Risk Management Advisories
PREVENTION OF EYE INJURIES
A review of school boards' past claims experience has revealed a number of
preventable eye injuries. A few of these have been very serious in nature resulting
in permanent loss or damage to a students eye sight. Concern over these type
of injuries has been reinforced by a survey of the liability inspections completed
by the Insurer's Advisory Organization for OSBIE.
In a large number of schools that were inspected, recommendations in science
labs and shops were made concerning the use of safety glasses, protective goggles,
and face masks. In many cases, protective eye-wear was available, but use was
not enforced. In some cases adequate protective eye-wear was not available.
From a risk management perspective, it is OSBIE's position that no woodworking or metalworking machinery should
be operated without the use of safety glasses or goggles, and where applicable,
face masks. Students should not be working with chemicals in a science lab without
the use of protective goggles. Eye-wash stations should be available in all
shops and labs. Safety guards should never be removed from machines operated
by students.
There are a number of sports where goggles are recommended, such as badminton,
and squash. In addition, sports such as hockey, and baseball require face masks
for participants playing certain positions. We have encountered several incidents
where the catcher in a baseball game received an eye injury or dental injury,
which might have been prevented if a proper catcher's mask had been used. Sports
such as field hockey and floor hockey have resulted in numerous eye injuries
both to goalies who are not wearing masks and to participants who are not wearing
masks or goggles, and are hit in the eye by a stick or plastic puck.
In the interest of safety of our students, please stress the use of protective
eye-wear to school staff and to students. Those with the safety and supervision
of students in labs, gyms and shop should have mandatory rules about eye protection
that are strictly enforced.
(REVISED 2010)
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