You can't remove all the safety hazards from your life, but you can reduce them. To avoid many major hazards and prepare for emergencies

• Keep emergency phone numbers by your telephones
• Make a first aid kit for your home
• Make a family emergency plan
• Install and maintain smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
• Keep guns unloaded and locked up. Lock up the ammunition separately.
• Follow the directions carefully when using tools or equipment

Young children are especially at risk. Supervision is the best way to keep them safe. Childproofing the house can also help.

SAFETY

Uses safe working practices and shows awareness of efficient ways of using materials and tools.

Safety procedures are a most important aspect of being in any workshop and you should make sure that you know and practise them from the start. Make sure that you know where to find the emergency button and the first aid box. Remember to report all accidents, no matter how small, to your teacher.

• Always wear an apron or overcoat to protect your clothes and sensible footwear to protect your feet.
• Take off your blazer or jersey, roll up your sleeves and tuck your tie out of the way.
• Long hair should be tied back.
• Any jewellery you may be wearing should be removed.
• Never fool around with any tools.
• Never run or play in a workshop, especially with a sharp tool in your hand.
• You are allowed to talk quietly, but you should not shout.
• You must never work alone or without permission in any workshop or practical area.
• Read all instructions for using tools carefully and make sure that you follow them.
• Take great care when carrying tools or materials. Carry sharp tools close to your body and facing downwards.
• Never misuse tools of any sort.
• Replace tools after use.
• Be sure to keep your bench and floor area tidy.
• Never use a machine without permission or the correct training.
• Never use electric tools in damp or wet conditions.
• There must never be more than one person operating or near a machine at any time.
• Clean machines after you have used them, and report any problems or damage to your teacher. Blunt or damaged items should be changed.
• When you have finished work, wash and dry your hands properly.
• Be especially thorough if you have been using oil, chemicals, paints or resins.
• Never hold the wood in your hand while you saw it with the other hand.
• Never screw into a piece of wood held in your hand.
• Never chisel towards your hand or body.

• Use a bench hook for cutting spars or dowels.
• Always keep your tools tidy and out of other people’s way.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY

Much of the equipment used in class requires electrical power from either batteries or the mains. Remember that moisture and water conduct electricity. Care should be taken when handling electronic components, such as capacitors. Batteries are best kept in separate containers when not in use. Return them at the end of the lesson. Do not put projects away with batteries in place or connected. Do not be tempted to tinker with mains electricity. If you come into contact with a live wire an electric shock or fatal accident could be the result. Electric shocks can cause severe burns and other injuries, so always take care.

Plugging IN

• Check that the appliance is switched off.
• Check that the socket is switched off.
• Make sure that the lead and plug are not damaged.
• Plug in.
• Switch on the socket.
• Switch on the appliance.

Switching OFF

• Switch off the appliance.
• Switch off the socket.
• Remove the plug from the socket.

You must not use an electrical appliance without either a teacher in the room or at least two other pupils in the room and a teacher close at hand. If you are present when a person receives an electric shock you must carry out the following procedure

• Do not touch the person.
• Send for adult help.
• Press the stop button to cut off the mains power.
• Switch off the appliance at the socket and pull out the plug.
• If this is not possible, try to push them away from the electricity. Use something made of wood which does not conduct the electricity to you.
• If you are certain that the power is off, then you can attempt to give the person first aid if you have been trained to do it.
• If you give yourself a slight electric shock you may feel weak, so relax a bit before carrying on working.

N.B.: Take good care of a person who has been injured. Keep him / her warm, let him / her lie down and call for help.

SAFETY MEASURES with regard to

SCISSORS

• A scissors must be good quality, sharp and in good working order.
• Never let the tips of the scissors close when cutting a line greater than the length of the blades.
• When cutting curves always turn the card and not the scissors.

