3 tips for protecting your eyes in the construction industry

Construction workers in Colorado face a lot of work hazards, including eye injuries. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, construction workers are more at risk for eye injuries than workers in any other industry. In fact, around 20% of workplace eye injuries happen in construction.

Why is it that construction workers file so many workers’ compensation claims for eye injuries? The answer may be that workers in this industry are simply exposed to more opportunities for injury to the eyes. Here are some ways that construction workers can protect their eyes from work hazards like flying objects or toxic materials.

Wear eye protection

Wearing eye protection may be a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many workers don’t take this simple safety precaution. When choosing your eye protection for work, you should make sure that it fits snugly to your face and is shatterproof. Research what type of eye protection is best for your specific job and wear that.

Be aware of your surroundings

Sometimes, construction workers get injured while passing through areas that they aren’t working in. That’s why even visitors on construction sites should be wearing eye protection. Stay cognizant of what’s happening in all areas of your workplace so that you can protect your eyes as needed.

Check the safety of prescription eyewear

If you wear glasses, you will need to make sure that your prescription eyewear is safe for the construction site. For example, some glasses are impact-resistant but not shatterproof. It’s also important to remember that your prescription glasses only provide partial eye protection. You’ll still need to wear some sort of eye protection over your glasses to cover the open sides.

Recovering from eye injuries can be expensive

Workplace eye injuries can be painful and may cause you to miss work while you recover. Those missed work days can be financially devastating, especially when you have to pay for medical treatment at the same time. The good news is that you may be able to recover some of your financial losses by filing a workers’ compensation claim.

Category:

• WORKERS' COMPENSATION