Sight Conservation and Eye Sight Conservation and Eye SafetySafety

Nueces CountyRisk Management Department

A. Your Eyes’ DefensesA. Your Eyes’ Defenses

DefensesDefenses

• TearsTears– Self-cleans the eyes of foreign materialSelf-cleans the eyes of foreign material

• Eye lidEye lid– Physical barrier to some objectsPhysical barrier to some objects

• CorneaCornea– Damaged ones can now be replacedDamaged ones can now be replaced

• Inner eye (retina)Inner eye (retina)– Damage is irreversibleDamage is irreversible

B. Types of Eye InjuriesB. Types of Eye Injuries

Foreign BodiesForeign Bodies

• Most common of injuriesMost common of injuries• Abrasions & ScratchesAbrasions & Scratches

– Can cause permanent scar tissueCan cause permanent scar tissue

• Contusions from large objectsContusions from large objects• Irritations from fibersIrritations from fibers• Particles in smoke or fumesParticles in smoke or fumes

Chemical BurnsChemical Burns

• Acids Acids – Precipitate a protein barrier preventing Precipitate a protein barrier preventing

further penetration into tissuefurther penetration into tissue– Burn the surface of the eye and cause scarsBurn the surface of the eye and cause scars

• Bases (alkalis) Bases (alkalis) – Damages tissue as long as there is contactDamages tissue as long as there is contact– Dissolves fat-soluble tissue, turning it into Dissolves fat-soluble tissue, turning it into

“jelly”“jelly”

• Acids and Bases are both CORROSIVEAcids and Bases are both CORROSIVE

Chemical BurnsChemical Burns

• Gases in air can burn or irritateGases in air can burn or irritate• Vapors and mists can irritate and Vapors and mists can irritate and

produce scarringproduce scarring– PaintsPaints– PesticidesPesticides– CleanersCleaners

• In the Navy, the most frequent eye In the Navy, the most frequent eye injuries result from handling fuels injuries result from handling fuels without eye protectionwithout eye protection

Irradiation BurnsIrradiation Burns

• Infrared light – IR - (heat lamps)Infrared light – IR - (heat lamps)– Passes through cornea-absorbed by lensPasses through cornea-absorbed by lens

• Ultraviolet light – UV - (sun, welding)Ultraviolet light – UV - (sun, welding)– Causes flash burnsCauses flash burns– Delayed effects Delayed effects

(4-6 hrs. after exposure)(4-6 hrs. after exposure)

• Infrared and Ultraviolet light Infrared and Ultraviolet light

can cause permanent eye damagecan cause permanent eye damage

C. Effective Sight C. Effective Sight Conservation ProgramConservation Program

Program ElementsProgram Elements

• Identify eye hazardsIdentify eye hazards– Survey all work areas to determine Survey all work areas to determine

potential eye hazardous areas potential eye hazardous areas

Program ElementsProgram Elements

• Eliminate hazards by engineering Eliminate hazards by engineering controlscontrols– Eliminate hazards completely, when Eliminate hazards completely, when

possiblepossible– Reduce eye hazards Reduce eye hazards

Machine GuardsMachine Guards Isolation of the processIsolation of the processSubstitution of a less hazardous chemicalSubstitution of a less hazardous chemical

Program ElementsProgram Elements

• Post WARNINGS for eye hazard areasPost WARNINGS for eye hazard areas– Label all areas and pieces of equipment Label all areas and pieces of equipment

which are potentially hazardouswhich are potentially hazardous– Use yellow & black caution signs:Use yellow & black caution signs:

to warn of eye hazard areasto warn of eye hazard areas to specify eye protection requiredto specify eye protection required

– Mark the areas around eye hazards with Mark the areas around eye hazards with yellow and black striping or yellow and black striping or checkerboard tape on the deckcheckerboard tape on the deck

Program ElementsProgram Elements

• Provide protectionProvide protection– Where hazards can’t be eliminated or Where hazards can’t be eliminated or

reduced, reduced, PPE is requiredPPE is required– County (employer) County (employer) mustmust provide all provide all

protective equipmentprotective equipment– Protection must be specific to the jobProtection must be specific to the job– Supervisor shall determine Supervisor shall determine

types to be worntypes to be worn

D. Eye Protection--Personal D. Eye Protection--Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Protective Equipment (PPE)

Must Meet ANSI StandardsMust Meet ANSI Standards

• Each manufacturer’s glasses or Each manufacturer’s glasses or goggles must be tested and approved.goggles must be tested and approved.

