Page 36 - Occupational Health & Safety, February 2017

VISION PROTECTION
injuries, raises the topic of emergency showers and eyewash. The ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014 American National Standard for Emer- gency Eyewash and Shower Equipment is the key standard to con- sult and follow; available from ISEA (www.safetyequipment.org), it specifies minimum performance criteria for this critical equipment to ensure that a worker receives adequate rinsing of the eyes and face in an emergency situation following exposure. ISEA points out that OSHA inspectors often use the standard to make sure employ- ers are complying with medical and first aid regulations.
The OSHA eTool’s main page offers links to four OSHA stan- dards that apply when selecting eye and face PPE:
■ 29 CFR 1910.132, general requirements
■ 29 CFR 1910.133, general industry
■ 29 CFR 1915.153, maritime
■ 29 CFR 1926.102, construction
When explaining to an employee—a new hire, perhaps, or a seasoned veteran whom you’ve spotted taking an unnecessary risk or who has just experienced a near miss—you may want to offer these statistics. There were 420,870 cases of non-fatal lost-time in- jury or illness in the United States in private industry and state and local government employment during 2014, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in December 2015. Although sprains, strains, and tears were the leading injury or illness that year, when the over- all incidence rate was 38.9 cases per 10,000 full-time workers, there were 23,730 eye injuries requiring time away from work that year, or 6 percent of the total. The median number of days away from
work was nine days for all types of injuries or illnesses that year, according to BLS.
And we know eye injuries can be life-altering. They range from simple eye strain to severe trauma that can cause permanent dam- age or vision loss and even blindness. Blunt trauma can bruise or lacerate the eye or even fracture the bones that surround the eye.
“While advances in both national safety standards and the manufacture of safety eyewear have had a positive impact on ac- cident rates, much room for improvement remains,” Honeywell’s David Iannelli pointed out in a February 2014 article, “Improv- ing Safety Eyewear Fit for Better Protection and Compliance,” in OH&S magazine. “Awareness about the impact of ill-fitting eye- wear is growing, and in recent years special attention has been given to addressing the fitting requirements of today’s diverse workforce. In-depth research and development have led to re- fined eyewear designs that take into account differences in the height, width, or location of cheekbones, nose bridges, and ears, as well as overall head size and shape.
“Especially in high-hazard workplaces, safety managers rec- ognize the importance of providing gap-free eye protection. But, remember, a style that provides a snug, gap-free fit for one work- er may be an ill-fitting and hazardous choice for another. If your workforce includes a mix of men and women from different ethnic backgrounds, one size or style of eyewear may not keep everyone safe. New designs in eyewear based on in-depth research of facial profiles have led to cutting-edge styles that fit up to 85 percent of workers right out of the box, with no adjustments required.” He included tips for finding the style and size that are right for each individual worker.
NIOSH, in the instructor’s guide for an eye safety toolbox talk that is available online (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/tool- box-eye.html), also emphasizes the importance of a good and com- fortable fit. It explains that, when checking the fit of safety eyewear, the biggest gaps are usually near the corners of the glasses, and “the bigger the gap [is] the more exposure to hazards coming from a slight angle from above or below.”
Safety glasses that aren’t snug against the wearer’s face also cre- ate larger gaps that can compromise the worker’s protection, the instructor’s guide says.
To stop safety glasses from fogging, the guide recommends these steps:
■ Buy safety glasses that have anti-fog coatings put on during manufacturing.
■ Use anti-fog solutions on the lenses regularly, if needed.
■ Wear a sweat band on your forehead or a cool rag in your hard hat.
■ Keep the lenses clean and unscratched.
Recent Calls for a Comprehensive
Vision Health Strategy
Prevent Blindness America, long an advocate of vision health and saving sight, sent a letter Nov. 22, 2016, urging President-elect Donald Trump to support the Vision Health Initiative2 of the Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention. Although polls suggest Americans “have consistently identified fear of vision loss as sec- ond only to the fear of cancer. . . a coordinated national approach to interventions, supported by adequate funding, is currently not
www.ohsonline.com
32 Circle 18 on card.