More than 15,000 people suffer eye injuries every year on the farm, according to the National Safety Council. When handling liquid chemicals, it s important to wear goggles. When welding, special welding face shields are a must, Christensen recommends. An eye injury could keep a farmer out of business for several months. Some people prefer to wear clear plastic flip-up face shields instead of goggles or safety glasses, she says.
Anhydrous ammonia can cause devastating eye burns.
Eye burns from chemicals causes severely reduced vision or blindness by really damaging the cornea. Again, it s important to wear goggles to avoid chemical splash, says Christensen. Ordinary prescription glasses are not safety eye wear, even though they are impact-resistant because the lenses can break. Look for a label that says the goggles meet the American National Standards Institute standard. Goggles can be found at most farm supply or hardware stores.