Eye Protection on Construction Sites

Compiled byRudi Nieuwoudt

WHAT CAUSES EYE INJURIES?

Of all the eye injuries that have been sustained on construction sites, the following have been identified as the 2 main causes:

1. Not wearing eye protection.2. Wearing the wrong type of eye protection

WHY DO WE NEED TO WEAR EYE PROTECTION?

In our daily task we are all exposed to hazards that have the potential to cause eye injuries. Dust, grinding sparks, protruding wires, chemicals etc. To protect ourselves we have to wear eye protection and more importantly, we have to wear the correct eye

protection!

Take a look at the following pictures.....

WHY DO WE NEED TO WEAR EYE PROTECTION?

This injury was caused by a grinding

spark.

This injury was caused by a wire

brush.

Again....wire brush. While he was

cleaning shutters.What do all these injuries have in common?

THEY DID NOT WEAR EYE PROTECTION!!

WHAT TYPE SHOULD I WEAR?

Grinding , Cutting or cleaning shutters or

welding seams with a wire brush?

If you are working in very dusty conditions, or if you are working with a material which

gives of a lot of particles.

Normal day to day work on site?

Both face shield and safety glasses (Double

eye protection!)

Goggles

Safety Glasses

Clean your safety glasses daily. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Avoid rough handling that can scratch lenses.Scratches impair vision and can weaken lenses.Store your safety glasses in a clean, dry place where they cannot fall or be stepped on. Replace scratched, broken, bent or ill-fitting glasses. Damaged glasses interfere with vision and do not provide protection.Inspection of your safety glasses is required to make sure that they are not dirty, dusty or broken. Unclean or scratched eye wear can lead to eye strain and headaches. Any time your safety glasses are scratched or broken, they should be replaced with a new pair.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR EYE PROTECTION

FOUR STEPS TO PROTECTING WORKERS EYES

1. Know the hazards that could lead to eye injuries at your place of employment.

2. Eliminate those hazards before starting work by using machine guards, work screens or other engineering controls.

3. Use appropriate eye protection for the task at hand

4. Keep your eye protection in good condition and replace it if it becomes damaged.

REMEMBER

You only have one pair of eyes...

There are no replacements...