CRAFT KNIVES

• Only to be used under very close supervision together with a metal safety ruler.
• Cut onto a suitable safety surface e.g. Very thick card/ cutting board.
• Stand when you cut and retract the blade when you need to put it away.
• The blade should not be to far out.
• You are allowed with the knife in your hand only when you are going to cut.

DRILLS

• You should know how to change twist drills, how to hold the hand drill and how to keep it at right angles to their work.
• The material to be drilled must be cramped securely.
• Do not remove the chuck completely as it is very difficult to reassemble.
• Select the appropriate twist drill – choosing one too small rather than one too big if in doubt.
• When drilling turn the handle in a clockwise direction and continue turning the same way when removing the drill bit from the hole.
• Hand drills are for holes up to 6mm in diameter; use a brace and bit for larger holes.
• Never leave a hand drill lying on a work top as it can so easily fall off and damage the twist drill.

GLUE GUNS

• Must only be used under very close supervision.
• It is suitable for wood, metals and certain plastics.
• When it is switched on and not in use ensure that it is correctly positioned on its stand.
• Switch off after use.
• Be careful of glue that drips and put it away after the gun is cooled off.

GENERAL

• When sawing plastics and metals, safety spectacles should be worn, because there is a risk of eye damage.
• Some plastics become pliable when heated but care must be taken to control the temperature because the burning of plastics is dangerous as many give off poisonous fumes.
• Polysterene should be cut with a hot wire cutter set low and used in a well ventilated room.

SOLDERING IRONS

• Soldering irons must be treated with respect. They often use mains electricity and get very hot.

The rules for correct use are as follows:

1. Do not leave them switched on for possible future use. Always switch them off when not in use, because this will prolong the life of the iron.
2. Never touch the mains lead with the tip of the iron. It will melt and expose bare wires which could lead to an electric shock.
3. Always use a proper soldering iron stand. Failure to do so will mean that there is a risk of the hot iron setting fire to things.
4. Avoid breathing in the resin fumes from the flux.
5. Protect the work surface with hardboard.

First aid for other injuries

Small cuts

• Wash the cut in cold water to clean it and stop the bleeding. Dry well with a clean cloth and cover it with sticky plaster to keep it clean.

SERIOUS CUTS

• Press the wound hard with a clean handkerchief, tissue or your hands to reduce the bleeding.
• Put the wound higher than the rest of your body to lessen the flow of blood.
• Find or call someone to help you.

SPLINTERS

• Sterilize tweezers or a needle in the blue part of a flame.
• Make sure you get all the splinter out.
• Then clean the wound with antiseptic liquid and cover it with sticky plaster.

BRUISES

• Wash with cold water to reduce bruising and swelling.
• A bruised fingernail may go black. If very painful, see a doctor.
• Blood blisters should be left to dry up, not popped.

During investigations, plans a strategy for collecting data and information that includes:

• using search techniques;
• extracts relevant data for specific purposes;
• produces meaningful summaries.

It’s late, you’re tired, and all you want to do is get in the car so you can go home. But what if the driver is drunk? The answer is simple — don’t get into the car. If the driver is drunk, it's going to be a long time before it is safe for him or her to drive. To protect yourself, you must find another way home. Ask someone else to drive, call your parents/guardians, call another friend, or take a cab. Some cities have safe ride programs, where you can call a number and get a free ride home. Ask your parents/guardians for help finding out if your city has a safe ride program, before you need it.

If the driver is a parent/guardian or another adult, it may be hard for you to say that you won’t get in the car. Don’t be afraid to ask if the person has been drinking. He or she may be surprised or offended by the question, but it’s your right to have a safe ride home. If your parent/guardian is the one who is driving drunk, talk to another adult you trust.

Some of the same advice applies to taking rides from a driver who is over-tired. Ask someone else to drive or suggest that the driver stop to rest before continuing.

You may also be driving with friends or family members who recently got their driver’s licenses. New drivers may be too willing to take risks on the road, or may be careless and unsafe. Take notice and don’t be afraid to speak up for your safety or to find a different way to get to where you are going.

