If you are currently employed in the construction industry, you may not be surprised to hear that this is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. Not only are workers subjected to grueling conditions, but they are expected to utilize a wide variety of tools and heavy machinery on a daily basis. For this reason, it has become increasingly important for all construction workers to be aware of what steps they can take to prevent a serious injury.

One type of injury in particular is often overlooked, so our NYC construction accident attorneys thought that it was important to shed light on just how many eye injuries are suffered by the employees of this industry. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, more than 1,000 Americans suffer eye injuries on the job every single day. This is quite a substantial number when compared to the rate at which almost any other type of injury occurs in the workplace.

Learning How Eye Injuries are Most Commonly Sustained

Eye injuries can happen under a number of different circumstances—especially when working in the various fields of construction—but some occur more frequently than others. In fact, it has been reported by the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that nearly 70% of all eye-related injuries are the result of being hit with a flying object or falling debris.

When working on a construction site, there are plenty of opportunities for this to occur. What is actually quite shocking, however, is that three-fifths of the objects that have been known to strike the eye, such that it causes injury, are smaller than the head of a pin.

Additionally, it is not uncommon for workers to be utilizing tools or machinery that cause sparks to fly up near their face, as well as to be handling toxic chemicals—which account for nearly one-fifth of all related injuries.

Preventing a Serious Eye Injury While Working on a Construction Site

You may be surprised to find out that you can still suffer a serious eye injury even if you are wearing some form of eyewear—as this can be rendered useless if it is not the right form of protection. Depending on the type of work that an employee is doing, they may need to utilize various forms of eye protection in order to keep themselves safe. For example, a welder would need to protect their face much differently than someone who is handling hazardous chemicals.

In any case, however, it is always important to make sure that all protective devices have been properly maintained—as scratched, cracked, dirty or ill-fitting eyewear can lead to decreased visibility, an increased chance of breakage and/or the possibility that debris or dangerous chemicals will slip under the protective goggles.

Injured on the job? Learn how a NYC construction accident lawyer can help!

If you are suffering from a work-related eye injury, it is important that you take steps to secure an adequate amount of compensation. Not only will this help you to manage the cost of your medical treatment, but it will also serve as reimbursement for the time that you have spent away from work.

In order to ensure that you have the best possible chance of obtaining the maximum amount of compensation, however, it is highly recommended that you discuss your case with a New York City construction accident lawyer from Lurie, Ilchert, MacDonnell & Ryan LLP. In doing so, we will be able to determine which course of action is best suited for you.

Call our NYC personal injury office today at (646) 461-4009 for a free initial consultation!