Data & Statistics
Featured Data & Statistics
Work-related Eye Injuries
Work-related Eye Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments by Injury Source (2000)
Each day more than 2,000 U.S. workers receive some form of medical treatment because of eye injuries sustained at work. More than 800,000 work-related eye injuries occur each year.
In 2000, 300,000 eye injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments (ED). This was 22.2 cases per 10,000 full-time workers. Of these workers, 80% were men. Compared with women, men had an eye injury rate 4 times higher (32.4 vs. 8.2 cases, respectively, per 10,000 full-time workers).
In 70% of cases, the injury was caused by contact with an object or equipment. In 26% of cases, the injury was caused by exposure to harmful substances or environments.
Injury sources were:
- Scrap, waste, debris (34%)
- Chemicals or chemical products (14%)
- Person, plants, animals and minerals (9%)
- Parts and materials (6%)
- Welding torches (6%)
Data Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Source: Healthy People 2010 Vision. Fact Sheet: Eye Safety at Work is Everyone’s Business.
For More Information:
Page last reviewed: February 27, 2008
Page last updated: February 27, 2008
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Content owner: National Center for Health Marketing
URL for this page: http://www.cdc.gov/features/dsworkPlaceEye
