From the CCOHS Corner – Part 2
Printed in the OH&S Canada magazine (Fall 2024)
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced
Prevent Eye Discomfort
Ergonomic hazards and injury prevention practices should be covered in your health and safety program. To help prevent ergonomic-related eye injuries, employers should identify and assess risk factors and ensure safe work practices are in place to reduce or eliminate the risks.
Get the Lighting Right
Many eye discomfort symptoms can be resolved with appropriate lighting. A challenge with lighting is that the computer monitor itself is a source of light and does not need additional illumination from other sources. The right lighting provides enough illumination so workers can see printed, handwritten or displayed documents clearly but are not blinded by excessively high light levels. Light should come from the right direction and not cast obscuring shadows.
Computer screens can cause glare if the brightness and contrast controls are not properly adjusted. Lighting should provide moderate contrast between the task and the background, and limit glare. Another challenge is providing the right light for using the monitor and paper documents at the same time. Paper documents require a higher light level than the monitor. Any type of soft task light, such as a task lamp, can be used to illuminate documents while avoiding excessive light near the monitor.
Set Up the Workstation
Setting up workers’ monitors properly will help reduce eye and neck strain. Workers should be able to look at their screen without tilting their head – the center should be 10-20 degrees below their straight-ahead gaze. The closer an object, the harder the eyes must work to focus, so place the screen as far back as it can go while still allowing it to be read easily. If your workplace does not have an in-house ergonomist, seek the needed training or hire a professional.
Take Regular Breaks
Focusing on objects at the same distance and angle for prolonged periods can also contribute to eye strain, so employers should encourage workers to take periodic breaks.
Eye specialists recommend the “20-20-20 rule.” At least every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet (6 meters) away. Focus your vision on distant objects, then blink several times. This “stretching” break can prevent the eyes from feeling fatigued.
Address Areas of Stress
When we feel stressed, worried or fearful, our fight or flight response causes our body to react so we can respond to the situation. However, it is not as commonly known that this fight or flight reaction also affects the eyes and visual system and can lead to eye strain and headaches. Chronic stress can also add to the pressure inside our eyes and increase the risk of optic nerve damage and glaucoma.
Eye Injury Protection
Do not forget about eye safety. In industrial settings, when there is a risk of injury or harmful exposure to a worker’s eyes or face, additional measures must be taken. These hazards are often associated with flying objects, particles, dust, splashes including droplets and sprays from chemicals and other liquids, radiation from welding and lasers, and abrasive and molten material.
To help protect workers, first identify any possible hazards and conduct a risk assessment. Then select appropriate personal protective equipment such as protective eyewear when engineering controls or other more permanent methods of control are not possible.
Protective eyewear used in Canada must have the CSA mark on it to show that it meets Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards.
Provide Training and Education
Prevention efforts should also include regular training and education on the risk factors for eye discomfort, and how to prevent and reduce the risks before signs and symptoms develop. Provide workers with education on how to set up ergonomic workstations and work practices to reduce the risk of eye injury. Encourage them to come forward to their manager or health and safety representative at the first signs because, like all repetitive strain injuries, symptoms often worsen over time.
(Thank for reading the report. We endeavour to add pertinent material to the Health and Safety Community. The CCOHS is a great place for that information.)
Daniel L. Beal
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Canada, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
CEO & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.