Most work eye injuries occur on Wednesdays

CHICAGO, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- More U.S. workers injure their eyes on Wednesdays than any other day of the week, a government agency said.

The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics said every year, there are more than 800,000 eye injuries on the job and close to 36,000 require time off from work.

Chemical burns are the most common workplace eye injury, followed by cuts, lacerations and punctures. However, 90 percent of all eye injuries are preventable by wearing proper eye protection, said Prevent Blindness America, an eye health and safety organization in Chicago.

Most eye injuries occur in production, transportation and service industries and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers to provide eye and face protection against chemical, environmental, radiological or mechanical irritants and hazards.

Prevent Blindness America recommends that:

-- Safety eye wear must have "ANSI Z87" clearly marked on all glasses or goggles and should be worn at all times whenever eye hazards are present.

-- Workers should know where the nearest eye wash station is at their job site and how it is used.

-- Employees should have regular eye exams to make sure their vision is adequate to do their jobs safely.