Why don’t manufacturing workers wear safety glasses even when they know the risks of going without? Is there a way to convince them to comply? If facility managers understand their reasoning, they can better integrate eye protection into personal protective equipment (PPE).

The Risks of Inadequate Eye Protection 

Each year, thousands of people damage their eyes at work. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), approximately 18,510 experienced eye-related injuries in 2020 that required at least one day away from work. In total, there were around 1.7 cases for every 10,000 full-time employees. 

Counting those who experienced eye damage but didn’t take a day off of work — or weren’t even aware — the BLS figure should be higher. Naturally, people who worked very physically demanding jobs were more likely to be injured. Construction, maintenance, material moving and production were the industries most affected. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points out that thousands of these work-related eye injuries could have been prevented with proper PPE. If people had worn face shields, safety goggles or visors when they were supposed to, they likely wouldn’t have gone home with potentially permanent vision damage.

Eye damage is more likely in some fields than others. For instance, it is one of the most common hazards in laser marking. Even short or infrequent periods of exposure can be dangerous. Since the retina — the part of the eye that captures and converts signals into visual information — can feel no pain, people often don’t realize there’s damage until it is too late.

The Impact of Unchecked Eye Hazards

Dozens of eye hazards exist. Chemical vapors, flying particles, sparks, caustic liquids, lasers, molten metal and bodily fluids are some of the most common, but the specific risks vary by industry. Even glare or heavy winds can be hazardous because they increase the likelihood of struck-by and slip-and-fall incidents. Each hazard causes a different type of damage.

However, whether someone rubs their eyes after using a corrosive cleaning agent, gets an infection from a week-old cut or suffers blunt force trauma from a flying object, the result is the same — vision loss is likely. The brain often works to compensate for blurriness or dark spots, so individuals may not realize their sight has worsened for some time.

In the meantime, their efficiency and the quality of their work will deteriorate. Depending on the severity of their on-the-job injury and whether they are aware of it, they may even become a safety hazard themselves. For example, they may hit a colleague when driving a forklift because they don’t realize they have new blind spots.

If the damage is irreparable — in many cases, it is — affected workers will have permanent vision loss in one or both eyes. If they decide to sue for negligence or file a worker’s compensation claim, their employer is financially responsible. Although this scenario is bleak, it underscores the importance of integrating eye protection into PPE.

Why Workers Go Without Despite the Risks

Despite the risks — and various regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — many workers choose to go without eye and face PPE. Even if their employer provides it, they often take it off when they get the chance. In some facilities, not wearing safety glasses is normal. 

This problem doesn’t just affect manufacturing. Workers disregard eye protection in adjacent industries, too. For instance, despite 64.3% of construction workers experiencing occupational accidents in 2020, 40.6% said they don’t regularly use PPE. When asked why, 78.2% said it made them uncomfortable, 73% claimed they didn’t know how to use it and 67.3% said it wasn’t available at their workplace. 

In most cases, having ill-fitting PPE is just as bad — or even worse — than having none at all. Despite providing inadequate protection and requiring frequent adjustments to remain in place, it gives a false sense of security, and unsuspecting workers risk eye injuries as a result.

What Can Employers Do to Ensure Full-Body Safety?

The facility manager’s role in integrating eye protection into PPE is fundamental. They should begin by conducting a hazard assessment to determine what on-the-job risks workers face. If they can’t eliminate the source of the danger, they must use protective equipment to reduce its effect on employees. 

Decision-makers must ensure the eye PPE they provide is properly rated for the required level of protection. Workers’ needs will change based on the industry, facility type and position. For example, while sand casting manufacturers deal with molten metal, laser marking professionals face light radiation hazards. 

Facility managers must communicate the importance of eye protection to staff. Signage in hallways, infographics in break rooms and caution flags near hazards can help them recognize the dangers of working without the proper PPE. If reminders are not effective enough, training and updated policies may be necessary. 

Above all else, management must remember PPE is the last line of defense — it may not block all incoming damage. If other safeguards are more suitable, they should be used. Also, higher-quality equipment versions should be used if available. While the upfront costs are higher, facilities will likely save money by preserving their reputation and avoiding legal issues.

Considerations for Integrating Eye Protection

Decision-makers should take these considerations into account before integrating eye protection into their facility’s PPE.

1. Accessibility

Do people with glasses need prescription lenses? Will those working with both hands need an elastic band to keep their safety goggles in place? Facility managers must ensure accessibility for eye protection to provide the maximum benefits.

2. Comfort

Although comfort may seem like a low-priority consideration, it is essential. If workers feel discomfort or pain when putting on PPE, they won’t want to wear it for the entire workday. Eye and face protection should be lightweight and comfortable.

3. Compatibility

OSHA estimates that around 182,980 construction workers require non-standard PPE sizes, and 10% of them — 18,298 people — likely need to replace ill-fitting equipment. To prevent slippage, discomfort and ineffective coverage, decision-makers must consider compatibility.

4. Model

Not all safety glasses are held to the same standard. For example, while polycarbonate lenses can block flying debris because they are 10 times stronger than other plastics, they won’t protect against light radiation or caustic chemicals. Proper model selection is crucial.

Why Safety Glasses are Nonnegotiable

Management should strictly enforce PPE policies and regulations to ensure employees stay safe. If extenuating circumstances arise, they should accommodate instead of making an exception to the rules. This way, everyone in the workplace will understand the importance of eye protection.