Eye Injuries & Foreign Objects
Thousands of workers hurt their eyes every day, mostly from flying particles and chemical splashes, and most of those injuries could have been prevented with the right eye protection. When an eye injury does happen, the first few minutes matter.
- All workers
Photo: worker flushing both eyes at a plumbed eyewash station with eyelids held open by a coworker
Chemical in the eye
- Flush immediately with clean water or an eyewash station for at least 15 minutes, holding the eyelids open and rolling the eye.
- Remove contact lenses if they don’t come out with flushing.
- Have someone call 911 or get the SDS while you flush.
- Get medical care right away, even if it feels better.
See Eyewash & Showers and Acids & Caustics.
Dust or a small particle
- Don’t rub the eye.
- Blink and let tears wash it out, or flush with clean water or eyewash.
- Lift the upper lid over the lower lid to help sweep it out.
- If it doesn’t come out, or the eye stays painful or red, see a doctor.
Object stuck in the eye
Don’t try to remove an embedded object. Don’t press on the eye. Protect it with a paper cup or eye shield taped over it, cover the other eye too so both eyes stay still, and get emergency care.
Other eye injuries
- Blow to the eye: apply a cold compress gently, without pressure. Get care for pain, blurred vision, blood in the eye or a black eye.
- Cuts to the eye or lid: cover loosely without pressure and get emergency care.
- Welding flash (arc eye): gritty, painful eyes and light sensitivity hours after exposure. See a doctor. Prevent it with the right shade and welding screens. See Welding Helmets.
Prevention
Wear Z87+ safety glasses at all times on the jobsite, goggles for dust and chemicals, and face shields over glasses for grinding and splash hazards. See Eye & Face Protection.
Standards & references
- OSHA: Eye and face protection
- 29 CFR 1910.151(c): Eye and body flushing facilities
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