Protecting your peepers

Those little marshmallow chicks that appear every year before Easter are peeps, while the complex optical sensors in your head are known as peepers. Just in case there’s any doubt, it’s the peepers that need protection and care, especially when you’re at work.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology estimates that 90 percent of workplace eye injuries could be prevented by having workers wear eye protection. The group said that as many as 2,000 workers per day suffer on-the-job eye injuries that require medical attention.

The AAO said that about 40 percent of those at-work eye injuries are sustained by workers in construction, manufacturing and mining. It adds that the injuries come at a steep financial price: more than $300 million annually in worker pay, treatment costs and lost production.

An ophthalmologist and clinical spokesperson for AAO said there are several simple precautions workers and employers can take to reduce the risks of eye injuries, including “simply adjusting the setting on your computer monitor or wearing appropriate protection.”

The organization urges workers to consider the following eye safety tips:

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, take a break from computer work by looking at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds
• Position your computer monitor 25 inches away
• Reduce the glare on your phone and other digital devices
• Adjust the lighting near your workstation

For those who suffer an on-the-job injury, life can become even more complicated when a workers’ compensation claim is denied. You can speak with a Charlotte work comp attorney experienced in fighting for full compensation in workers’ comp appeals.