Friday, September 28, 2012
Survey Shows Workers Avoiding Eye Protection
Chemical burns, blindness and scrapes are just a few the hazards workers face while not
using PPE on the job. Despite these grave risks, 85% of industrial workers in a
recent Kimberly-Clark Professional survey said they had observed others failing
to wear eye protection when they should have been. "The results are very
disconcerting when you consider that 90% of eye injuries can be
prevented through the use of proper protective eyewear,” says Valona
Renner-Thomas, Product Manager at Kimberly-Clark Professional. What is ironic
is that eyewear came in first when respondents were asked to rank the most
important PPE category for on-the-job safety. It was also deemed the “most
challenging" PPE category in terms of compliance. When asked what would most improve compliance
with eye protection protocols, the top choice was more comfortable eyewear
(56%) followed by fog-free lenses (22%). These alarming statistics should raise
a red flag for employers. Increased workers’ compensation costs and injuries
can result from even a slight eye injury. For more information on eye
protection, click here.