Many of the 9 million individuals working in construction perform various job functions in a single day. From welding and mixing concrete to grinding and pipe fitting, workers are exposed to various hazards on a regular basis. While most workers readily comply with safety standards calling for the use of a primary form of head protection — the hard hat — it is not uncommon for them to leave their eyes and face at risk while working in multi-hazard environments.
According to the BLS, in 2008 there were 27,450 eye injuries, accounting for 62 percent of face injuries and 37 percent of all head injuries requiring days away from work. BLS data also shows that construction workers have the second highest rate of workplace eye and face injuries in the country, and that men comprise the majority of eye injury cases at a whopping 81 percent. Considering that more than 90 percent of eye and face injuries are avoidable by using proper eye and face protection, there is much room for greater and improved use of these products.