Whichever field of work you are involved in, your eyes will likely play a key role in your duties. Whether we realize it or not, our eyes are involved in nearly every physical movement we make.
Unfortunately, our eyes are also extremely sensitive and they are not designed to take trauma or be exposed to certain types of materials. How do eye injuries most commonly occur in the workplace and what are your options if you suffer this type of injury on the job?
Reactions to chemicals
Depending on your vocation, there may be a number of different chemicals on your worksite. Even in locations where less manual work happens, there will be some cleaning materials at the very least. Usually, these substances have warnings like “should not come into contact with the eyes.” These warnings are in place for a reason. When certain chemicals come into contact with the eyes, the result can be temporary or even permanent blindness in serious cases.
Airborne materials
If you work in an environment where heavy tools and machinery are utilized, then particles will be launched into the air on a regular basis. You should have eye protection to shield you from the potential injuries this can cause. If you don’t, then you are at risk. Unfortunately, even when protective eye equipment has been utilized, metal and other debris can still breach them occasionally.
Coping with an eye injury can be tricky and you will likely need some time off to recover. During this time, you’ll be unable to earn despite having medical bills and other household costs to cover. This is why you might want to think about a workers’ compensation claim. Seeking guidance about this can help you to recuperate some of your losses.