. Workers can reference the guide at a later date.
-- Music and door prizes attract workers and make the workshop fun to attend.

Anne Chambers is marketing manager at Uvex Safety, a manufacturer of safety eyewear.

This article appeared in the August/September 2000 issue of MRO Today magazine. Copyright, 2000.