Eye Safety Matters: Injuries Can Happen Anywhere
Eye injuries in the workplace are common, with an estimated 700 Canadian workers per day experiencing an eye injury on the job according to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Eye injuries are also surprisingly common at home, caused by projects and activities such as home repairs, garage accidents, maintenance, cleaning and cooking.
Choosing the Right Safety Eyewear Matters
The easiest way to protect your eyes? Wear the proper safety eyewear. The two main reasons workers sustain eye injuries on the job is because they were not wearing eye protection at all, or because they were wearing the wrong kind of eye protection.
Eyesafe Program
The Eyesafe Program exists to help employers provide prescription safety eyewear to Manitoba workers and to meet the eye protection requirements for the Manitoba workplace. The Eyesafe prescription safety eyewear is also available to individuals. To find an optometrist affiliated with the Eyesafe Program, go to Find an Optometrist and filter your search by Safety Eyewear.
Optometrists are the only vision care professional with the ability to perform visual diagnoses, prescribe lenses, verify eyewear safety, and fit eyeglasses to meet the function and safety requirements legislated in the workplace. The Eyesafe Program recommends, dispenses, and fits superior quality prescription safety eyewear to Manitoba workers, as well as providing comprehensive eye health and vision examinations.
Employers & Employees & the Eyesafe Program
The Eyesafe Program is cost-effective for employers and convenient for employees. Similar programs exist in all Canadian provinces. The goal of the Eyesafe Program is to preserve vision, eliminate eye injuries, and increase visual performance in the Manitoba workplace.
Highest Quality & Standards
Optometrists can perform a complete eye health and vision assessment with special attention to the specific occupational needs of each employee. All materials, including lenses, coatings, and frames, meet or exceed Canadian Safety Standard (CSA) Z94.3
Cost Effectiveness
The Eyesafe Program leverages strong purchasing power to deliver high-quality safety eyewear at competitive prices for both employers and employees.
Over the past decade, more than 22,500 workplace eye injuries have been reported to the Workers Compensation Board. By adopting the Eyesafe Program, organizations can reduce or prevent these injuries—resulting in meaningful cost savings for both employers and their workforce.
For More Information
There is no other program offering better value, in as many locations, with the variety of styles and lens choices, by qualified professionals.
For further information on this program, please contact Dave Vankoughnett at the Manitoba Association of Optometrists, 431-335-6060, dvankoughnett@optometrists.mb.ca