EYE PROTECTION IN INDUSTRY

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27895, 17 February 1956, Page 10

EYE PROTECTION IN INDUSTRY

USE OF SPECTACLES URGED ENGINEERING TRADE MOST HAZARDOUS Ten thousand men in New Zealand had had serious accidents to their eyes in the last 10 years, said the District Medical Officer of Health <Dr. A. Douglas) yesterday. “What is worse, in the same time 200 men have lost the sight of one eye completely,” he said. For anyone interested in cold cash, the serious accidents to eyes have cost the Workers’ Compensation Board about £3.000.000.” Dr. Dougla: said that in view of the tragic amount of eye damage, it was imperative that engineers and other industrial workers should take every precautionary measure available. “You can get a pair of industrial spectacles cheaply, but you are on youf last pair of eyes.’ he said. Dr. Douglas said that engineers and men in related trades ran a much greater risk of injury and damage to their eyesight than men in any other trade. This was not because engineers were stupid or careless about protecting their eyes. “The danger to engineers’ eyes is much greater because of the kind of work they do,” he said. Dr. Douglas said grinding, pouring, brass turning, and chipping were among the jobs where there was a great danger to unprotected eyes. “Not only is the man doing the job in danger, but everyone working or passing alongside, too.” he said. “Men in jobs v. here there is a danger to eyes should wear a pair of light industrial spectacles with toughened lenses and side guards all the time they're at work. They should have a pair of protective spectacles, even if they have to buy them themselves.” Dr. Douglas said that if industrial workers did get a piece of metal in their eyes they should not let anyone try to dig it out with a blunt chisel or similar handy tool. “Go to the hospital or your doctor immediately. Don’t be blind to eye protection—you can’t afford it,” Dr. Douglas said. In Christchurch, employers have to notify eye injuries among their staff to the Labour Department. Any eye injury at work likely to cause permanent damage to sight is notifiable by doctors to the Department of Health.