Eye Injuries and First Aid Response Bechtel First Response Training Eye Injuries and First Aid Response

Safety is Our Value -Riley Bechtel August 15, 2001 “We measure safety performance by the number of incidents. But let’s be clear… it’s really not about incident rates… it’s about people. People who have faces, names, families, hopes, and dreams.” -Riley Bechtel August 15, 2001

Eye Injuries: Enabling Learning Objectives Eye injury causes Eye injury prevention Core Process 205: Personal Protective Equipment First aid action for various eye injuries

Why is eye safety at work important? More than 2,000 people injure their eyes at work each day. About 1 in 10 injuries require one or more missed workdays to recover from. Of the total amount of work-related injuries, 10-20 % will cause temporary or permanent vision loss. Experts believe that the right eye protection could have lessened the severity or even prevented 90% of eye injuries in accidents. Eye injuries in the workplace are common.

Basic Eye Anatomy

Common Causes of Eye Injuries Flying debris (bits of metal, glass) Sparks Tools Particles (grinding dust) Harmful radiation Excessive heat Chemicals (corrosive fluids or mist) Any combination of these or other hazards

Safety Eyewear Protection All employees are provided with the necessary PPE, as identified in the Risk Assessment for their particular work activity. Employees shall wear the appropriate PPE supplied to them at all times while working on their assigned tasks. Safety eyewear protection includes: Non-prescription and prescription safety glasses Goggles Face shields Welding helmets Full-face respirators Anyone working in or passing through areas that pose eye hazards should wear protective eyewear.

Core Process 205: Personal Protective Equipment Eye protection is required in such work situations including, but not limited to: Working with rotating equipment such as grinders, drills, lathes Cutting and welding Chipping, chiseling or caulking Using cartridge operated tools Blasting - abrasive and grit Working with chemicals Mixing drilling fluids, acids or other toxic hazardous fluids Working with paints, disinfectant, pesticides or other toxic or hazardous fluids Working with strong sources of electromagnetic radiation, welding, machines, etc. Working in the open with the risk of wind blown particles http://ebesh.becweb.ibechtel.com/ebesh/ESHCoreProcesses/200-Safety/200-CoreProcesses/CP-205.pdf

Core Process 205: Personal Protective Equipment Required use of eye/face protection on all Bechtel projects: Welding and other construction activities require special types of protection, including, in some cases, double protection. Safety glasses will have approved side shields (slip-on side shields are prohibited). Employees who work in tight or enclosed spaces will wear goggles, face shield, and other protective equipment. All grinding operations will be performed while wearing a full-face shield and safety glasses or goggles. Welders will wear both safety glasses and a welding hood while welding.

Core Process 205: Personal Protective Equipment Employees whose vision requires the use of corrective lenses will wear one of the following: Personal eye glasses whose protective lenses provide optical correction with permanent fixed side shields and conform to the requirements of a recognized national or international standard (e.g., BS, ANSI, or equivalent); Safety goggles over their glasses, or goggles that incorporate a corrective lens mounted behind the protective lens, or safety over-glasses.

Core Process 205: Personal Protective Equipment Safety sunglasses should be worn in strong sun glare to reduce eyestrain and fatigue. Wearing of sunglasses is not permitted indoors. Non light-sensing glasses with tinted lenses are prohibited inside buildings or other structures with limited illumination (includes prescription glasses).

What is the best defense against an eye injury? Know the eye safety dangers at work; complete an eye hazard assessment. Eliminate hazards before starting work. Use machine guarding, work screens, or other engineering controls. Use proper eye protection. Anyone working in or passing through areas that pose eye hazards should wear protective eyewear.

What type of safety eye protection should be worn? The type of safety eye protection worn depends on the hazards in the workplace. In an area that has particles, flying objects, or dust, one must at least wear safety glasses with side protection (side shields). If working with chemicals, goggles should be worn. If working near hazardous radiation (welding, lasers, or fiber optics), one must use special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields, or helmets designed for that task.

First Aid for Eye Emergencies Know where each eye wash station is located and the quickest route to First Aid. DO NOT assume that any eye injury is harmless. All eye injuries are to report to the Project Nurse immediately. DO NOT press or rub an injured eye. DO NOT remove contact lenses. DO NOT attempt to remove a foreign body or any object that appears to be embedded in any part of the eye. DO NOT use tweezers, or anything else on the eye itself. 14

Foreign Bodies (specks) to the Eye DO NOT rub the eye. Use a sterile eyewash to flush it out. If the speck does not wash out, keep the eye closed, bandage it lightly, and call the Nurse/refer to First Aid. Corneal abrasion - a scratch or abrasion of the special skin which covers the front of the eye, occurs when something such as a fingernail, piece of dirt or contact lens comes into contact with the eye and scratches it Note the rust ring in the bottom photo 15

Cuts and Punctures of the Eye or Eyelid Do NOT wash out the eye with water or any other liquid. Do NOT try to remove an object that is stuck in the eye. Cover the eye with a rigid shield without applying pressure. A paper cup can be used. Refer to the Project Nurse at once. 16

Blow to the Eye (Contusion) Must be assessed by the Project Nurse. Apply a cold compress without putting pressure on the eye. Crushed ice in a plastic bag can be taped to the forehead to rest gently on the injured eye. Pain, reduced vision, or discoloration (black eye), could mean internal eye damage. Right: Ruptured globe caused by golf ball. (Bottom) The patient has transmarginal eyelid lacerations, a cornea-scleral laceration, and prolapsed uvea on the eyelid. 17

Chemical Burns to the Eye

Chemical Burns to the Eye First Aid In all cases of eye contact with chemicals: Immediately flush the eye with water. Hold the eye under a faucet or shower, or pour water into the eye using a clean container. Keep the eye open and as wide as possible while flushing. Continue flushing for at least 15 minutes. If a contact lens is in the eye, begin flushing over the lens immediately. This may wash away the lens. DO NOT bandage the eye. DO NOT use an eyecup. Continue to flush the eye until emergency medical services arrive. 19

Welder’s Flash Burn “Sunburn"-like condition on the cornea, typically heals within two days. Must be assessed by the Project Nurse. Wear an eye patch over affected eye to protect it during sleep. Wear dark sunglasses with UV protection when being exposed to sunlight or bright light. The Project Nurse may refer off-site is pain is severe or vision is blurred. Prevention is key. Set up fire-resistant curtains/shield around the machine to protect nearby workers from welding flash.

Test Your Learning What is the best defense against an eye injury? Which eye protection should be worn when working with chemicals? Where is each eye wash station in your work area? Where is your First Aid Office? What is the appropriate first aid response for a punctured eye? 21

We value your Safety and Health Questions? Speak with your Project Nurse or Safety Professional 22

Learn More about Eye Injuries and First Aid Bechtel Core Process 205: Personal Protective Equipment (BecWeb) National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH.org) National Safety Council (NSC.org) Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA.gov) Contact your Project Nurse for more information about first aid.