Eye and Face Protection for Factory Workers
Guest Post
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 1,000 eye injuries occur daily in the workplace. Many of these injuries could have been prevented if the proper eye and face protection was worn. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) monitors, governs and regulates safe work practices to ensure all workers, including those in a factory setting, have proper protective equipment. It also implements training on safe work practices, which reduces risk of injury to factory workers.
OSHA states all employers must determine if a workplace poses a hazard to employees and, if it does, it must provide the protective equipment. When a factory setting poses dangers to the eyes and face, an employer must provide eye and face protective equipment, including safety glasses, goggles and face shields.
Dangers
A factory is full of potential dangers to workers’ faces and eyes. Eye injuries can occur from flying debris, falling objects and contact with chemicals. Fire, high temperature steam and sparks from welding can cause burns to the skin and eyes. Injuries from these hazards can cause blindness, facial deformities and, in the worse case scenarios, death.
Personal Protective Equipment
As a factory worker, you must have the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) available to you when working in hazardous conditions. All PPE must be certified by the American National Standards Institute. Equipment should provide adequate protection from hazards, properly fit and be reasonably comfortable. PPE should also be durable and capable of being cleaned and disinfected.
You must get in the habit of always wearing your PPE when required. BLS statistics show that three out of five workers who are injured weren’t wearing the proper face protection.
Eye and body wash facilities must also be made available to wash out anything that might be lodged or splashed into the eye. All eye and body wash stations should be set up so they are easily accessible and recognized in the event of an object getting in a worker’s eye.
Safe Work Practices
It’s the responsibility of the factory worker to follow safe work practices, which will reduce the risk of injury. Employees must follow posted rules, properly use equipment, always keep machine guards in place and avoid horseplay. By not following work rules and goofing around, you pose a danger to yourself and your co-workers.
Training
To be able to properly use PPE and equipment in a factory, employees must go through training courses and get certified. An employer must provide proper training on safe work practices and how to use PPE.Training should include how to use, where to find, when to use and how to take care of the safety equipment. OSHA states the training must be conducted by someone who’s trained on how to use the equipment as well as trained on how to teach the class.
Though there are many hazards inside a factory, following proper work procedures will reduce the risk of any dangers. Work closely with your employer to ensure you fully understand the rules and regulations related to safety. Ask your employer if you have any questions about safe work practices.
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