Occupational Eye Protection and Mitigating Infection Risks in Puerto Rico

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that each year, thousands of people are blinded from work-related eye injuries that could have been prevented with the proper selection and use of eye and face protection. OSHA standards require employers to ensure the safety of all employees in the work environment and this includes eye and face protection. It must be provided whenever necessary to protect against chemical, environmental, radiological or mechanical irritants and hazards.
 
A potential risk for workers in some industries is the possibility of developing an eye infection. There are a number of different types of bacteria and fungi that can cause this. With regards to fungi and yeasts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists Fusarium, Aspergillus and Candida as three of the more common ones. Fungal eye infection symptoms are often similar to those of other types of eye infections, and can include:

• Eye pain
• Eye redness
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Excessive tearing
• Eye discharge

“Work-related eye injuries cost hundreds of millions of dollars per year in lost production time, medical expenses and workers’ compensation,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “An eye injury at work can not only cause immediate eye damage, it could also introduce fungi or bacteria that could result in a serious infection. At Zimmetry, our industrial hygiene professionals offer workplace inspections, air testing for microbial and chemical hazards, eyewash station monitoring, personal protective equipment training, and other services in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean. These resources help to ensure that companies and institutions are doing all they can to protect their employees from preventable exposure hazards.”
 
Zimmetry also recently sponsored an educational video about fungal eye infections that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/EEVo3I2lzQA
 
To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, environmental, and compliance testing and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals, and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs, and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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