Eye and ear injuries are very common in the workplace. In fact, one study found that more than 10% of workers have some type of hearing difficulty, and 25% of those hearing issues were caused by issues related to their job. Keep reading to learn more and then contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
Foreign Objects Hitting, Scraping or Penetrating the Eye
If a foreign object enters the eye, it can cut it, scrape it, or otherwise cause damage to the cornea. The most common objects to enter the eye in a workplace include splinters of wood, shards of glass, dust, grease, oil, and wood. They can be ejected by tools, or they often fall from above the worker. Objects can also penetrate the eye, such as nails, staples, or metal. This can lead to permanent blindness.
Blunt Force Trauma
Objects do not have to penetrate you to cause serious damage. They do not even have to cut or scratch you – sometimes the trauma itself is enough. For example, a strong blow to the eye can result in bleeding inside the eye, injury to the eye bones around the eye, and even retinal detachment.
Burns
There are several types of burns that can injure the eyes and ears. If a person is working around industrial chemicals or cleaning products, they could suffer from chemical burns. If they are working as welders or in similar positions, they could suffer thermal burns. Both types of burns can injury the eyes and the surrounding tissue.
UV Rays
Many workplaces have high amounts of ultraviolet radiation, which can cause a number of eye diseases and disorders. Some examples include cancer and cataracts. Some of the most common types of UV radiation workers are exposed to come from welding arcs, lasers, and germicidal lamps.
Infectious Disease
People who work in the health care field and those who work on janitorial staffs are especially at risk of acquiring infectious diseases. Many infectious diseases can be passed through the mucous membrane of the eye when a person is exposed to blood splashes, touching the eyes with contaminated fingers, or after being hit with respiratory droplets when a person is coughing.
Using the Computer
Even an office workers can suffer a serious injury to their eye at work. This is because long exposure to computer screens can result in issues like fatigue, dizziness, migraine headaches, and nausea. Computer screen usage can also strain the eyes, which can reduce the blink rate by as much as half.
If you have suffered an eye injury at work, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 to request a free legal consultation and determine what your options are.
