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Occupational Safety and Health Measures Crucial in Addressing Workplace Vision Impairments
Date: September 17, 2023 Eye health and world of work report
Vision is an irreplaceable sense that profoundly impacts every facet of daily life, including the world of work. Despite its undeniable importance, over 2.2 billion people worldwide grapple with varying degrees of vision impairment or blindness. Shockingly, more than 1.1 billion individuals suffer from preventable or untreated vision impairments, painting a stark picture of global eye health disparities.
A 2020 report revealed that approximately 143 million working-age individuals worldwide grappled with moderate to severe vision impairment, with an additional 18 million facing complete blindness. Intriguingly, the workplace itself can pose severe risks to eyesight, with around 13 million working-age people living with vision impairment attributed to their occupation. This positions work-related vision impairments as the third-largest causal factor of vision-related conditions.
Supporting workers’ eye health brings an array of benefits to governments, employers, and employees. It leads to improved worker well-being, enhanced safety records, and increased productivity. Moreover, it has the potential to revolutionize eye health in the workplace and significantly contribute to overall social justice. Conversely, failing to address workers’ eye health can result in economic burdens, with an estimated annual global productivity loss of at least US$411 billion in purchasing power parity due to vision impairment.
Occupational safety and health (OSH), encompassing workers’ eye health, is a matter of paramount importance tied to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Acknowledging this, the UN General Assembly passed resolution 75/310, titled “Vision for Everyone: accelerating action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” recognizing the pivotal role of eye health in achieving more than half of the SDGs.
At its 110th Session in June 2022, the International Labour Conference underscored the importance of a safe and healthy working environment by recognizing the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), as fundamental Conventions. These Conventions provide a framework for continually improving safe and healthy working environments across all economic sectors and for all workers.
To meet the requirements of these Conventions fully, ILO Member States must consider the provisions of over 40 international labor standards specifically addressing OSH. These standards set minimum requirements for managing work-related risks and safeguarding workers across various occupations and work settings.
To promote workers’ eye health, three key aspects need attention:
- Reducing Workplace Risks to Eyesight: Robust OSH measures are essential for identifying, assessing, and controlling risks to eye health within workplaces. This includes risk assessment, control planning, communication, training, procurement, monitoring, inspection, and incident reporting.
- Ensuring Access to Eye Care Services: Accessible eye care services are critical for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. They play a pivotal role in reducing vision-related trauma and diseases caused by hazardous workplace exposures.
- Promoting Good Eye Health: Collaboration with public health entities beyond the workplace is crucial. Proactive eye health promotion campaigns, involving government agencies, medical professionals, NGOs, and international organizations, can contribute significantly to improving eye health in the workplace.
By addressing these measures collectively and acknowledging the importance of eye health, we can bring about a transformative change in workplace eye health. This approach not only benefits employers and workers but also recognizes the workplace’s vital role in promoting social justice worldwide. It is an urgent call to action to ensure that vision impairment doesn’t hinder individuals from leading productive and fulfilling lives, both at work and beyond.
