Common Causes of Workplace Eye Injuries In Illinois

Eye injuries are pretty common among workers. According to the CDC, on a daily basis, approximately 2,000 U.S. workers suffer a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. Such statistics indicate that eye protection should be a primary concern for employees and employers. While some eye injuries are unpreventable, most eye injuries are preventable.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Workplace Eye Injuries?

Work-related eye injuries can happen in many ways. The following are some of the most common ways workers sustain eye injuries while at work;

Flying Debris

Some examples of jobs where workers are at risk of suffering eye injuries due to flying debris include jobs involving engineering, demolition, and building. If, for instance, a worker does not have proper protective eyeglasses, even the smallest piece of grit can scratch the cornea and result in an eye injury.

Allergies

Some workers suffer eye injuries because of allergic reactions. For example, if an employee who is allergic to certain flowers gets exposed to those particular flowers while at work, they may have an allergic reaction.

Penetration

Objects such as staples or nails can go through a worker’s eyeball and lead to the worker losing their vision.

Blunt Trauma

If an employee is struck in the eye with a heavy object, they can suffer an eye injury. A blunt eye injury can cause damage to the eyeball, eyelid, and thin bones behind the eyeball.

Chemical Exposure

Any contact with chemicals can result in extensive damage to the eyes. A worker can sustain an eye injury after chemicals splash into their eyes or if their eyes come into contact with the chemical’s fumes.

Tools

There are several tools that workers use daily that can cause eye disorders. For example, the computer can cause different types of eye disorders. The radiation lamps used by workers in biology-related labs can also cause various types of eye disorders.

How Can Employers and Workers Reduce Eye Injuries in the Workplace?

The following are just a few basic precautions employers and employees can take to reduce workplace eye injuries.

• Provide appropriate protective gear
• Regularly inspect protective gear
• Properly train workers regarding possible eye injuries and how to avoid them.
• Provide emergency eye wash stations near chemicals

You Can Recover Compensation for Your Work-related Eye Injury

After a worker suffers a work-related eye injury or develops a work-related eye disorder, the cost of treating that injury or disorder can add up quickly. Fortunately, if you suffer a work-related eye injury or develop a work-related eye disorder, you might be able to claim compensation. You can recover compensation through a workers’ compensation claim. You can also recover compensation through a personal injury claim if a third party’s negligence caused your eye injury or disorder. If you suffered a workplace eye injury or developed a work-related eye disorder, reach out to a qualified workers’ compensation attorney or personal injury attorney for guidance on how to proceed.

Contact Connolly Injury Law

Have you sustained an eye injury or developed an eye disorder while on the job? Contact the team at Connolly Injury Law at (312)780-0816. You can also reach our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers by filling out our online contact form.

Source:

cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/default.html#:~:text=Each%20day%20about%202000%20U.S.,more%20days%20away%20from%20work.