The causes of eye injuries

Eye injuries can be caused by things such as:

• A blow to the eye by a fist, ball or other hard object
• Flying objects including shards of wood, glass or metal that can cause lacerations or become embedded in the eye
• Overexposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or welding equipment
• Chemicals being splashed or rubbed into the eyes

All eye injuries have the potential to cause severe pain as well as temporary and permanent eye damage.

It is a legal requirement for all employers to provide an employee with the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace and is recommended for people in the home as well when carrying out tasks such as DIY. Eye injuries can be prevented by wearing appropriate and properly fitted eye protection such as goggles, safety glasses, face shields and welding helmets.