Maryland Injury Attorney Blog
In Maryland, work-related injuries make the news from time to time, particularly when a serious construction accident or accident on the loading docks of the Baltimore waterfront occurs. Slip and fall accidents from roofs and scaffolding, and crane, forklift, truck and other construction vehicle accidents are all hazards that come with the job in the construction and longshoreman trades.
As Baltimore work accident injury attorneys, we’ve assisted many hard-working individuals in Maryland who’ve been injured on the job. But one type of workplace injury we hear less about — which can have serious, lifelong consequences — is eye injury. The National Safety Council reports that eye injuries in the workplace are on the rise. According to advocacy group Prevent Blindness America, some 2,000 people sustain eye injuries at work every day.
The organization is offering free tools to employers to help raise awareness of eye safety and eye health among employees (see link below). Prevent Blindness America cites the most common causes of workplace eye injuries are flying objects (e.g., pieces of metal or glass), tools, particles, chemicals, and harmful radiation. Of the 2,000 people who sustain eye injury at work yearly, some 10 to 20 percent will suffer temporary or permanent vision loss. Computer related eye strain is another common form of eye injury in the workplace.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation claim in Maryland can be a long and confusing process, so it’s best to consult an experienced Md. work comp lawyer as soon as possible after a work accident has occurred. Not wearing proper eye protection is a common cause of sustaining eye injury at work, according to the National Safety Council.
Related Maryland Work Injury Attorney Article:
Sources:
New Program Provides Employers with Free Tool to Educate Workers on the Importance of Eye Health
Prevent Blindness America Press Release Feb. 28, 2011
Prevent Blindness America: Workplace Eye Safety
Eyewear: Too many options can cause confusion
National Safety Council: Safety + Health