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Workplace conditions can pose a risk to workers’ eyes in a wide variety of jobs. From computer-related vision issues to chemical and physical hazards, eyes can be at risk in all sorts of jobs. In addition, vision and workplace safety have a connection. Poor sight can cause workplace accidents that harm both your workers and those around them and leave you at risk of paying for health costs, legal fees, fines and workers’ compensation costs.
To avoid this fate and enhance employee safety, you can improve working conditions that provide better protection for eyes as well as offer vision plans, like those from Vision Care Direct, to support employee eye health.
Eyes are at risk in working environments
Studies have shown that up to 2,000 people per day suffer an eye injury on the job. Even if conditions seem to be safe or low risk, your employees can suffer injuries. For example, workers who spend a lot of time on the computer run the risk of eyestrain and even retinal damage from the blue light backlight on computer screens. Eyestrain can then lead to headaches, potentially reducing job performance and productivity and even resulting in more days off of work to recover.
Physical work can be increasingly hazardous to the eyes as well. Working on machinery can cause physical eye damage, perhaps from the particles lodging in the eyes. Working with machines in poor light can also lead to eyestrain.
Additionally, certain job types have a higher risk of eye injuries. For example, welders may experience vision damage from the flashes of bright light or the sparks hitting their eyes. Workers in lab settings or those who work with chemicals run the risk of chemical splashes to their eyes as well. And drivers are at risk of eye damage from driving in high glare conditions or in bright sunshine.
Poor vision and workplace safety
Poor vision can not only put employees at risk but it can also cause accidents or injuries to other people. For example, workers who have difficulty seeing well may not see hazards or written warnings in manufacturing facilities, thus causing bigger issues. Similarly, drivers with poor vision may put themselves and others in harm’s way if they can’t see road signs or other drivers clearly.
With the potential for eye damage spanning multiple industries and the various consequences of such damage (personal risk and public safety), it is likely that your sector is exposed to some level of risk. So, how can you, as an employer, help protect your workers?
What can employers do to preserve eye health?
You can protect your employees, both on the job and outside of work, in a variety of ways. One of the most important things you can do is provide appropriate protective eyewear to your employees. Training employees and requiring them to wear the right protective eyewear can greatly reduce the risk of physical injury.
You can also try to reduce risks by eliminating hazardous conditions. Make sure that equipment is well maintained. Blue light filters on the computer screens of your workers can also greatly reduce risks to your employees’ eyes.
Don’t forget vision care
Vision and workplace safety are connected. Many people suffer from undiagnosed or untreated vision issues, which can turn into safety hazards on the job. Providing your employees with vision plans that include eye examinations and prescription eyewear can help prevent accidents, loss of productivity and absenteeism.
Vision Care Direct is an excellent and economical option for you to provide to your employees. All of our plans offer comprehensive eye examinations. These can help diagnose work-related vision issues or those that can cause hazards on the job. In addition, Vision Care Direct’s plans offer savings on prescription eyewear and contact lenses. Many of the options employees want most, such as no-line progressive lenses and UV coatings, are standard with our plans.
Because we are owned by doctors, our focus is on the health of our customers’ eyes, not on making a profit. We want to make sure your employees have healthy eyes so that they can work safely and comfortably.
To learn more, contact us today.
