SEE THE POSSIBILITIES October 2001 - 1 O Occupational Vision Care: The Big Picture By Tom Slanga and John Hammer Essilor Laboratories of America

SEE THE POSSIBILITIES

October 2001 - 1

O

Occupational Vision Care: The Big Picture

• By Tom Slanga and John Hammer• Essilor Laboratories of America


October 2001 - 2

Differences Between Safety Eyewear programs and

Occupational Vision Care

• OVC involves 3 areas of concern• Eye Health• Eye Protection• Visual Ergonomics


October 2001 - 3

If you currently have an eye protection program in place, you’ll most likely get exactly

what you pay for----- Prescription safety glasses.


October 2001 - 4

If you would like Occupational Vision Care, it’s available at no

extra charge, but….

• You and your employees will need to know how to ask for it.

• You’ll need to interact with your local eye care providers to get it.

• You are lucky because doing the above is what this session is all about!


October 2001 - 5

Things You Should Know About Healthy Eyes

• Eyes can provide health care professionals with a “window” to your body.

• Eyes are the only organ you have that can be looked directly into, and examined.


October 2001 - 6

Complete Exams

Using a drug to dilate the pupil, your doctor can employ special instruments to give your eyes a complete examination, inside and out. That means that no part of your eyes will escape their view. They can actually observe blood flow , and if necessary even photograph portions of the eye, so your visual health can recorded and monitored.


October 2001 - 7

Complete exams can detect problems not always associated

with eyes, such as:

• Heart Disease• High Blood Pressure• Thyroid Disease• High Cholesteral• Diabetes


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“Bargain Exams”

• May be offered that do not provide complete diagnostics, but are made available at low cost to determine what your prescription is, so that an eyewear or related purchase can be made.


October 2001 - 9

Most serious eye diseases have no warning signs

• Macular degeneration• Glaucoma• Retinitis Pigmentosa• Diabetic retinopathy


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Early Detection is Critical

• Most diseases do permanent damage before they manifest symptoms

• Most of these can be controlled, but not cured.


October 2001 - 11

We are all at risk, so why do we often “put off” needed exams

• No insurance• “never worn glasses in my life”• Get “off the rack” glasses , and “just buy a

stronger pair when things get tough”• “My screening was fine when I got

checked at the drivers license bureau”


October 2001 - 12

The Bottom Line:

• Eye Exams are an inexpensive benefit to your employees if company funded.

• It may be wise to shift a portion of your eye protection budget from eyewear to exams.

• Not everyone needs glasses, but everyone should receive regular examinations.

• Ensuring that your employees’ visual health is provided for is an important first step in providing Occupational Vision Care.


October 2001 - 13

“Safety First!”

• This slogan was coined by Joseph A. Holmes, first director for the U.S. Bureau of Mines, now known as NIOSH.

• Since the dawn of the twentieth century, it remains the battle cry of safety professionals everywhere.


October 2001 - 14

THE SCOPE OF THE EYE INJURY PROBLEM

• Interesting Facts from The National Research Council Include :

• Total Economic loss is estimated to be in excess of $ 1 Billion Annually

• 60% of workers suffering eye injuries wore no protection

• 40% wore the wrong kind of protection


October 2001 - 15

In Additon:

• 41% of victims were under 45 years of age• 78% of victims are male• 35% of all eye injuries involve a foreign

body


October 2001 - 16

The National Safety Council Reports that Approximately 1000 Eye Injuries Occur In

The United States Every Day


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Average Cost Per Incident

• A foreign body or “nuisance injury” to the eye carries a price tag of about $300 according to the NSC

• A serious or “non first aid”- lost time injury to the eye averages $3,000


October 2001 - 18

The Cost For Basic protection?

• A simple non RX pair of safety glasses or appliance designed to “fit over” a pair of dress glasses could easily be obtained for $3 or less.


October 2001 - 19

SAFETY PAYS!

• If a nuisance injury will likely cost $300, by preventing it, I can outfit 100 people and break even if the eyewear costs $3 a pair.

• IT’S A NO BRAINER!


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Economic Quiz

• What’s the most expensive piece of safety equipment you can buy?


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Answer

• The one that fails to get the job done!


October 2001 - 22

Remember What the National Research Council Said?

• That 60% of all eye injuries involved no PPE in place. Buying nothing can be costly

• 40% wore the wrong kind of protector, that someone had paid for.

• They also paid for the injury it caused, and the proper appliance to replace it.


