Eye Injuries -

Causes and Treatment SAFETY

TALK
Eye injuries are a common injury in the workplace. Safety glasses should be high on
the Personal Protection Equipment list in any company. Eye injuries can be caused
by dust, heat, UV and foreign objects. Eye injuries can cause permanent damage
to one’s eyes. Immediate and efficient first response to eye injuries is necessary to
save someone’s vision.
Here are the most common types of eye injuries and what to do if something
happens.

Foreign Objects in the Eye:

Splinters, large dust particles and even bugs can enter the eyes.
When treating the eye:

1. Wash your hands immediately.

2. If the person is wearing contacts, remove these Piece of metal in the eye. Cut from a piece of wood.
3. Rinse the eye in an eye wash station.
4. If the object is in the white of the eye use a wet and clean cotton swab
and try get the object to stick to it. Do not dig with the swab. Cuts to the Eye:
5. If the object is metal, see a doctor.
It is important to react quickly to cuts to the eye.
Scratched Cornea: 1. Get a sterile cloth and apply pressure to the area to stop bleeding but do
not press directly on the eyeball.
This is a consequence of having a foreign object in the eye. In most cases 2. Seek medical attention immediately.
the cornea gets scratched from rubbing the eye.

1. Wash your hands

2. Remove any contacts
3. Rinse the eye in an eye wash station.
4. Wear an eye patch until the eye heals.

0800 582 535 www.take5.nz www.ohsconsultants.nz

Eye Injuries -
Causes and Symptoms SAFETY
TALK
Black Eye:
Black eyes are bruising around the eye. There are steps to prevent black eyes
should an accident occurs.

1. Keep the head elevated

2. Check the eye for possible injuries
3. Apply an ice pack, every 10 minutes, to reduce swelling and bruising. Do
not use a ice pack that contains chemicals.
4. Use warm packs for the days afterwards to speed up bruise fading.

Chemical Burns:
Chemical burns are very serious and should be prevented at all times by
Cancer on the eye due to UV rays.
wearing eye protection at all times.

If any chemical liquid reaches your eye rinse immediately and seek immediate
UV:
medical help.
When working outdoors or driving ensure that your workers have UV protection
safety glasses. The sun is a leading cause of eye cancer. UV protection safety
glasses should be worn all year round to protect the eyes from the suns
Heat Burns: harmful rays.

At no time should you be working with heat without eye protection. If it does
happen seek help immediately.
Preventing eye injuries is as easy as wearing safety glasses. If you are unsure
1. Flush eyes with cool running water. Attempt to open and close under the if you safety glasses are compliant to AS/NZ Standards check the arm band for
water for half an hour. the AS/NZS marking. If you have more questions feel free to contact us or talk
2. Apply a sterile bandage. Do not place pressure on the eyes. to your PPE provider.
3. Seek medical attention immediately. If left untreated infections can occur.
“PPE - The last line
of defence”
0800 582 535 www.take5.nz www.ohsconsultants.nz