Massachusetts employers generally have a responsibility to protect their employees from workplace injuries. However, despite a company’s best efforts, an accident may occur that results in a scratched cornea, blurry vision or other eye problems. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to minimize your risk of getting hurt while you’re at work.
Handle materials with care
If you are handling a jar, dish or large container filled with chemicals or other potentially harmful liquids, make sure that it is properly sealed. This may prevent anything from splashing into your eyes or getting on other parts of your body. It may also be helpful to wear gloves and be sure you know the location of all eye-wash stations on the premises.
Prevent eye strain
Putting your phone, tablet or laptop away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes can significantly reduce your chances of eye discomfort. Doing so allows your eyes to rehydrate, which can reduce redness, burning or other issues that may result in temporary or permanent vision loss. Continuously starting at a screen can also cause cluster headaches, migraines and other types of debilitating headaches. If you develop any of these conditions, you may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
If you are injured at work, it’s critical to tell your employer as quickly as possible, and it’s a good idea to document everything. If you tell your employer about your injury in person, recapping the conversation by sending an email provides a record of the conversation and their response to your concerns. You may also need to provide medical records about any doctors that you saw and treatments that you received, including from before you were hurt, so be sure to keep all documents.
