Knoxville Workers Need Appropriate Eye Protection to Prevent Injuries

In Tennessee, the loss of an eye is a scheduled injury. According to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the loss of an eye entitles a worker to 100 weeks of workers’ compensation benefits.

Unfortunately, workers may lose their eyes or may injure their eyes as a result of contact with an object or being exposed to a thermal or chemical burn. When a worker suffers injury to the eye, he should consult with an industrial accident lawyer in Knoxville for assistance in making a workers’ compensation claim or for help pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against a non-employer whose actions played a role in causing the eye injury.

Preventing Eye Injuries At Knoxville Workplaces

Eye injuries are a serious risk for workers throughout the United States. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), eye injuries result in an estimated $300 million in costs and losses every year. These costs include workers’ compensation expenses, medical expenditures, and employee time away from work, causing lost wages and lost productivity.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also reports on the high risk of eye injuries on the job.  According to the CDC, about 2,000 workers every day suffer eye injuries and 100 of those injuries are serious enough that at least one day of work is missed. About 1/3 of the eye injuries that occur in U.S. workplaces necessitate hospitalization or intensive medical treatment. The majority of the injuries happen because something gets into the eye, like dust or metal slivers, but injuries can also happen when the eye is burned, when chemicals get into the eye or when a worker’s eye is hit by an object.

Preventing contact with dangerous items and substances is essential to reducing the risk of eye injuries to employees. The CDC has an Eye Safety Checklist that should be followed in order to help keep workers safe from blindness, vision impairment or the loss of an eye. The steps to take include:

• Making sure the work environment is safe. Debris should be kept to a minimum and objects should be secured and kept stable.  All machines should have machine guards, and workers need to be trained on the proper use of equipment.  If there are hazardous areas on the job site, bystander access should be restricted.
• Carefully evaluating safety risks. Both primary hazards and dangers that nearby workers pose should be evaluated before any job is started.
• Protecting the eyes with appropriate protective gear. The gear needs to meet OSHA requirements and should be in good condition and fit the worker appropriately so it remains securely in place while work is performed.
• Removing dust and debris from clothing and hardhats before eye protection comes off.
• Avoiding touching the eyes with soiled hands or dirty clothing.
• Providing an eye wash station or having a sterile solution on hand that workers will be able to use in case of chemical exposure or debris in the eyes.

Both employers and employees need to do their part to prevent on-the-job eye injuries. If a worker is hurt, he should speak with an attorney about making a workers’ compensation claim.

A Knoxville accident lawyer can help collision victims. Contact G. Turner Howard III, Attorney at Law at (844) G3-Help-Me or 865-558-8030 to schedule a free consultation.