Safe driving tips

• Always wear your seat belt. Make sure your passengers buckle up, too.
• Never drive with more people in your car than you have seatbelts for.
• Try not to drive with more than one passenger. The more passengers in your car, the more likely you are to get in an accident. More passengers mean more distractions.
• Don’t drink and drive.
• Don’t drive if you are sleepy.
• Don’t talk on the phone, text, put on make-up, brush your hair, or eat while driving.
• Don’t play with the radio while you’re driving. Wait until you are stopped or ask your passenger to change the station or adjust the volume.
• Always be aware of your surroundings. Be on the lookout for motorcycles, people crossing the street, and bikers.
• Don’t be an aggressive driver. Aggressive drivers speed, follow too closely, or weave in and out of lanes.
• Do be a defensive driver. Defensive drivers drive the speed limit, follow at a safe distance, and are alert and aware of their surroundings.

Keep your car in good working order

You may think of a car as simply a way to get from Point A to Point B, but cars need regular care to work properly. Make sure to review these items in your car regularly to keep your car safe and in good condition! Routine maintenance can save you money and keep you safe.

• Remember to change the oil. Your car’s oil should be changed every 3,000 – 5,000 miles. The oil level should be checked every few weeks, or monthly.
• Pay attention to the transmission. Trouble changing gears could mean a problem with the transmission. Have your transmission fluid checked when you get an oil change; low fluid could mean you have a leak.
• Be sure your car has coolant. Coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and water that keeps the temperature of your engine low.
• Check your tires. Learn how to check the pressure in your tires and keep them properly inflated. Overinflated and underinflated tires can be dangerous, and they also waste gas. Also, be sure your tires have enough tread. A penny is often the simplest way to check tire tread: Stick a penny into a groove with Lincoln’s head pointing down. If the tread is lower than Lincoln's hair, your tire level is unsafe.
• Brake safety. If you hear a whining, screeching, or grinding sound, or if you feel pulling or softness when you press the brakes, get your car looked at by a mechanic right away.
• Check belts for wear and tear. If you’re driving an older car, make sure the seat belts aren’t frayed or damaged in any way. You want to be sure they’re in working condition in case of an accident.
• Don’t forget to fill up! It may sound obvious, but don’t forget to keep gas in your car. Fill up when your car reaches one-quarter of a tank to keep your car in good working condition and so that you never run out while on the road.

Staying safe on public transportation

Keep these safety tips in mind when riding on a bus or on the subway!

• Stay seated on all kinds of buses. Riding the school bus or a public bus can be a lot of fun, especially when you’re with your friends, but it’s important to stay seated. Leaning over the back of a seat to talk to your friend is distracting to the driver and dangerous in case of an accident. Always stay seated on a bus!
• If your bus has a seat belt, use it. Some school buses and most public buses do not have seatbelts. However, if your bus does have one, buckle up! It will keep you safer in case there’s an accident.
• Watch out when exiting the bus. When you get off the school bus or a public bus, take five giant steps out of the door. Then pause for a moment and look around to make sure it is safe to cross the street. If you are exiting a school bus, the driver should wait for you to cross the road, if needed. Never cross in front of a public bus! Wait until the bus has pulled away and you can see when traffic has cleared so you can safely cross the street.
• Pay attention on the platform. If you ride a subway, don’t ever play on the subway platform. It would be easy to fall onto the tracks.

Your Child's or Teen's Helmet

Your child’s helmet should fit properly and be:

• Well maintained
• Age appropriate
• Worn consistently and correctly
• Appropriately certified for use

While there is no concussion-proof helmet, a helmet can help protect your child or teen from a serious brain or head injury. Even with a helmet, it is important for your child or teen to avoid hits to the head.

Indoor Safety Tips

Even though your home is a safe shelter during a lightning storm, you might still be at risk. About one-third of lightning-strike injuries occur indoors. Here are some tips to keep safe and reduce your risk of being struck by lightning while indoors.

