A metal splinter puncturing an eye. Moving machinery shredding a finger. It's enough to make anyone flinch. You would think no one needs to be reminded how vulnerable eyes and hands are. But in 1993, half a million workers hurt their hands, fingers and wrists badly enough to miss at least a day of work. Nearly 90,000 lost-day eye injuries happened that year too, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Why all the injuries? After all, unlike other oft-injured body parts-backs, knees, shoulders-hands and eyes can usually be protected with the right gloves, goggles or other personal protective equipment.