There’s something in my eye!

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 10 January 2020
  • Generated on 18 February 2026
  • IMCA SF 02/20
  • 1 minute read

A welder reported to the Chief Officer that he had got something in his eye.

What happened?

The welder had been welding closed ballast tank manhole covers before breaking for lunch. He was wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE). After lunch, the welder was going to bring the materials and fans back to the storage area when his eye started irritating him, and he noticed that there was something in his eye.

At first, he tried to remove the particle out of his eye himself and when he failed, he reported it to the Chief Officer. The Chief Officer applied a first aid treatment by numbing his eye before removing the particle.

safety glasses

What went wrong?

  • Inadequate attention to surroundings

  • Inadequate PPE

What were the causes?

Weather influence – the wind blew a bit of dust from the face or hair into the eye.

What actions were taken?

  • Pay attention to your surroundings.

  • Wearing of full PPE may not enough; care should be taken to ensure that it is worn properly and provides full protection for the eyes.

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