Eye Safety



                       A SAFETY TALK FOR

                      DISCUSSION LEADERS



This safety talk is designed for discussion leaders to use in preparing safety

meetings.



Set a specific time and date for your safety meeting.  Publicize your meeting

so everyone involved will be sure to attend.



Review this safety talk before the meeting and become familiar with its

content. Make notes about the points made in this talk that pertain to your

workplace.  You should be able to present the material in your own words and

lead the discussion without reading it.



Seating space is not absolutely necessary, but arrangements should be made so

that those attending can easily see and hear the presentation.



Collect whatever materials and props you will need ahead of time.  Try to use

equipment in your workplace to demonstrate your points.





                      DURING THE MEETING



Give the safety talk in your own words.  Use the printed talk merely as a

guide.



The purpose of a safety meeting is to initiate discussion of safety problems

and provide solutions to those problems.  Encourage employees to discuss

hazards or potential hazards the encounter on the job. Ask them to suggest ways

to improve safety in their area.



Don't let the meeting turn into a gripe session about unrelated topics.  As

discussion leader, its your job to make sure the topic is safety.  Discussing

other topics wastes time and can ruin the effectiveness of your safety meeting.



At the end of the meeting, ask employees to sign a sheet on the back of this

talk as a record that they attended the safety meeting.  Keep this talk on file

for your records.







Eye Safety

T16



The human eye is provided with more protection than any other part of the body.

However, its own protection is not enough. Workers can still get particles of

dust, metal, wood, glass, concrete, plastic or other hard substance in their

eyes. Chemicals, acids, sparks, hot oil, fire and steam are also eye hazards.



But natural elements can also be harmful to our eyes. Our eyes are constantly

attacked by exposure to wind, heat and glare.



Proper lighting is essential for our eyes, especially in an industrial setting

where increased illumination levels can improve comfort, efficiency,

productivity and safety.



But exposure to some light sources, like the intense radiation from a welding

torch, can be serious. For example, painful burn to the cornea can result

unless proper eye protection is worn.



In order to prevent eye injuries, protective eye shields, glasses or other

approved eyewear must be worn. Coverall goggle or face shields must be used in

situations where safety glasses are not enough, such as in areas where high

concentrations of dust or flying particles exist.



Contact lenses do not provide eye protection in the industrial sense; their use

without eye or face protective devices of industrial quality should not be

permitted. 



If you need to wear corrective lenses on the job, wear prescription safety

glasses. Regular eyeglasses are not a substitute for safety glasses.



Have your eyes examined periodically. Accidents and injuries are sometimes the

result of poor vision and eyestrain. Ret your eyes at the end of each workday

by placing cool, moist cotton pads on closed eyelid.                            

   

Always wear safety glasses or goggles when working with stump removers or

chipper. Use a full face shield and goggles when opening fertilizer and spray

containers. Watch for tree branches and other objects that protrude at eye

level.



Often times workers who have had close calls and nearly lost their eyesight are

extremely conscious of wearing the proper eye protection and can recognize

unsafe eye conditions just about anywhere. Wherever you are working, make sure

that emergency first-aid equipment and supplies are available.



Never rub your eye if you get something in it. If a particle is under the upper

lid, gently grasp the lashes of the upper eyelid between your thumb and

forefinger, look upward, and pull the eyelid forward and downward over the

lower eye. This action will automatically trigger tears, which will often

dislodge the foreign object.



If the particle appear under the lower lid, pull the lid down by pressing your

finger gently against the lid below the lash. Use a moist cotton swab or other

applicator to gently remove the particle. If it does not come out easily, see a

physician.



If your eye is seriously injured, cover it with a sterile oval eye pad, a clean

cloth or a piece of gauze.  Never use any kind of oil on the eye for first-aid

treatment. If the eye has come into contact with acid or chemicals, flush the

eye with plenty of water from a drinking fountain or water spigot.

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Text Version