Page 5 - March 2023 Track N Times

SAFETY FOCUS

Eye-Care By John Westby, Environmental Health and Safety Specialist

During the month of March, we will be discussing Eye-Care and safe work practices that will help protect your eyes.
Loram employees are exposed to a variety of eye hazards when performing rail maintenance duties. These hazards
include high silica rock chips from ballast cleaning, metal fragments/dust from maintenance operations, grind dust from
rail grinding operations, and possible exposure to various petroleum or cleaning products. Operating environments or
acts of nature can cause damage to your eyes also.
While it is impossible to completely protect your eyes from all potential haz-
ards, it is possible to minimize the risks. The first line of defense should be us-
ing the proper PPE. Eye protection is provided by Loram. The most important
eye wear to remember is your foam lined safety glasses. This eye wear is the
baseline to be worn to protect yourself from impacts and dust that could blow
behind the glasses. These form a better seal around your eyes compared to
traditional safety glasses.

Another way to prevent foreign bodies in the eye is wearing headwear un-

derneath your hardhat while working. This could either be the Loram pro-
vided cap, a balaclava, bandana, or similar headwear that will not interfere
with your work. This will prevent dust or debris from settling into your hair
or on your head. This also prevents a foreign body from falling from the top
of your head into your eyes. Prior to removing this PPE in a dusty environ-
ment, wipe excess soil and sweat from your head covering, forehead, and
head area with a clean cloth to prevent excess dust from falling.

At the first indication of a foreign particle in your eye, notify your supervisor. They will help assess and potentially re-
move the foreign body using the provided eye-care kit. This can help prevent a serious injury or a threat to your eye-
sight.
Loram is committed to providing the safest working environment possible for all employees operating in diverse envi-
ronments. Everyone is responsible for safety and protecting their eyes. For more information on work practices
around eye-care see the Loram Eye-Care standard which is available in the on machine Red Binder Volume 2 or in the
Safety Management System in Microsoft Teams under Safety Program Docs and in the Eye Care folder.

Page 3 MARCH 2023