| 1) Perform a Facility Eye Safety Analysis | | • | Conduct a thorough analysis of plant operations. | | • | Inspect work areas, shipping and receiving areas, and equipment. | | • | Examine eye accident and injury reports. | | • | Identify operations and areas that present eye hazards. | | | |
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| 2) Test for Vision Problems | | • | Uncorrected vision problems contribute to accidents. | | • | Incorporate vision testing in your pre-placement and routine physical examinations of employees. | |
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| 3) Select Protective Eyewear | | • | Select protective eyewear designed for a specific operation or hazard. | | • | Use only ANSI Z87.1 certified industrial eye protection with Z87 on the frames/lens. | | • | Protective eyewear must meet the current standards outlined by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHAct) and subsequent revisions. | | • | Choose styles with a contemporary look, if possible, to help ensure compliance. | | • | To ensure the eyewear is satisfactory, have it fitted by an eye care professional or someone trained to do this. | |
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| 4) Require Compliance | | • | For maximum protection against eye injury, establish a 100 percent mandatory program that requires eye protection throughout all operations areas of your plant. | | • | Mandatory programs prevent more injuries and are easier to enforce than those limited to certain departments, areas or jobs. | | • | Provide the means for maintenance and require each worker to be responsible for his or her own eyewear. | | |
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| 5) Plan for Emergencies | | • | Establish first-aid procedures for eye injuries. | | • | Make eyewash stations accessible, particularly where chemicals are used. | | • | Train employees in basic first aid and identify those with more advanced first-aid training. | | |
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| 6) Train and Educate | | • | Conduct ongoing educational programs to establish, maintain and reinforce the need for protective eyewear. | | • | Add eye safety to your regular employee education/training programs and include it as a large part of new employee orientation. | | • | All management personnel should set an example by wearing protective eyewear whenever and wherever required. | | • | Continually review and, when necessary, revise your accident prevention strategies. Aim for the elimination of all accidents and injuries. | | |
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| 7) Make It Official – In Writing | | • | When all elements of your safety program have been established, put them in writing. | | • | Display a copy of the policy in areas frequented by employees, and include a review of the policy in new employee orientation. | | • | Train employees in basic first aid and identify those with more advanced first-aid training. | | |
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--Source, Prevent Blindness America®*
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