Advancements in technology have made goggles a popular choice for workplace eye protection for many employees, according to a recent Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) article about eye protection and work-related eye injuries.

“Today’s modernized safety goggles provide a tighter, sealed fit and are ideal for workers who may find themselves in environments that produce flying debris and projectiles that could potentially be harmful to the users’ eyes,” the OHS article states.

These advancements in goggle technology are critical. That’s because work-related eye injuries can result in partial or permanent vision loss. Our workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl in Massachusetts and Rhode Island know because we have helped many injured workers obtain the benefits they rightfully deserve after sustaining a work-related eye injury.

Improved safety goggles provide ‘additional protection’

In recent years, employees who need eyewear protection for their jobs have chosen to wear safety goggles instead of safety glasses, according to the OHS article.

“While safety goggles are certainly not a new concept, recent innovations aim to make them more comfortable to wear, which is fueling category growth as more workers shift to the additional protection that goggles provide,” OHS reports.

The article adds, “Beyond the framework of meeting and even exceeding applicable safety standards, we are seeing new goggle designs in the market that focus on improved fit, comfort, and customization features to cater to a diverse range of users.”

Work-related eye injuries—by the numbers

Protective goggles serve an important purpose. They help protect people from sustaining work-related eye injuries and vision loss. Unfortunately, on-the-job eye injuries still occur at an alarming rate. According to the most recent workplace injury statistics compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 18,510 workers sustained eye injuries in 2020 nationwide. That’s roughly 1.7 injuries for every 10,000 full-time workers.

Common causes of work-related eye injuries

According to the BLS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common causes of work-related eye injuries are:

• Coming into contact with objects or equipment – 11,980 work-related eye injuries in 2020, according to the BLS.
• Exposure to harmful substances – 4,830 work-related eye injuries in 2020.
• Objects scraping or scratching an eye – According to the CDC, small particles such as dust, cement chips, and wood slivers often cause work-related eye injuries.
• Penetrating objects – Nails, staples, and wood slivers can penetrate an eye and cause a severe injury, according to the CDC.
• Chemical burns – Industrial chemicals and cleaning products often cause eye injuries and vision loss, according to the CDC.

Employers must provide eye protection

If employees work in an environment where eye injuries are possible, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide eye protection to all employees. These rules are defined in OSHA Standard 1926.102, which focuses on personal protective equipment for face and eye protection.

Unfortunately, not every employer follows these rules. That’s why violations of OSHA Standard 1926.102 recently made the top 10 list of OSHA workplace safety violations for fiscal year 2023, which ended Sept. 30. Specifically, OSHA issued 2,074 violations for failing to provide employees with protective face and eye equipment, making this the 9^th most common OSHA violation in fiscal year 2023.

Work-related eye injuries can be serious

You might think you don’t need an attorney to help you recover compensation if you sustained an eye injury at work. All you have to do is apply for workers’ compensation benefits, and your employer’s insurance company will take care of everything else, right?

Don’t be so sure. Workers’ compensation claims involving eye injuries or vision loss are often disputed or denied. That’s why if you suffered an eye injury or vision loss at work, you should contact the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl for help.

Our legal team is dedicated to helping injured workers get the support they deserve after a work-related injury or illness. We have years of experience handling complicated workers’ compensation claims in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Find out what we can do for you. Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation with our legal team so we can review your case, explain your options, and help you find your way forward after a work-related eye injury.

Some of the top 10 most common workplace safety violations involve companies failing to provide fall protection, safety training for employees using hazardous chemicals, and safe ladders for employees to use, according to a recent National Safety Council (NSC) report.

Notably, many of these Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workplace safety violations are the same violations employers are cited for year after year, according to the NSC report.

“Although incredible advancements are made in safety each year, we continue to see many of the same types of violations appear on OSHA’s Top 10 list,” NSC president and CEO Lorraine Martin said. “As a safety community, we must come together to acknowledge these persistent trends and identify solutions to better protect workers.”

So, what are the top 10 most common OSHA workplace safety violations? Our workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have the complete list below, as well as information about how a lawyer can help an injured worker.

Lack of fall protection tops OSHA’s list

OSHA Region 6 administrator Eric Harbin announced the top 10 OSHA workplace safety violations for fiscal year 2023, which ended Sept. 30. For the 13^th consecutive year, failure to provide fall protection for workers was the top OSHA workplace safety violation.

In fiscal year 2023, there were 7,271 violations nationwide of OSHA Standard 1926.501 (Duty to have fall protection) governing “Fall Protection – General Requirements.” This OSHA requirement states that employers must provide fall protection and safety training to prevent workplace falls.

Falls from a height are some of the most common causes of work-related injuries and fatalities. On average, more than 200,000 workers are injured every year, and 800 die in work-related accidents due to falling from a height, according to an NSC study based on workplace injury statistics compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Other top OSHA violations

Along with failing to provide protection for workers from a fall, the other top 10 OSHA workplace safety violations in fiscal year 2023 were:

• Hazard Communication (OSHA Standard 1910.1200) – 3,213 violations involving failing to educate employees about the dangers of hazardous chemicals.
• Ladders (OSHA 1926.1053) – 2,978 violations involving unsafe ladders, ladders being overloaded or not properly secured, many times resulting in a ladder accident.
• Scaffolding (OSHA 1926.451) – 2,859 violations involving general requirements involving unsafe scaffolding, overloaded scaffolding, and improperly secured scaffolding.
• Powered Industrial Trucks (OSHA 1910.178) – 2,561 violations involving the unsafe use of specialized industrial trucks, including motorized hand trucks, forklifts, and tractors.
• Lockout/Tagout (OSHA 1910.147) – 2,554 violations involving improper maintenance of machines and equipment used for power generation purposes.
• Respiratory Protection (OSHA 1910.134) – 2,481 violations involving failing to provide respirators to employees who work with hazardous chemicals, dust, and sprays.
• Fall Protection – Training Requirements (OSHA 1926.503) – 2,112 violations for failing to properly train workers who might be exposed to fall hazards on the job.
• Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (OSHA 1926.102) – 2,074 violations for failing to provide employees with protective face and eye equipment if their work involves face or eye hazards, such as flying particles, liquid chemicals, and acids.
• Machine Guarding (OSHA 1910.212) – 1,644 violations for failing to provide protective machine equipment, such as barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, and electronic safety devices.

Injured workers should know their legal options

On-the-job injuries involving unsafe working conditions can quickly become complicated legal matters. Even if you are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits, obtaining the benefits you deserve can be challenging. In addition, you could be eligible to receive additional compensation depending on the circumstances surrounding your work-related injury.

This is why it’s best to talk to an experienced work injury attorney who understands how to handle complex cases. Our workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl can help you every step of the way. We have years of experience successfully handling workers’ compensation claims in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and understand what it takes to get results for injured workers.

Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation with our law firm. Our legal team can review your case, explain your potential options, and get right to work on your claim so you can focus on healing.