3083 Eye Safety Basic Training Program Course Outline

Transcription

1 3083 Eye Safety Basic Training Program Course Outline The following outline summarizes the major points of information presented in the course. The outline can be used to review the course before conducting a classroom session, as well as in preparing to lead a class discussion about the course. Safety: What s the Big Deal? o One of the reasons organizations keep hitting you on safety is a thing we call safety awareness. o It's human nature not to think about safety. o So the more you hear about safety, the more it's ingrained in your mind. You might get sick of hearing about it, but safety awareness does work. The Purpose of this Course o This course will help increase your safety awareness on one of the most basic and talked about topics in the entire industry: eye injury prevention. What Contributes to Eye Injuries at Work? o Not wearing eye protection. Three out of every five workers injured were not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident. o Wearing the wrong kind of eye protection for the job. Most injured workers were most likely to be wearing eyeglasses with no side shields. What Causes Eye Injuries? o Almost 70 percent of eye injury accidents result from flying or falling objects or sparks striking the eye. o Injured workers estimated that nearly three-fifths of the objects were smaller than a pinhead. Most of the particles were said to be traveling faster than a hand-thrown object when the accident occurred. o Contact with chemicals caused one-fifth of the injuries. o Other accidents were caused by objects swinging from a fixed or attached position like tree limbs, rope, hooks, chains, or tools, which were pulled into the eye while the worker was using them. Where Do Accidents Occur Most Often?

2 o Laborers suffered about one-fifth of the eye injuries studied. o Almost half the injured workers were employed in manufacturing. o Slightly more than 20 percent were in construction. How Can Eye Injuries Be Prevented? o Always wear effective eye protection. Ninety-four percent of injuries to workers wearing eye protection resulted from objects going around or under the protection. o Eye protective devices should allow for air to circulate between the eye and the lens. o Only a small percentage of workers injured while wearing eye protection reported breakage of the equipment. o Nearly one-fifth of injured workers wearing eye protection wore face shields or welding helmets. o However, only six percent of injured workers wearing eye protection wore goggles, which generally offered better protection for the eyes. o The best protection is afforded when goggles are worn with face shields. Better Training and Education Needed o The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that most workers were hurt while doing their regular jobs. o Workers injured while not wearing protective eyewear said they believed it was not required by the situation, even though the majority of employers furnished eye protection at no cost to employees. o About 40 percent of employees received no information about where and what type of eye protection should be used. Eye Examinations and Your Health o We highly recommend eye examinations on at least an annual basis, or any time you believe your vision has any type of symptoms or abnormality. o There are several diseases of the eye that can be discovered upon examination. o As you get older, your vision has a tendency to fail, necessitating the need for glasses or other corrective procedures. o Macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, cancer, and other eye problems can be quite serious. o According to Prevent Blindness America, by the year 2030, twice as many people will be blind as are today.

3 o Macular degeneration will continue to be the leading cause of blindness, and there will be a near doubling of the cases of glaucoma. o No one wants their vision distorted or interrupted. So it's up to you to have eye examinations to determine if you have certain diseases or other vision problems. o Waiting until your vision becomes a major problem could result in loss of vision or permanent damage to your vision. Prevention is Key o In your work environment, when your eyes are exposed to hazards, prevention is the key. o You prevent eye injuries by wearing approved personal protective equipment. Notice we said, approved. When your employer purchases protective equipment, it must meet certain standards or it cannot be used. o Knowing this, what about people who wear prescription glasses in the work environment? o Prescription glasses are not approved safety glasses unless you specifically tell the optometrist that you must have industrial safety glasses. o This means your prescription glasses will meet the rigid standards of safety glasses, and the glasses will have a special mark on the lenses identifying them as safety glasses. o You cannot wear regular prescription lenses as safety glasses. o If you are welding, you must use approved lenses for the material or welding process on which you're working. o There are several shades of welding goggles and eye protection shields, so make sure you use approved shades of eye protection when welding, cutting or bracing. o Sunglasses do not afford protection from welding activities. o If you're working in the sun, sunglasses can help shield your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. o However, most people believe that any type of sunglasses prevent ultraviolet damage to the eyes. Doctors tell us otherwise. o Small children are often at great risk of the sun's rays because their parents generally provide them with inexpensive children's sunglasses. o These glasses look cool but offer no protection whatsoever from sun. o It's better to check with your optometrist for all vision products. Safety Tips

4 o All industrial eye glasses must meet the requirements of the American National Standards Institutes. o Safety glasses with side shields are required when there is a danger of something striking the eye. o Goggles fit the face snugly and are effective at sealing the entire eye area and protecting it from hazards like spatter, fumes and vapors. o Face shields provide extra protection from extremely hazardous jobs. o When removing your glasses after working around dust or debris, tilt your head forward, and remove the glasses from the back of your head. o This will keep debris from falling into your eyes. o If your job involves arc welding, your eyes are exposed to ultraviolet light that can cause a serious, injury welding flash. o When using high powered lasers, your eyes are exposed to nonionizing radiation that can severely burn your retina and cornea. o Certainly those are not all the safety tips about eye injury prevention, but you'll receive more training on the subject. o Let's now concentrate on what to do in case you do experience an eye injury. o These are recommendations, but your company will consult with their medical professional on actual emergency treatment policies and procedures. Emergency Procedures for Eye Injuries o Foreign Particles: If you get anything in your eye, such as metal, dirt, or dust particles, go to the nearest eye wash fountain or water source. o Flush the eye with water until the object has been rinsed. Do not rub your eye. This can scratch your eye or further embed the object. o If the particle does not rinse free, bandage your eye loosely and seek medical attention. o Chemical Splashes: Immediately go to the nearest eye wash fountain or emergency shower. o Directly into the stream of water, hold your eyes open with your fingers and flush your eyes and face for a minimum of 15 minutes. o If necessary, ask someone to assist you. o Seek medical attention. o Light Burns: If you are exposed to welding, laser, or other radiant light without appropriate protective eyewear, you probably will not feel pain right away.

5 o After four to 12 hours, however, your eyes may feel gritty, sensitive to light, or may get red or swell. o If this occurs, keep your eyes closed to avoid irritation, and seek medical attention. o Cuts Near Eye: Do not rub, press, or wash the cut because this can cause further damage. o Loosely bandage the injured eye and seek medical attention. o Embedded Objects: Never try to remove objects embedded in your eye. o This can cause further damage. o Loosely bandage the injured eye and seek medical attention. o Bumps and Blows: If you receive a bump or blow to the eye, apply a cold compress for 15 minutes to reduce pain and swelling, and get medical attention. Conclusion o You can guard against eye injuries by making sure that the appropriate protective eye and face equipment is worn, for the particular eye hazards you encounter. o It is important to remember that regular glasses and contact lenses do not offer protection from eye hazards. o Prevention is the first step in avoiding eye injuries. o There is nothing magical about eye injury prevention. But, you must take the initiative. Think of the hazard, and take appropriate action to prevent the hazard or exposure from becoming an injury.