• Avoid water.
  Do NOT bathe, shower, wash dishes, or have any other contact with water during a thunderstorm because lightning can travel through a building’s plumbing. The risk of lightning travelling through plumbing might be less with plastic pipes than with metal pipes. However, it is best to avoid any contact with plumbing and running water during a lightning storm to reduce your risk of being struck.
• Don’t touch electronic equipment.
  Do NOT use anything connected to an electrical outlet, such as computers, laptops, game systems, washers, dryers, or stoves. Lightning can travel through electrical systems, radio and television reception systems, and any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring. Equip your home with whole-house surge protectors to protect your appliances.
• Avoid windows, doors, porches, and concrete.
  Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches. Do NOT lie on concrete floors or lean on concrete walls during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.
• Don’t use corded phones.
  Corded phones are NOT safe to use during a thunderstorm. Do NOT use them. However, it is safe to use cordless or cellular phones during a storm.

Outdoor Safety Tips

Although no place outside is safe during a thunderstorm, you can minimize your risk by assessing the lightning threat early and taking appropriate actions. The best defense is to avoid lightning. Here are some outdoor safety tips that can help you avoid being struck.

• Be aware.
  Check the weather forecast before participating in outdoor activities. If the forecast calls for thunderstorms, postpone your trip or activity, or make sure suitable safe shelter is readily available.
• Go indoors.
  Remember the phrase, “When thunder roars, go indoors.” Find a safe, enclosed shelter when you hear thunder. Safe shelters include homes, offices, shopping centers, and hard-top vehicles with the windows rolled up.
• Seek shelter immediately, even if caught out in the open.
  If you are caught in an open area, act quickly to find shelter. The most important action is to remove yourself from danger. Crouching or getting low to the ground can reduce your chances of being struck, but it does not remove you from danger.
• If you are caught outside with no safe shelter nearby, the following actions might reduce your risk of being struck by lightning:
  • Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges, or peaks.
  • Never lie flat on the ground. Crouch down in a ball-like position with your head tucked and hands over your ears so that you are down low with minimal contact with the ground.
  • Never shelter under an isolated tree. If you are in a forest, shelter near lower trees.
  • Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter.
  • Immediately get out of and away from ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water.
  • Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (such as barbed wire fences, power lines, or windmills).

• Separate from others.
  If you are in a group during a thunderstorm, separate from each other. This will reduce the number of injuries if lightning strikes the ground.

• If you are out in the open water and a storm rolls in, return to shore immediately.
  If you are on a boat in open water when a thunderstorm rolls in, return to shore immediately and seek shelter. If you are unable to return to shore, boats with cabins offer some protection. If caught in a storm in a small boat with no cabin, drop anchor and get as low as possible.

• Don’t stay in open vehicles.
  During a thunderstorm, avoid open vehicles such as convertibles, motorcycles, and golf carts.

• Don’t stay in open structures.
  Avoid open structures such as porches, gazebos, baseball dugouts, and sports arenas. These structures won’t protect you from lightning.
• Avoid open spaces.
  Stay away from open spaces such as golf courses, parks, playgrounds, ponds, lakes, swimming pools, and beaches. Seek shelter immediately.
• Don’t stay near tall structures.
  Stay away from tall structures, such as telephone poles and trees; lightning tends to strike the tallest object around.

Lightning: What You Need to Know

• NO PLACE outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area!!
• If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
• When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up.
• Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.

Indoor Lightning Safety

• Stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity.
• Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets.
• Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors, and do not lean against concrete walls.

Last Resort Outdoor Risk Reduction Tips

If you are caught outside with no safe shelter anywhere nearby the following actions may reduce your risk:

• Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks
• Never lie flat on the ground
• Never shelter under an isolated tree
• Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter
• Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes and other bodies of water
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.)

