Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) releases the top 10 most cited violations. Violating these OSHA safety standards can put workers in dangerous or even deadly situations at work.
In 2018, eye and face protection violations joined the top ten list.
The dangers of neglecting eye and face protection
Around 2,000 employees suffer job-related eye injuries each day, according to The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Neglecting protective eyewear, such as goggles and safety glasses is a major contributor. Face protection, such as a face shield or full-face respirator, can also save a worker from serious injury.
Wearing eye and face protection can help certain workers avoid such risks as:
- Flying objects and debris
- Scrapes, snags, force trauma
- Noxious gas
- Penetration
- Chemical burns
- Thermal burns
- Infectious fluid
- Eye diseases
Wear the proper protection
If you work in conditions that may be potentially hazardous to your eyes, face or lungs, ensure that you are complying with OSHA’s standards for eye and face protection. This criterion supplies useful information concerning what types of protection are needed under different circumstances.
If you do not believe you are being provided with the proper protection at work, visit your local hardware store to seek other options independently.
When you get hurt
Even if your employer is negligent in providing you with the proper safety equipment, workers’ compensation law may make it difficult for you to sue your employer. However, workers’ compensation does allow employees to seek benefits when they’ve been injured — regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
However, filing one of these claims requires meeting certain deadlines, such as giving notice to your employer within 30 days of the incident. To ensure that you meet all necessary guidelines for filing a workers’ compensation claim, consult with an attorney right away after experiencing a workplace injury. A workers’ compensation lawyer can guide you through the process to get you the results you deserve.
