As you leave the work today, look up, down and all around, check out the beauty around you. Look at the sky, the different leaves in the trees, all birds in them. When you get home, watch your children and pay attention to how their eyes light up when Daddy or Mommy gets home. Have you ever stopped to think how wonderful your eyesight really is? Well, think about it. For about two minutes, close your eyes completely and contemplate how life would be if you lost your eyesight! Did you come up with visions about how your life would change if you couldn't see? Did they include any of the following?
·When you and your family are on vacation, they will have to describe the scenery to you.
·You would have to be led wherever you want to go.
·Someone would have to describe the way your children's eyes light up when they open their presents at Christmas, Birthdays etc.
·No more leisurely activities such as hunting or fishing, watching movies or TV.
·No more driving the new truck, motorcycle, car or boat you just bought.
Does this sound like something you want to go through? I didn't think so! Is there a way to prevent this from happening? You bet wear your eye protection! A recent article in Safety & Health states that every day approximately 1,000 eye injuries occur in the U.S. OSHA estimates that 90% of eye injuries are preventable through the proper use of safety eye wear. What does this tell us? Many people are not wearing proper eye protection! Let's examine a few operations that present eye hazards:
·Grinding, hammering, chiseling, wood working or any other activity that might cause large fragments or small particles to fly through the air and into the eyes;
·Painting, spraying, sanding, metal working, spot welding or any process that may cause dust, fumes or tiny particulate to become airborne;
·Work tasks such as electric welding and cutting with a torch;
· Operations such as handling acids and caustics, and hot metal casting and babbitting where gases, vapors, liquids or splashing metals are generated.
And that’s just a work. Imagine just how many things you do outside of work that have the same chances of getting something in your eye!
Your eyesight is a precious gift. Please do not wait until it's too late to come to your senses. If your work or what you are doing presents an exposure to eye hazards, wear your eye protection.
Don't take chances. Open your eyes and protect your vision!
