The role of eye protection in work-related eye injuries.
OBJECTIVE
A recent survey of general hospitals by the Victorian Injury Surveillance System found that ocular trauma represented 15% of work-related injuries. As circumstances surrounding occupational eye injuries have been poorly documented previously, their associations to occupation, industry and work-safety practices, including safety eyewear use, need to be identified to develop appropriate preventive strategies for high-risk groups.


METHODS
From a prospective cross-sectional survey of all eye injuries treated at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, work-related cases were analysed for demographic, occupational and safety eye-wear information. Hospital-based data were supplemented by information from WorkCover Authorities and Labour Force statistics to derive incidence and cost estimates.


RESULTS
There were 9390 eye injuries during the 18-month survey period; 42% (n=3923) of total and 29% (n=52) of penetrating ocular injuries occurred at work. The most frequently injured were metal, automotive and building trades workers grinding and drilling (41% of outpatients) and hammering (53% of penetrating eye injuries). Automotive workers had the highest frequency for penetrating injuries, and most were exposed to hammering and were also the least likely to wear safety eye-wear.


CONCLUSIONS
Eye injuries are frequent (10% of work-related injuries) and highly preventable by the correct use of safety eye-wear, a cost-effective intervention that may result in cost savings of $59 million for work-type activities in the occupational and domestic settings in Australia each year.
Fong
L P
LP
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Taouk
Y
Y
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005135:Eye Protective Devices; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control