Home Eye Safety
More than half of the 2.5 million eye injuries that occur every year happen at home while doing everyday chores such as cleaning, cooking or yard work.
Wearing protective eye wear could reduce your risk of injury by 90 percent. Purchase a pair manufactured to meet the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) eye protection standard for ultimate eye safety.
You should also take a look at the following safety steps that could reduce your risks of eye injuries even more:
- Be careful with chemicals. Chemicals such as bleach in household cleaning products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year. Read instructions carefully and don’t mix products. Make sure that all spray nozzles are directed away from you. Wash your hands thoroughly after using cleaning products.
- Take care of tools. Be sure that all of your power tools are in good condition and only operate them with the safety features engaged. Check the lawn or the outdoor area where you will be working for debris that can become a projectile. Turn off power tools when approached by an unprotected bystander or children.
- Cushion corners and sharp edges of furnishings and home fixtures if you have children or the elderly in your house. Also, secure rugs and handrails to help prevent slips and falls.
- Be choosy about children’s toys. Avoid giving children toys with sharp points, protruding edges or projectile parts, such as darts, BB guns, slingshots or bows and arrows. Choose children toys that are age-appropriate and always supervise them while playing.
- Avoid cooking accidents. Use grease shields on frying pans to protect from splattering. Wear rubber gloves when chopping foods such as hot peppers or onions. If you’re celebrating a special event, be careful when opening up a champagne bottle. A champagne cork can fly up to 50 mph – fast enough to shatter glass.