People who work outdoors in open spaces, on or near tall objects, or near materials that conduct electricity are at high risk for being struck by lightning. Learn steps you can take to protect yourself from lightning while on the job.

People Who Work Outside are at Higher Risk

People at greatest risk of being struck by lightning are those who work outside or engage in outdoor recreational activities.

The following occupations have the highest risk of lightning strikes:

• Construction and building maintenance
• Roofing
• Farming and field labor
• Logging
• Explosives handling or storage
• Heavy equipment operation
• Pipefitting or plumbing
• Telecommunications field repair
• Power utility field repair
• Landscaping
• Airport ground personnel
• Pool and beach lifeguarding

Take Steps to Protect Yourself

If you work in high-risk occupations, you can take steps to protect yourself from lightning.

• Check the forecast
  Know the daily weather forecast so you are prepared and know what weather to expect during the day.

• Watch for signs of potential lightning strikes
  Pay attention to early weather signs of potential lightning strikes, such as high winds, dark clouds, or distant thunder or lightning. When these occur, don’t start any activity that you can’t quickly stop.
• Follow your company’s safety program
  Know your company’s lightning safety warning program, if it has one. These programs should include access to a safe location and danger warnings that can be issued in time for everyone to get to the safe location.

• Assess the threat
  Although no place outside is safe during a storm, you can minimize your risk by assessing the lightning threat early and taking appropriate actions. For example, if you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. Stop what you are doing and seek safety in a building or hard-top vehicle with the windows rolled up. When lightning strikes a hard-top metal vehicle, it goes through the metal frame, through the tires, and into the ground.

• Avoid tall structures
  Avoid anything tall or high, including rooftops, scaffolding, utility poles, cell phone towers, ladders, trees, and large equipment, such as bulldozers, cranes, and tractors.

• Avoid conductive materials
  Do NOT touch materials or surfaces that conduct electricity, including metal scaffolding, metal equipment, utility lines, water, water pipes, or plumbing.

• Stay away from explosives
  If you are in an area with explosives, leave immediately.

When thunder roars, go indoors!

If you hear thunder, even a distant rumble, get to a safe place immediately.

Call 911 if someone is struck by lightning

If your coworker is struck by lightning, call 911. Immediately begin first aid, if necessary. People who have been struck by lightning DO NOT carry an electrical charge and can be handled safely.

If you are caught in a lightning storm while camping, hiking, playing sports, or during other outdoor activities, it is often difficult to find a protected place. However, you can avoid lightning injuries by taking certain precautions.

• Check the forecast
  Before participating in outdoor activities, always check the weather forecast. Thunderstorms with lightning in the mountains occur most often during the summer months, in the late afternoon or evening. If you are heading to the beach or other water-related activities, check the forecast to know what to expect during the day.
• When thunder roars, go indoors
  Find a safe, enclosed shelter when you hear thunder. Even if you see blue sky, you could still be in danger. Tents, picnic shelters, gazebos, baseball dugouts, and other open shelters DO NOT provide protection from lightning. Don’t resume outdoor activities for at least 30 minutes after the storm. The beginning and the end of a storm are the most dangerous times.
• Seek shelter immediately, even if caught in the open
  If you are caught in an open area, act quickly to find adequate shelter. The most important action is to remove yourself from danger. Crouching or getting low to the ground can reduce your chances of being struck, but it does not remove you from danger.
• If you are caught outside with no safe shelter nearby, the following actions could reduce your risk of being struck by lightning:

  If you are caught in an open area, Do NOT lie down. Lightning causes electric currents along the top of the ground that can be deadly more than 100 feet away.

  • Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges, or peaks.
  • Never lie flat on the ground. Crouch down in a ball-like position with your head tucked and hands over your ears so that you are down low, with minimal contact with the ground.
  • Never shelter under an isolated tree. If you are in a forest, shelter near lower trees.
  • Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter.
  • Immediately get out of and away from ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water.
  • Stay away from objects that conduct electricity, such as barbed wire fences, power lines, or windmills.

