Can work-related eye injuries be avoided?

• Published in: Tidsskrift for den Norske Lægeforening Vol. 124; no. 21; p. 2776
• Main Authors: Bull, Nils, Høvding, Gunnar, Riise, Trond, Moen, Bente E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Norwegian
• Published: Norway 04.11.2004
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Eye Injuries - epidemiology; Eye Injuries - etiology; Eye Injuries - prevention & control; Eye Protective Devices; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Norway - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational Diseases - prevention & control; Registries; Norway
• ISSN: 0807-7096; 0807-7096

The eyes are among the organs most frequently hurt in occupational injuries. The characteristics of eye injuries were studied in order to suggest preventive measures. Analyses were performed on work-related eye injuries reported to the Norwegian Injury Surveillance System from a selection of emergency centres during the period 1990-2002, and on injuries reported by employers to the National Insurance Administration 1998-2001. The occurrence of injuries was stable over the period. Men sustained 94.4% of the injuries registered in injury surveillance system. The highest incidence was among those 20 to 24 years of age. Metal cutters and tools for polishing were involved in 25.7% of cases. Analyses of the injuries reported to the National Insurance Administration showed an odds ratio of 8.8 (95% CI 7.6-10.1) for injuries to workers in metal industry, 18.8 (95% CI 17.0-20.8) in automotive industry, and only 0.5 (95% CI 0.1-3.4) in oil refineries. Workers in oil refineries have a potentially hazardous work environment, but there, eye protection is mandatory. There was no decline in the incidence of work-related eye injuries from 1990 to 2002. Workers in metal industry have a high risk of injuries and employers should consider requiring the use of eye protection.