Work-related Eye Injuries

Each day more than 2,000 U.S. workers receive some form of medical treatment because of eye injuries sustained at work. More than 800,000 work-related eye injuries occur each year.

In 2000, 300,000 eye injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments (ED). This was 22.2 cases per 10,000 full-time workers. Of these workers, 80% were men. Compared with women, men had an eye injury rate 4 times higher (32.4 vs. 8.2 cases, respectively, per 10,000 full-time workers).

In 70% of cases, the injury was caused by contact with an object or equipment. In 26% of cases, the injury was caused by exposure to harmful substances or environments.

Injury sources were:

• Scrap, waste, debris (34%)
• Chemicals or chemical products (14%)
• Person, plants, animals and minerals (9%)
• Parts and materials (6%)
• Welding torches (6%)

Data Source:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Source:

Healthy People 2010 Vision. Fact Sheet: Eye Safety at Work is Everyone’s Business.

More Information

• NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: Eye Safety
• Healthy Vision 2010
• National Eye Institute
• Eye Safety Tool Box Talk - Instructor's Guide