Eyes at Work — Injury Statistics and Claims Information
Eyes at Work
Workplace eye injuries are on the rise
OSHA has recorded 589 severe eye injuries over the past decade, with traumatic exposures and lacerations accounting for over 65 percent of all reported cases. These injuries often involve permanent damage, such as ruptured globes or orbital fractures, which can immediately compromise a worker's ability to perform essential tasks.
The loss of vision or severe damage to the eye socket carries profound consequences for a worker's long-term earning capacity and quality of life. Beyond the physical pain, these injuries frequently result in a permanent reduction in depth perception and visual field, often preventing a return to high-precision trades or heavy machinery operation.
What's Driving the Trend?
The 83.9 percent increase in reported eye injuries over the last ten years highlights a persistent failure to control workplace hazards. Struck-by incidents involving propelled objects, such as metal chips and fasteners, remain the primary driver of this trend, accounting for 38.3 percent of all recorded cases.
Construction and manufacturing sectors dominate these statistics, together representing 45.3 percent of all severe eye injuries. These environments often involve high-velocity tools and pressurized systems that, when improperly guarded or maintained, turn common materials like debris and metal shards into dangerous projectiles.
How Eyes Injuries Happen
Top causes based on OSHA incident reports
Most eye injuries occur when workers are struck by propelled objects or exposed to hazardous substances without adequate protection. With 101 incidents involving chips and particles, it is clear that even small debris can cause catastrophic damage when ejected at high speeds from grinders, saws, or pressurized lines.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 220 |
| 2 | Injured by object handled by person | 71 |
| 3 | Exposure to harmful substance through exposed tissue | 48 |
| 4 | Fall on same level | 34 |
| 5 | Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object— unspecified | 31 |
| 6 | Struck against stationary object | 29 |
| 7 | Struck by falling object | 24 |
| 8 | Other fall to lower level | 23 |
Why This Matters for Your Case
Employers are legally required to provide appropriate eye protection under 29 CFR 1910.133, which mandates that workers use protective equipment when exposed to hazards like flying particles or chemical splashes. Failure to enforce these standards or provide equipment that meets ANSI Z87.1 requirements often constitutes a direct violation of federal safety regulations.
Industries with Most Eyes
Where these injuries occur most frequently
Construction accounts for 23.1 percent of all severe eye injuries, followed closely by manufacturing at 22.2 percent. These industries rely heavily on power tools and heavy machinery, creating environments where the risk of flying debris and chemical exposure is constant and often underestimated.
High-Risk Industries and Your Rights
Under 29 CFR 1910.132, employers must conduct a thorough hazard assessment to identify potential eye risks and implement necessary controls. When these assessments are ignored or when safety protocols like 29 CFR 1910.133 are neglected, employers may be held accountable for the resulting life-altering injuries.
Real Incident Reports
From actual OSHA investigation files
Real incident reports reveal a pattern of preventable failures, particularly during maintenance and abatement operations where pressurized systems or chemical lines are involved. Workers are frequently struck by ejected valves, pressurized water, or metal strapping that snaps under tension, often while performing routine tasks that lacked proper containment or safety shielding.
"An employee was conducting abatement operations using a floor grinder. The grinder came in contact with the plastic cord of a window blind, causing the grinder's handle to strike the employee near the right eye. The employee suffered a fracture near the eye socket, along with a laceration near the eye."
"Three maintenance employees were working on chemical lines feeding into a large above ground wastewater treatment tank. Sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid reacted in a floor drain and the chemicals sprayed onto the three employees. One employee was taken to the hospital for burns to his eyes."
"A driver was strapping down metal to put on the truck. The metal strapping snapped back and hit his left eye. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery for a ruptured globe."
"On June 26, 2025, a pipe testing specialist was preparing to service a sewer cleanout. They opened a valve and were struck in the face by pressurized water. The employee was hospitalized with injuries to their left eye socket and eyebrow."
"An employee was adding a new gauge for a pipe when air pressure built up and ejected the new metallic valve. The valve struck the employee, resulting in an eye injury and a fracture to the face beneath the eye."
"The injured employee was helping a co-worker secure finishing material to a pallet using steel strapping (5/8" wide, 0.20" thick). The co-worker went to hand the strapping to the injured employee when they bent down and their right eye contacted the steel strapping, resulting in a laceration to the cornea and injury to the retina."
"An employee was in a physical altercation with another employee and he was hospitalized with an orbital fracture and bleeding behind the eye."
"An employee was cleaning an upper mezzanine. When he leaned against the mezzanine gate, he fell through the gate opening and landed 11 feet below. The employee sustained fractured orbital bones."
"An employee was using a pry bar to remove a vehicle door. The pry bar slipped out of the employee's hands and hit their face below the right eye, causing a corneal laceration that required surgery."
"Two employees were removing a discharge hose on a portable pump. A 50% caustic solution sprayed onto the employees, one of whom suffered burns to the eyes as well as an abrasion to the side of the body where the hose struck them. The employee was hospitalized."
Common Questions About Eyes Claims
The ClaimsBoost Research Team aggregates official government data to help workers understand workplace injury trends and their coverage options.
ClaimsBoost is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. ClaimsBoost is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any government agency. Performance scores, rankings, and statistics displayed on this site are calculated by ClaimsBoost using publicly available government data from OSHA severe injury reports. Individual results may vary. Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice or a guarantee of benefits. If you need legal help, we can connect you with licensed attorneys in your area.Some written content on this page was created with the assistance of AI to help interpret and explain the data. AI can make mistakes — all content has been reviewed for accuracy, but we encourage you to verify any information that is important to your situation.