Sight Conservation and Eye Sight Conservation and Eye SafetySafety

A. Your Eyes’ DefensesA. Your Eyes’ Defenses

DefensesDefenses

• TearsTears– Self-cleans the eyes of foreign materialSelf-cleans the eyes of foreign material

• Eye lidEye lid– Physical barrier to some objectsPhysical barrier to some objects

• CorneaCornea– Damaged ones can now be replacedDamaged ones can now be replaced

• Inner eye (retina)Inner eye (retina)– Damage is irreversibleDamage is irreversible

B. Types of Eye InjuriesB. Types of Eye Injuries

Foreign BodiesForeign Bodies

• Most common of injuriesMost common of injuries• Abrasions & ScratchesAbrasions & Scratches

– Can cause permanent scar tissueCan cause permanent scar tissue

• Contusions from large objectsContusions from large objects• Irritations from fibersIrritations from fibers• Particles in smoke or fumesParticles in smoke or fumes

Chemical BurnsChemical Burns

• Acids Acids – Precipitate a protein barrier preventing Precipitate a protein barrier preventing

further penetration into tissuefurther penetration into tissue– Burn the surface of the eye and cause scarsBurn the surface of the eye and cause scars

• Bases (alkalies) Bases (alkalies) – Damages tissue as long as there is contactDamages tissue as long as there is contact– Dissolves fat-soluble tissue, turning it into Dissolves fat-soluble tissue, turning it into

“jelly”“jelly”

• Acids and Bases are both CORROSIVEAcids and Bases are both CORROSIVE

Chemical BurnsChemical Burns

• Gases in air can burn or irritateGases in air can burn or irritate• Vapors and mists can irritate and Vapors and mists can irritate and

produce scarringproduce scarring– PaintsPaints– PesticidesPesticides– CleanersCleaners

• In the Navy, the most frequent eye In the Navy, the most frequent eye injuries result from handling fuels injuries result from handling fuels without eye protectionwithout eye protection

Irradiation BurnsIrradiation Burns

• Infrared light (heat lamps)Infrared light (heat lamps)– Passes through cornea-absorbed by Passes through cornea-absorbed by

lenslens

• Ultraviolet light (sun, welding)Ultraviolet light (sun, welding)– Causes flash burnsCauses flash burns– Delayed effects (4-6 hrs. after Delayed effects (4-6 hrs. after

exposure)exposure)

• Infrared and Ultraviolet light can Infrared and Ultraviolet light can cause permanent eye damagecause permanent eye damage

C. Navy Sight Conservation C. Navy Sight Conservation Program ElementsProgram Elements

Program ElementsProgram Elements

• Identify eye hazardsIdentify eye hazards– Survey all work areas to determine Survey all work areas to determine

potential eye hazardous areas potential eye hazardous areas

Program ElementsProgram Elements

• Eliminate hazards by engineering Eliminate hazards by engineering controlscontrols– Eliminate hazards completely, where Eliminate hazards completely, where

possiblepossible– Reduce eye hazards Reduce eye hazards

• GuardsGuards• Isolation of the processIsolation of the process• Substitution of a less hazardous chemicalSubstitution of a less hazardous chemical

Program ElementsProgram Elements

• Post eye hazardous areasPost eye hazardous areas– Label all areas and pieces of Label all areas and pieces of

equipment which are potentially equipment which are potentially hazardoushazardous

– Use yellow & black caution signs:Use yellow & black caution signs:• to warn of eye hazard areasto warn of eye hazard areas• to specify eye protection requiredto specify eye protection required

– Mark the areas around eye hazards Mark the areas around eye hazards with yellow and black striping or with yellow and black striping or checkerboard tape on the deckcheckerboard tape on the deck

Program ElementsProgram Elements

• Provide protectionProvide protection– Where hazards can’t be eliminated or Where hazards can’t be eliminated or

reduced, PPE is requiredreduced, PPE is required– Navy must provide all protective equipmentNavy must provide all protective equipment– Protection must be specific to the jobProtection must be specific to the job– Safety Officer will determine types to be Safety Officer will determine types to be

wornworn– Medical provides eye exams and screening:Medical provides eye exams and screening:

• for corrective needsfor corrective needs• for personnel working around radiation sourcesfor personnel working around radiation sources

D. Eye Protection--Personal D. Eye Protection--Personal Protective DevicesProtective Devices

Must Meet ANSI StandardsMust Meet ANSI Standards

• Each manufacturer’s glasses or goggles Each manufacturer’s glasses or goggles must be tested and approvedmust be tested and approved