• Separate from others
  If you are in a group during a thunderstorm, separate from each other. This will reduce the number of injuries if lightning strikes the ground.

• Don’t carry metal
  Don’t carry any metal objects, such as golf clubs, fishing poles, umbrellas, or backpacks with metal frames. Metal doesn’t attract electricity, but it is a good conductor. Your chances of a direct hit are higher when you are carrying a conductor above shoulder level. Be sure to avoid other metal objects as well, such as wire fences. You are more likely to be burned if you are in contact with metal when you are struck by lightning.

Did You Know?

The best place for shelter during a storm is inside a structure with four walls and a roof or an enclosed vehicle. Small, open shelters and tents do not provide protection. Large caves and valleys are protective. Small caves, overhangs, and wet stream beds are likely to be more dangerous than open areas because water conducts electricity and electricity can jump gaps between rocks.

Lightning is the most frequent weather hazard affecting athletic events, such as baseball, football, soccer, skiing, and track and field. Lightning can strike and injure players and spectators in outdoor stadiums during a sporting event.

Lightning Safety Action Plans

Large outdoor stadiums should have action plans and procedures for lightning safety. These plans should include the following:

• An evacuation plan for players and spectators
• A person monitoring all weather forecasts and reports
• A safe shelter

Evacuation plans should include specific evacuation directions for stadium personnel to communicate to fans. This will help avoid or reduce confusion. Evacuation procedures also should be posted on tickets, flyers, large screens, and posters to increase awareness.

Precautions

If you are attending an organized sporting event at an outdoor stadium during a thunderstorm, you can minimize your risk of being struck by lightning by taking precautions:

• Remain calm.
• Listen for instructions from stadium personnel.
• Move to the designated safe shelters, away from metal poles and the open field. These shelters should be determined before the event if a chance of a storm exists.
• Wait for an all-clear signal, which should occur approximately 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder.

Learn steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones from lightning while participating in water activities.

• Check the forecast
  Before leaving for the beach or any water activity, such as a boating trip, check the weather forecast so you know what to expect during the day. If the forecast is for thunderstorms, plan your trip for another day.
• Go indoors
  Remember the phrase, “When thunder roars, go indoors.” If you hear thunder while you are at the beach, find a safe, enclosed shelter, such as your car. Do NOT seek shelter under beach picnic shelters.
• Listen to the forecast
  It is crucial to listen to weather information when you are at the beach or boating. Short-term forecasts are quite accurate, but sometimes miss some very localized storms.
• Learn how to read the weather
  Watch for the development of large, well-defined rising cumulus clouds. Cumulus clouds have flat bases and dome or cauliflower shapes. Cumulus clouds can develop into thunderstorms. Once the clouds reach 30,000 feet, the thunderstorm is generally developing, and it is time to head for shore. As clouds become darker and more anvil-shaped, the storm is already in progress.
• Watch and listen for distant storm activity
  Watch for distant lightning and listen for distant thunder. You might hear thunder before you see lightning on a bright day. If you hear thunder or see lightning, seek shelter away from the water.
• If you are out in the open water and a storm rolls in, return to shore immediately
  If you are on a boat in open water when a thunderstorm rolls in, return to shore immediately and seek shelter. Once on land, get at least 100 yards away from shore. If you are unable to return to shore, boats with cabins offer some protection. When inside the cabin during a lightning storm, stay away from all metal and electrical components, including the radio, unless it is an emergency. If caught in a storm in a small boat with no cabin, drop anchor and get as low as possible.
• Protect your boat
  The National Ag Safety Database provides a number of ways you can protect your boat and minimize damage if it is struck by lightning or is near a lightning strike.

Your pets cannot protect themselves from lightning; it is your responsibility to help protect them.