• Testing includes:Testing includes:– ImpactImpact– PermeabilityPermeability– Shatter proofingShatter proofing– Frame breaking strengthFrame breaking strength

• Only ANSI approved eyewear may Only ANSI approved eyewear may

be used:be used:– Must have “Z87” or “Z87+” stamp Must have “Z87” or “Z87+” stamp

Devices Designed for Devices Designed for Specific HazardsSpecific Hazards

• Six general types of protective Six general types of protective eyeweareyewear– Safety glasses/spectaclesSafety glasses/spectacles– Chemical gogglesChemical goggles– Welding gogglesWelding goggles– Chipping gogglesChipping goggles– Welding helmetsWelding helmets– Face shieldsFace shields

• Wear the right type!! Wearing the Wear the right type!! Wearing the wrong type can be dangerouswrong type can be dangerous

Wearing Protective DevicesWearing Protective Devices

• Wear double protection for acids and Wear double protection for acids and basesbases– Chemical goggles AND face shield!!!Chemical goggles AND face shield!!!

• Face shields MUST be worn with safety Face shields MUST be worn with safety glasses or gogglesglasses or goggles– Face shields may not be worn alone!!!Face shields may not be worn alone!!!

• When working with UV light, wear When working with UV light, wear protection based on level of light protection based on level of light intensityintensity– NO sunglasses!!!NO sunglasses!!!

Wearing Protective DevicesWearing Protective Devices

• Regular prescription glasses Regular prescription glasses CANNOT be worn as safety glassesCANNOT be worn as safety glasses– Can wear prescription safety glasses that Can wear prescription safety glasses that

meet Z87 standards, with supervisor meet Z87 standards, with supervisor permissionpermission

– May use side shields if adequate protection May use side shields if adequate protection for the taskfor the task

• Keep devices cleanKeep devices clean• Discard badly scratched Discard badly scratched

or damaged eyewearor damaged eyewear

E. Emergency Eye Wash E. Emergency Eye Wash StationsStations

Emergency Eye Wash Emergency Eye Wash StationsStations

• Must flush with fresh water for Must flush with fresh water for minimum of 15 minutesminimum of 15 minutes

• Flushing is used to:Flushing is used to:– Remove foreign objectsRemove foreign objects– Dilute strong chemicalsDilute strong chemicals

• Required whereverRequired wherever– Corrosives are used (battery shops)Corrosives are used (battery shops)– Particulate hazards exist (machine Particulate hazards exist (machine

shop)shop)

Eye Wash RequirementsEye Wash Requirements

• Must meet ANSI standardsMust meet ANSI standards• Must provide continuous water flowMust provide continuous water flow• Activated by one hand or foot Activated by one hand or foot

motionmotion• Both hands free to hold eyes open Both hands free to hold eyes open

(valve must stay open)(valve must stay open)• May be combined with deluge May be combined with deluge

shower for full body chemical first shower for full body chemical first aidaid

Eye Wash StylesEye Wash Styles

• Plumbed into water systemPlumbed into water system• Gravity-fed portable self-containerGravity-fed portable self-container• Each should be inspected quarterly Each should be inspected quarterly

for proper operationfor proper operation

F. Program EnforcementF. Program Enforcement

EnforcementEnforcement

• Personnel working in eye hazardous Personnel working in eye hazardous areas MUST wear eye protectionareas MUST wear eye protection

• Supervisors must set the exampleSupervisors must set the example• Visitors/guests provided with eye Visitors/guests provided with eye

protectionprotection• Some sports (racquetball) are Some sports (racquetball) are

hazardous. Wear sport goggleshazardous. Wear sport goggles• Encourage personnel to wear eye Encourage personnel to wear eye

protection at home (hobbies/lawn work) protection at home (hobbies/lawn work)

G. Eye Injury First AidG. Eye Injury First Aid

First AidFirst Aid

• Never rub eyes to remove particulatesNever rub eyes to remove particulates• Chemical burns or exposureChemical burns or exposure

– Flush for 15 minutes (minimum)Flush for 15 minutes (minimum)– Get medical attention!Get medical attention!

• Punctures and traumaPunctures and trauma– Cover with a clean, soft clothCover with a clean, soft cloth– Get medical attention! Call 911Get medical attention! Call 911

• Notify Supervisor and Risk Notify Supervisor and Risk Management of ALL injuries.Management of ALL injuries.

First AidFirst Aid

• Report ALL minor cuts and eye Report ALL minor cuts and eye problems for medical evaluation problems for medical evaluation and treatmentand treatment– Minor scratches may lead to potential Minor scratches may lead to potential

infections with resulting scar tissue infections with resulting scar tissue formation, loss of sight, or other formation, loss of sight, or other significant damagesignificant damage

QUESTIONS ? ? ?QUESTIONS ? ? ?