• Testing includes:Testing includes:– ImpactImpact– PermeabilityPermeability– Shatter proofingShatter proofing– Frame breaking strengthFrame breaking strength

• Only ANSI approved eyewear may be Only ANSI approved eyewear may be used by Navy personnelused by Navy personnel– Must have “Z87” or “Z87+” stamp Must have “Z87” or “Z87+” stamp

Devices Designed for Devices Designed for Specific HazardsSpecific Hazards

• Six general types of protective Six general types of protective eyeweareyewear– Safety glasses/spectaclesSafety glasses/spectacles– Chemical gogglesChemical goggles– Welding gogglesWelding goggles– Chipping gogglesChipping goggles– Welding helmetsWelding helmets– Face shieldsFace shields

• Wear the right type!! Wearing the Wear the right type!! Wearing the wrong type can be dangerouswrong type can be dangerous

Wearing Protective DevicesWearing Protective Devices

• Wear double protection for acids and Wear double protection for acids and basesbases– Chemical goggles AND face shield !Chemical goggles AND face shield !

• Face shields MUST be worn with safety Face shields MUST be worn with safety glasses or gogglesglasses or goggles– Face shields may not be worn by themselvesFace shields may not be worn by themselves

• When working with UV light, wear When working with UV light, wear protection based on level of light protection based on level of light intensityintensity– NO sunglasses!!NO sunglasses!!

Wearing Protective DevicesWearing Protective Devices

• Navy will provide prescription Navy will provide prescription safety glassessafety glasses– See Safety Officer or MDRSee Safety Officer or MDR

• Regular prescription glasses Regular prescription glasses CANNOT be worn as safety glassesCANNOT be worn as safety glasses

• Keep devices cleanKeep devices clean• Discard if badly scratched or Discard if badly scratched or

damageddamaged

E. Emergency Eye Wash E. Emergency Eye Wash StationsStations

Emergency Eye Wash Emergency Eye Wash StationsStations

• Must flush with fresh water for Must flush with fresh water for minimum of 15 minutesminimum of 15 minutes

• Flushing is used to:Flushing is used to:– Remove foreign objectsRemove foreign objects– Dilute strong chemicalsDilute strong chemicals

• Required whereverRequired wherever– Corrosives are used (battery shops)Corrosives are used (battery shops)– Particulate hazards exist (machine Particulate hazards exist (machine

shop)shop)

Eye Wash RequirementsEye Wash Requirements

• Must meet ANSI standardsMust meet ANSI standards• Must provide continuous water flowMust provide continuous water flow• Activated by one hand or foot Activated by one hand or foot

motionmotion• Both hands free to hold eyes open Both hands free to hold eyes open

(valve must stay open)(valve must stay open)• May be combined with deluge May be combined with deluge

shower for full body chemical first shower for full body chemical first aidaid

Eye Wash StylesEye Wash Styles

• Plumbed into water systemPlumbed into water system• Gravity-fed portable self-containerGravity-fed portable self-container• All covered by quarterly All covered by quarterly

maintenancemaintenance

F. Program EnforcementF. Program Enforcement

EnforcementEnforcement

• Personnel working in eye hazardous Personnel working in eye hazardous areas MUST wear eye protectionareas MUST wear eye protection

• Supervisors must set the exampleSupervisors must set the example• Visitors/guests provided with eye Visitors/guests provided with eye

protectionprotection• Some sports (racquetball) are Some sports (racquetball) are

hazardous. Wear sport goggleshazardous. Wear sport goggles• Encourage personnel to wear eye Encourage personnel to wear eye

protection at home (hobbies/lawn work) protection at home (hobbies/lawn work)

G. Eye Injury First AidG. Eye Injury First Aid

First AidFirst Aid

• Never rub eyes to remove Never rub eyes to remove particulatesparticulates

• Chemical burnsChemical burns– Flush for 15 minutes (minimum)Flush for 15 minutes (minimum)– Get medical attention!Get medical attention!

• Punctures and traumaPunctures and trauma– Cover with a clean, soft clothCover with a clean, soft cloth– Get medical attention!Get medical attention!

First AidFirst Aid

• Report ALL minor cuts and eye Report ALL minor cuts and eye problems to medicalproblems to medical– Minor scratches may lead to potential Minor scratches may lead to potential

infections with resulting scar tissue infections with resulting scar tissue formation, loss of sight, or other formation, loss of sight, or other significant damagesignificant damage