October 2001 - 23

If only 35% of eye injuries involve flying objects…..

• Obviously 65% are caused by something else.

• Safety Glasses with sideshields are a good first line of protection, but may not be the total answer for your employees.

• Goggles, welding hoods, fitovers with specialized tints and faceshields may be necessary .


October 2001 - 24

The Lesson

• PPE’S ONLY WORK WHEN IN PLACE AND DESIGNED FOR THE JOB AT HAND.

• PROPER SAFETY PRACTICES SHOULD BE SECOND NATURE TO EVERYONE , BUT IT SEEMS THE UNTRAINED,AND THE COMPLACENT TEND TO SUFFER MOST OFTEN.


October 2001 - 25

Government Regulations

• What do I need to do to be in compliance?


October 2001 - 26


October 2001 - 27

So, what are the major differences between safety and

dress glasses?

• Safety lenses have Minimum Thickness Standards , must be able to withstand High Velocity tests without breaking or being ejected toward the wearer.

• Safety frames have specific side protection available, and are tested for “High mass impact”, flammability, corrosion , and lens retention.


October 2001 - 28

Since August 19, 2003

• Rx Safety Lenses Have Two Possible Ratings, “Basic “ And “High Impact”

• Rating depends on the Material used• Thickness and Marking varies with the

rating.• Both Lenses and frames are marked to

identify that they were manufactured to meet industrial safety requirements.


October 2001 - 29


October 2001 - 30

Death, Taxes, and Presbyopia

• Presbyopia is an age related condition of the eye caused by a loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens.

• This jelly like lens is surrounded by muscles that force it to contract ,adding more curvature (and power) ,so we can see things that are up close, and pulls the lens to flatten it when we try to see things in the distance.


October 2001 - 31

You WILL be Stricken!

• If it hasn’t happened already, the day will come when you check your watch and still don’t know what time it is!


October 2001 - 32

The Optical Menu

Has added more new products in the past 5 years than the past five hundred.

Most folks don’t realize that special lenses have been designed for things like glass blowing, Laser use, and exposure to X ray.

Many ergonomic designs have been on the market for decades. They include double bifocals for working overhead and “ribbon bifocals” with a “look under” feature.


October 2001 - 33


October 2001 - 34

Today’s workplace

Calls for radical new lens designs, such as “Anti Fatigue” and “Computer styles”.

May require special placements of Bifocal, Trifocal or Progressive power within the lens to allow employees to work comfortably.

Is aided by lenses that can reduce unwanted glare , reflections, scratches and even dust!


October 2001 - 35

Visual Ergonomics

• Requires cooperation of the employee and the eyecare professional to be successful

• Works best when the safety professional is familiar with local eyecare professionals

• It’s as simple as handing the employee a form, and sending them to their eyecare professional for advice.


October 2001 - 36

The Visual Comfort Checklist

• Is a simple tool to bring your employees together with eyecare professionals

• Can and should be customized to properly reflect the visual requirements of your employees

• Will enable the eyecare professional to help your employee deal with visual problems caused by Presbyopia, and the work environment.


October 2001 - 37


October 2001 - 38

Interaction With Eyecare Professionals

• Encourages long term monitoring of patient history.

• Makes set up of benefit programs for such things as exams, or computer eyewear simple.

• Provides the safety professional with trustworthy advice on eye protection, treatment of injuries and proper ergonomic practices.


October 2001 - 39

What Should Be Discussed

• Program Do’s and Don’ts -Your safety objectives ( IE. side shields, poly lenses)

• Fees- And what’s included• Treatment Of Injuries-Is your local office a

good resource?• Diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases.


October 2001 - 40

Ask For An Office Tour

• Most eye care professionals are more than willing to show off their latest piece of diagnostic equipment, and it can be facinating.

• Reciprocate- There is nothing like giving them a first hand look at the work being performed, to assess the employees’ visual needs.


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Summary

• Your efforts have helped stem the tide of eye injuries, and debilitating diseases, but there’s more work to be done.

• Any industry, large or small, can afford to protect it’s employees from eye injuries.

• Visual Ergonomics and communication with your eyecare professionals can help your employees work more efficiently ,and in a safe and cost effective manner


October 2001 - 42

Questions?


October 2001 - 43

Thank You!

Documents

SEE THE POSSIBILITIES October 2001 - 1 O Occupational Vision Care: The Big Picture By Tom Slanga and John Hammer Essilor Laboratories of America