What Is the Number One Cause of Eye Injuries for Construction Workers?

Number One Cause of Eye Injuries for Construction Workers

The construction industry is a dangerous occupation that exposes workers to the risk of injury. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that construction trade workers had 2,120 eye-related injuries or illnesses in 2020, with material moving workers sustaining 1,860 eye injuries.

Depending on severity, an eye injury can cause permanent, temporary, partial, or total vision loss. Victims of eye injuries endure mounting medical bills, lost income, lost productivity, and emotional anguish associated with their new reality.

Personal injury law allows construction workers who sustain eye injuries due to someone else’s negligence to obtain compensation.

More importantly, working with a trusted construction accident attorney enhances your chances of obtaining a fair settlement for injury-related losses.

Causes of Eye Injuries

Failure to wear eye personal protective equipment is the primary cause of eye injuries in construction sites. Construction workers who attend work without protective gear such as eye guards, face shields, welding helmets, or full-face respirators face a substantial risk of eye injuries.

Construction workers without necessary eye gear face the following risks:

• Building Materials: Many injuries occur from scraping and scratching of airborne debris like dirt, dust, and tiny pieces of metal or rock. These contaminants quickly become airborne and land in a worker’s eye. Most outdoor shelters have little to no protection from external conditions, increasing the speed of debris from sanding, sawing, grinding, chiseling, and wood processing.
• Blunt Force: A blunt trauma to the eye socket due to swinging or falling off an object can cause an eye injury, including retinal detachment, which often requires surgery to prevent partial or total vision loss. Sharp edges and points from nails and screws can penetrate the eyes, causing severe injuries.
• Exposure to Toxic Chemicals: A construction worker can sustain an eye injury after contact with various chemical forms, including liquid, solid, powder or aerosol chemicals. A chemical injury is an emergency with damage occurring within one to five minutes. Symptoms of chemical injury to the eye include pain, excessive tearing, blurred vision, and a burning sensation after chemical exposure.

What Type Of Injuries Can Occur in Construction Sites

Eye injuries cause deterioration of physical health, where victims endure substantial pain and suffering.

Here are a few eye injuries common in construction sites:

• Eyelid lacerations
• Iris inflammation
• Bone fractures around the eye
• Bleeding of cornea and iris (Hyperemia)
• Cornea scratches
• Corneal flash burns

How to Prevent Eye Construction Injuries

The construction site owner or manager should take preventive steps to protect their workers from hazards that cause eye injuries by taking the following steps:

• Identifying potential hazards
• Choosing a suitable protective gear
• Minimizing exposure
• Employee training

Get in Touch With an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

If you’ve suffered partial or permanent loss of vision due to an eye injury, you’ll endure a reduced quality of life. You, therefore, deserve compensation to facilitate your recovery from injury-related loss.

The Barnes Firm, including our Los Angeles construction accident attorney, has resolved over 150,000 cases, and we represent construction workers. Contact us online or at (800) 800-0000 for a free case evaluation.

Richard Barnes – President of The Barnes Firm

Richard Barnes: “As President of The Barnes Firm, I have dedicated my career to achieving justice in hundreds of cases for the victims of injuries caused through the fault of others. Additionally, I have been honored to have been elected Best Lawyer and a Super Lawyer”

Years of Experience: 30+ years
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