Do you wear your safety glasses at work? If not, you should. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), each year there are over 2.8 million eye injuries treated by medical professionals for temporary or partial vision loss at work. Although some employers in the United States do their best to protect workers against eye injuries (through safety eyewear programs), others still do not require their employees to wear safety glasses while on the job. In fact, the most recent figures from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) show that only 45 percent of American workers who were injured were wearing any kind of eye protection while on the job.
To help prevent injuries, many companies offer safety glasses as a part of their employee health and wellness efforts. An accident can happen anywhere, and proper eye protection can tack on some valuable seconds before injuries occur. Employers should utilize this program to ensure your employees are properly equipped with the right product for their job needs.
Here are top benefits of Safety Glasses Program.
Increased Safety
Safety glasses can help prevent serious eye injuries on the job site. Eye injuries can lead to loss of income, medical bills, compensation claims and more. The cost of an eye injury is often much greater than just buying a pair of prescription safety glasses.
Reduced Liability
If an employee is injured while wearing glasses, it is much easier to prove negligence on the part of the employer. In addition, if an employee is injured while not wearing glasses and they are required to wear them as part of their job description or training, then the employer could be held liable for that as well.
Improved Morale
Workers who feel comfortable at work tend to have higher morale than those who do not feel safe or comfortable at work. When employees feel secure and protected at all times, they are less likely to complain about working conditions or other issues that may arise with management or other members of your workforce. This leads to happier workers who will be more willing to go above and beyond for you and your company's success!
Improves Productivity
When employees are comfortable in their work environment, they are more likely to be productive in their tasks. With prescription safety glasses, workers will feel more confident in their ability to get the job done correctly and comfortably. This can result in greater productivity throughout your facility.
Better Compliance with OSHA Regulations
As you know, OSHA has many requirements for eye protection. For example, employers must provide employees with eye and face protection when they're exposed to hazards like metal chips and welding flash. These regulations help protect workers' eyes from injury and disease. However, if your employees aren't wearing their prescription safety glasses as required by these regulations, it can be difficult to ensure that they are complying with them.
If you have a prescription safety glasses program in place, then you'll be able to enforce compliance with these requirements more easily. You'll also be able to identify which employees need corrective lenses or other types of eye protection because they have existing problems with their vision. This will help ensure that everyone is wearing the right type of prescription safety glasses for their individual needs.
Conclusion
The key to a safe work environment comes down to the right kind of gear for your employees. A program geared towards providing workers with the equipment they need for protection will not only make your employees feel more secure, but will also retain them in the long run. One of these benefits comes from eliminating eye injuries which can cause temporary or permanent vision loss. Just one injury can alter the course of your company, so keeping your workforce protected is vital.
