Title page
Contents
Foreword 5
Acknowledgements 6
Executive summary 7
1. Introduction 10
2. Global burden of vision impairment 12
2.1. Societal burden of vision impairment 14
2.2. Work-related burden of vision impairment 15
3. Sight loss is not inevitable: Protecting the right to workers' eye health 17
3.1. Regulatory framework 18
3.2. Competent OSH authorities 18
3.3. Rights, duties and responsibilities of employers and workers 19
3.4. Medical care, compensation and rehabilitation for occupational accidents and diseases 20
4. OSH programme to protect and enhance the vision of workers 21
4.1. Programme introduction 23
4.2. Policy and planning 23
4.3. Hazard identification, risk assessment and control 23
4.4. Emergency prevention, preparedness and response 27
4.5. Procurement 28
4.6. Information and training 28
4.7. Medical surveillance 29
4.8. Record-keeping 29
4.9. Programme evaluation and action for improvement 30
5. Interdisciplinary collaboration to control workplace hazards: protecting and enhancing the vision of workers 31
6. A paradigm shift using the model of health promotion campaigns 34
7. Conclusion 36
Appendix A: Workplace eye hazards 37
NIR exposure 37
Mechanical trauma 41
Chemical and biological exposures 41
Ergonomic hazards 42
Appendix B: Hierarchy of Controls 43
Elimination 43
Substitution 43
Engineering controls 44
Administrative controls 46
PPE 47
References 49
Figure 1. Common eye conditions that can cause vision impairment 13
Figure 2. Key components of a national OSH system 17
Figure 3. Elements of an OSH programme to protect worker vision 22
Figure 4. Overview of occupational hazards to the eyes and sectors of exposure 24
Figure 5. Hierarchy of Controls - Design of the workplace to prevent accidents, injuries, fatalities and occupational diseases 25
Figure 6. Example of the Hierarchy of Controls related to different eye health hazards 26
Figure 7. Potential adverse biological effects and penetration depth of visible and infrared radiation 40
Table 1. Common occupational exposures to NIR and hazards to the eyes 39
Table 2. UV/visible/IR bands and wavelengths 40