Objective 28-8

Occupational Injury

28-8a Reduce occupational eye injuries resulting in lost work days.

28-8b Reduce occupational eye injuries treated in emergency departments.

This objective was the focus of Healthy Vision Month 2006

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that nearly three out of every five workers injured were not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident or the wrong kind of eye protection for the job. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards require that employers provide workers with suitable eye protection. To be effective, the eyewear must be of the appropriate type for the hazard encountered and properly fitted. It is estimated that 90% of eye injuries can be prevented through the use of proper protective eyewear on the job.

• Data Sources
• Organizational Resources

Data Source

28-8a. Reduce occupational eye injuries resulting in lost work days

Baseline: 4.8 per 10,000 private industry full-time workers

Target (30% improvement): 3.4 per 10,000 full-time workers

Targeting setting method: percent improvement

Data source: Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (ASOII), U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Operational definition: This is a valuable tool that allows individuals to set measurable Healthy Vision objectives for their own communities.

Occupational eye injuries resulting in lost work days	(per 10,000 full-time workers in private industry)
	4.8
Race and ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native only	DNC
Asian or Pacific Islander only	DNC
Asian only	DNC
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only	DNC
Black or African American only	DNC
White only	DNC
2 or more races	DNC
American Indian or Alaska Native; White	DNC
Black or African American; White	DNC
Hispanic or Latino	DNC
Non Hispanic or Latino	DNC
Black or African American only, not Hisp/Latino	DNC
White only, not Hispanic or Latino	DNC
Gender
Female	DNC
Male	DNC
Education level
Under 12 years	DNC
12 years	DNC
13 years and over	DNC

Legend:
DNA = Data have not been analyzed.
DNC = Data for specific population are not collected.
DSU = Data do not meet the criteria for statistical reliability, data quality, or confidentiality.

28-8b. Reduce occupational eye injuries treated in emergency departments.

Baseline: 21.0 per 10,000 full-time workers

Target: (30% improvement): 14.7 per 10,000 full-time workers

Targeting setting method: percent improvement

Data source: National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), Consumer Product Safety Commission and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC.

Operational definition: This is a valuable tool that allows individuals to set measurable Healthy Vision objectives for their own communities.

Citation: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Tracking Healthy People 2010. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 2000.

Legend:
DNA = Data have not been analyzed.
DNC = Data for specific population are not collected.
DSU = Data do not meet the criteria for statistical reliability, data quality, or confidentiality.

Organizational Resources

If your organization has materials and/or programs to support this objective, contact Linda Huss lmh@nei.nih.gov.

• American Optometric Association
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Maryland Society for Sight
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Occupational Safety & Health Administration
• Prevent Blindness America

American Optometric Association
1505 Prince Street, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314
Tel: (703) 739-9200
Toll Free: 1-800-365-2219 X 4284
http://www.aoa.org/
Contact: John C. Whitener, OD, MPH, JCWhitener-OD@aoa.org

The American Optometric Association (AOA) seeks to advance the availability and accessibility of quality eye, vision, and related health care; to represent the profession of optometry; to enhance and promote the independent and ethical decision-making of its members; and to assist doctors of optometry in practicing successfully in accordance with the highest standards of patient care. The Association supports year-round programming to educate Americans about their vision and eye health and encourages people to take steps to preserve and protect their vision. AOA represents over 33,000 doctors of optometry trained in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease and vision disorders, including eye injuries.

Resources

• Computer User's Guide to Better Vision
• Your Vision.Your Job Depends on It
• Sample patient education brochures about are available at no cost by calling 1-888-396-EYES (3937) or see the AOA home page for more information at http://www.aoanet.org.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1600 Clifton Road, Mail Stop K-10
Atlanta, GA 30341-3724
Tel: (770) 488-5000
FAX: (770) 488-5966
Publications Inquiry: (770) 488-5080

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintains and Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health that provides a Website with a number of fact sheets on specific occupations and related eye safety. Visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/eyesafe.html.

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Maryland Society for Sight
1313 West Old Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21209
Tel: (410) 243-2020
Contact: Kathleen M. Curtin, mdsocietyforsight@erols.com

The Maryland Society's mission is to prevent blindness and preserve sight for Marylanders. The Society provides educational information to the public on eye safety in the workplace.

The Society distributes the following brochures produced by Prevent Blindness America:

• Questions on Eye Safety
• Eye Safety is No Accident!

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National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Education and Information Division (EID)
Robert A. Taft Laboratory
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674)
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Each day in the U.S. about 2,000 workers receive medical treatment for eye injuries that occur on the job. The main topic page on eye safety (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/) provides access to NIOSH eye safety resources, including general guidance web pages on eye safety for emergency response and disaster recovery (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/eyesafe.html) and eye protection for infection control (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/eye-infectious.html). Infection control is an area of eye safety that is of increasing importance to a number of groups such as animal care/control workers, rescue and recovery workers, and transportation workers such as those involved in transportation from SARS endemic areas, in addition to healthcare workers. The primary eye safety topic page also provides links to a variety of other eye safety resources including eye injury data sources, related bibliographic citations, and numerous other eye safety standards, regulations, and guidance materials. Additional information on eye safety as well as a wide variety of health and safety topics may be obtained by contacting NIOSH at 1-800-35-NIOSH or online at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ .

Resources

• Eye Safety - Emergency Response & Disaster Recovery
• Eye Protection for Infection Control
• Eye Safety - Tool Box Talk
• Occupational Eye Injury Statistics
• Health Hazard Evaluations
• Eye Injury Bibliography
• Other resources

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Occupational Safety & Health Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20210

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) hosts a website that concerns the evaluation, control, compliance, and training in the use of eye and face protection. The site also provides a Power Point presentation on eye and face protection using personal protective equipment devices with guards engineering controls, and sound manufacturing practice. Visit http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/eyefaceprotection/index.html.

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Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness America touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, divisions and chapters, it's committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020 or visit us on the Web at www.preventblindness.org.

Brochures and Fact Sheets Available

• Growing Older with Good Vision
• Signs of Possible Eye Trouble in Adults
• Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation
• Tips for Living with Low Vision
• Low Vision Aids and Devices
• Financial Assistance Information
• Common Eye Problems
• Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
• Cataract
• Your Guide to Cataract Surgery
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Open Angle Glaucoma
• Glaucoma Patient Guide
• Understanding Retinitis Pigmentosa
• Your Child's Sight
• Signs of Possible Eye Trouble in Children
• Family Home Eye Test
• Home Eye Test for Preschoolers

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