Eye Injuries Are a Serious Threat

There are countless eye hazards on a construction site, including particles that have been ejected from a tool or blown by the wind. Chemical splashes and swinging objects can also be eye hazards on a worksite. However, most eye injuries are preventable if you follow simple safety precautions and always wear your safety goggles!

Use Protective Eyewear

It’s a proven fact that the best thing you can do to protect your vision on the job is to wear safety glasses or goggles. Even if you do have your safety glasses on, keep in mind that there are a variety of ways you can get debris in your eyes. Some accidents happen by simply taking off your safety glasses and wiping your face—particles can easily fall out of eyebrows or hair and into your eyes.

Safety glasses should rest firmly on top of the nose and close to—but not against—the face. If they are uncomfortable, foggy, or sight-restrictive, then find a different pair. Don’t let excuses get in the way of protecting your eyes.

Find a Good Fit

You can find many ways to make safety glasses or goggles work for you, such as:

• If you find safety glasses uncomfortable, experiment with different sizes or styles.

• Make sure glasses fit well while you are also wearing your hard hat and other protective equipment.

• Wear glasses or goggles that are properly ventilated for the work you are performing. Unless you are working near splash hazards, use goggles that have plenty of side ventilation.

• If you wear prescription glasses, wear goggles designed to fit over your glasses or safety glasses made with your prescription.

• If your goggles fog up, try a model with more ventilation or coat them with an anti-fog liquid.

• Wear a sweatband or handkerchief around your head to keep sweat off your goggles.

• Always keep your safety glasses clean. Scratched and dirty glasses or goggles can reduce vision, cause glare, and may contribute to accidents.

Safety First

It takes only one accident to cause partial or complete blindness. Even tasks that you don’t consider dangerous may present a risk for eye injury. Take a moment to think about possible eye hazards around each job site, and then take the necessary precautions to help prevent potential accidents and injuries.

Experts Predict Increase in Prefabricated Construction

While most construction projects produce at least part of a structure off-site, advances in prefabrication technology are making modular construction more accessible. In fact, sales of prefabricated structures are increasing by about 6 percent annually, and experts believe that the market for this type of construction will be worth $209 billion by the end of next year.

Using prefabricated construction, employees can work on entire sections of a structure off-site, transport them to the job site and then assemble everything together. Not only does this help speed up complicated operations like electrical wiring and plumbing installation, but employees can also avoid hazards associated with the main work site.

Here are some of the advantages that prefabricated construction can offer:

• Boosts safety—Employees can work on structures in a spacious factory and at ground level, which lowers the risk of an accident.

• Saves time—Structures can be built in a setting with extra space and resources, so prefabricated projects are usually completed quickly and with lower overhead costs.

• Environmentally friendly—Prefabricated construction has less of an impact on the final construction site and usually causes less runoff and pollution.

• Addresses skilled labor shortage—Many employers are struggling to find skilled employees, and prefabricated structures can be completed with a smaller workforce.