This JulEYE we have dedicated Week 3 of the campaign to eye safety in and around the home and to help us get the message out Scott Cam, Keith the Foreman and some of the Blockheads from Channel Nine’s hit reality TV Show ‘The Block’ kindly took time out of their busy schedules to meet up with us at Homebush Olympic Park to talk about the importance of eye safety when working on your home.

Living and breathing renovations for the past three months and working with every power tool and material imaginable - the contestants from The Block certainly know how dangerous seemingly mundane tasks can be if the necessary safety precautions aren’t taken such as eye safety goggles.

Mike & Andrew - Brothers from NSW

“When you’re on The Block you have to constantly take care of your own safety on site and that means protecting your eyes and also wearing things like steel cap boots. You have to be continually on the lookout for potential dangers on site,” says Mike, 29.

Andrew, 37,  explains, “Take care of your eyes! You can’t replace them so make sure you always wear safety goggles and also that they are fitted correctly to prevent debris from flying up at you without warning”.

Dale of ‘Team Dale & Sophie’ - Melbourne, VIC

“As a landscaper I copped a grasshead in the eye when I was whipper-snipping once. I didn't think too much of it at the time as I thought I got it out, but a day later it turned pretty nasty so I went to the hospital and they pulled it out for me. So I definitely wear eye safety glasses now - I probably learned the hard way.

I think a lot of people can’t be bothered with eye protection at the time because they think they look ‘daggy’ or dorky (in eye safety glasses) but if you're doing work at home then definitely put them on because looking daggy for a second is going to save your eyesight for a lifetime – so it’s definitely worth it.”

Keith: The Block’s Site Foreman

“I’d say every 3 or 4 weeks I see an eye injury just from people not wearing safety glasses. It’s simple – put your glasses on!. It’s such an easy thing to do. Put on a pair of safety glasses and it won’t happen”.

Keith’s message to all Australians this JulEYE is “you’ve simply got to wear safety glasses! Nail gun, power saw, mowing the lawns – whatever – just wear safety glasses it only takes a split second (to attain an injury) and you can’t see it coming, so you simply have to wear them!”

Scott Cam - The Block’s Host

“I’ve certainly had eye injuries in the past and they are absolutely terrible…and terrifying as well! You think maybe you might have damaged your eyes permanently so it really is imperative that eye safety is at the forefront of everyone’s minds when they’re renovating”.

We asked Scott if he was surprised to hear that over 40% of Australians never wear eye protection when they mow the lawn?

“Unfortunately, that statistic doesn’t surprise me at all. I think most homeowners think eye protection is restricted to industrial type situations and working on building sites. They don't actually think to have safety eyewear in the house; I wouldn't be surprised if most homeowners didn't own safety glasses.

Scott’s advice to all Australians this JulEYE?

“Whatever you’re doing around the house, whether it be mowing the lawn or doing a little bit of painting or renovating or anything like that - put the safety goggles on!”