Take these steps to help protect your pet from lightning:

• Don’t leave your pet outdoors
  Do NOT leave your pet outdoors or chained to a tree during a lightning storm. Doghouses are NOT safe shelters; bring your pet inside.
• Remove any metal collars, leashes, or harnesses and replace with plastic
  Even though metal does not attract electricity, it is a good conductor and can make injuries, such as burns, worse if struck.

Some places are safer to walk when you are outdoors than others. Keep safety in mind as you plan when and where you will walk.

• Be aware of your surroundings. If you wear headphones while walking, keep the volume low enough so you can hear car horns, people’s voices, barking, and other sounds and noises.
• Walk with others, when possible, and take a phone and ID, such as a driver’s license, with you.
• Let your family and friends know where and when you walk.
• Wear a reflective vest or brightly colored clothing if it is dark outside.
• Be careful walking around large bushes, parked cars, and other barriers that may block your view of traffic or other people.
• Watch out for uneven or slippery streets and sidewalks; or holes, rocks, or sticks that could cause falls.
• Walk in an indoor mall or shopping center if you don’t feel safe or comfortable walking outside.

Each day about 2000 U.S. workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. About one third of the injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments, and more than 100 of these injuries result in one or more days away from work.

How do eye injuries happen to workers?

• Striking or scraping: The majority of eye injuries result from small particles or objects striking or scraping the eye, such as: dust, cement chips, metal slivers, and wood chips. These materials are often ejected by tools, windblown, or fall from above a worker. Large objects may also strike the eye or face, or a worker may run into an object causing blunt-force trauma to the eyeball or eye socket.
• Penetration: Objects like nails, staples, or slivers of wood or metal can go through the eyeball and result in a permanent loss of vision.
• Chemical and thermal burns: Industrial chemicals or cleaning products are common causes of chemical burns to one or both eyes. Thermal burns to the eye also occur, often among welders. These burns routinely damage workers’ eyes and surrounding tissue.

How do workers acquire eye diseases?

Eye diseases are often transmitted through the mucous membranes of the eye as a result of direct exposure to things like blood splashes, and droplets from coughing or sneezing or from touching the eyes with a contaminated finger or object. Eye diseases can result in minor reddening or soreness of the eye or in a life threatening disease such as HIV, hepatitis B virus, or avian influenza.

What can workers do to prevent eye injury and disease?

Wear personal protective eyewear, such as goggles, face shields, safety glasses, or full face respirators.

The eye protection chosen for specific work situations depends upon the nature and extent of the hazard, the circumstances of exposure, other protective equipment used, and personal vision needs. Eye protection should be fit to an individual or adjustable to provide appropriate coverage. It should be comfortable and allow for sufficient peripheral vision.

What can employers do to prevent worker eye injury and disease?

Employers can ensure engineering controls are used to reduce eye injuries and to protect against ocular infection exposures. Employers can also conduct a hazard assessment to determine the appropriate type of protective eyewear appropriate for a given task.

The UV Index scale used in the United States conforms with international guidelines for UVI reporting established by the World Health Organization. Learn how to read the UV index Scale to help you avoid harmful exposure to UV radiation.

0 to 2: Low

No protection needed. You can safely stay outside using minimal sun protection.

3 to 7: Moderate to High

Protection needed. Seek shade during late morning through mid-afternoon. When outside, generously apply broad-spectrum SPF-15 or higher sunscreen on exposed skin, and wear protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses.

8+: Very High to Extreme

Extra protection needed. Be careful outside, especially during late morning through mid-afternoon. If your shadow is shorter than you, seek shade and wear protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses, and generously apply a minimum of SPF-15, broad-spectrum sunscreen on exposed skin.

The Shadow Rule

An easy way to tell how much UV exposure you are getting is to look for your shadow:

• If your shadow is taller than you are (in the early morning and late afternoon), your UV exposure is likely to be lower.
• If your shadow is shorter than you are (around midday), you are being exposed to higher levels of UV radiation. Seek shade and protect your skin and eyes.