The role of eye protection in work‐related eye injuries

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Abstract
Purpose/Background: A recent survey of general hospitals by the Victorian Injury Surveillance System found that ocular trauma represented 15% of work‐related injuries. As circumstances surrounding occupational eye injuries have been poorly documented previously, their associations to occupation, industry and work‐safety practices, including safety eyewear use, need to be identified to develop appropriate preventive strategies for high‐risk groups. Design and Setting: From a prospective cross‐sectional survey of all eye injuries treated at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, work‐related cases were analysed for demographic, occupational and safety eye‐wear information. Hospital‐based data were supplemented by information from Workcover Authorities and Labour Force statistics to derive incidence and cost estimates. Results: There were 9390 eye injuries during the 18‐month survey period: 42% (n= 3923) of total and 29% (n=52) of penetrating ocular injuries occurred at work. The most frequently injured were metal, automotive and building trades workers grinding and drilling (41% of outpatients) and hammering (53% of penetrating eye injuries). Automotive workers had the highest frequency for penetrating injuries, and most were exposed to hammering and were also the least likely to wear safety eye‐wear. Conclusion: Eye injuries are frequent (10% of work‐related injuries) and highly preventable by the correct use of safety eye‐wear, a cost‐effective intervention that may result in cost savings of £59 million for work‐type activities in the occupational and domestic settings in Australia each year.

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