How many people do you think would say, "I've got two eyes—I can afford to lose one"? Nobody in their right mind! And yet, how many of your employees right this minute could be taking the risk of losing an eye in a job accident? Maybe more than you'd like to think. To keep them safe from eye injuries, take advantage of the fact that August is Eye Injury Prevention Month to work in a little eye safety training during the next few weeks.

The "Big Three" reasons for eye injuries on the job. The Department of Labor says that the three most common reasons for workplace eye injuries are:

1. Not being aware of potential eye hazards;
2. Not using eye protection; and
3. Using the wrong type of eye protection for the hazard.

That means that your employees can avoid most eye injuries simply by:

• Watching out for eye hazards;
• Taking the right precautions while they work; and
• Always wearing the right kind of eye protection.

The right type of protection makes all the difference.

It's essential for employees to select the right type of eyewear to protect their eyes against the maximum level of potential hazard. For example:

• Flying fragments, objects, chips, or particles—Safety glasses with side shields or goggles with side shields, and for extra protection, a face shield over the safety glasses or goggles
• Chemical splashes—safety goggles and a face shield for extra protection
• Dust, fumes, mists, gases, and vapors—Offset ventilated safety goggles worn with a face shield
• Hot sparks or splashes—Goggles or safety glasses with side shields and a face shield
• Radiant energy—Goggles with special lenses to filter out the harmful light

But don't stop there! There's more employees can do to prevent eye injuries. Make sure they take these other precautions as well:

• Obey all warning signs requiring eye protection.
• Always put on protective eyewear before entering an area where hazards may be present.
• When in doubt, assume that eye hazards are present.
• If you're not sure what the correct type of eye protection is in a particular situation, ask your supervisor before you begin to work.

Making the most of your eye protection. To offer maximum protection safety, eyewear must fit well and be in good condition.

• Proper fit. Eye protection is only as good as it fits. Poor fit is not only uncomfortable, but it also defeats the purpose of wearing the protection to keep objects, vapors, splashes, etc., away from the eyes. Make sure eye protection fits snugly enough to keep out hazards, but comfortably enough to see and move around easily. To get a good fit with safety goggles, adjust the strap and place it low on the back of the head. Goggles should fit comfortably on the bridge of the nose, and the center of the lens should be in front of the eye.
• Inspection. Inspect eye protection before each use, checking for bent or damaged frames, scratched or pitted lenses, and loose or damaged headbands. Replace any damaged equipment right away.
• Care and maintenance. After each wearing, wash eye protection gently in warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and air-dry. After chemical exposure or before use by another employee, use a disinfectant to clean eye protection. Store eye protection in a clean dustproof case.