Safety first

[specialk]

We always talk about safe wheeling, but I just want to remind everyone to be safe when working on your rig.

I spent this morning having a piece metal taken out of my eye.  It is very unpleasant and uncomfortable experience.   I was even wearing my glasses and a full face shield at the time I was grinding..  so crap can happen.

Be careful at all times please.  Be safe!

[hps4evr]

X2!
this sort of thing was drilled into my head when i was in school, and it stuck. your safety is always more important then the job you are doing. take the extra time to make sure what you're doing isnt going to hurt you. sometimes crap still happens, like in Kevin's case, but be prepared. ive seen some people do really stupid things and pay for their mistake. i watched a kid refuse to wear safety boots drop a 20" alloy rim on his toe... he was out for a week and limped for a few more. watched a guy spend some quality time at the hospital getting a piece of wire wheel removed from his eye cause he didnt wear safety glasses.   
always a good reminder Kevin
if anyone, new or old at wrenching has any questions about proper/safest procedure for doing even the simplest things dont be afraid to ask. somtimes its just a matter of steeping back, taking a good look at what you're about to do, and then doing it in a different/safer manner.
hope you're eye is better Kevin

[morerpmfred]

Hope it all heals well Kevin.

[WhiteOut]

x3

Not using it might be more comfortable but you pay for it when crap goes sideways. Seen a few people permanently scarred, have a body part removed by equipment or killed because they had "done something a million times" or "the safety guy isn't around".

Had a 8" spike come right through my steel toed boot, only out for an afternoon becuase it didn't go as far as it would have if I didn't have the boots. Or the time a nail gun discharged and the nail got caught in the leather gloves I was wearing instead of my hand.

Get well Kev.

I'll post up the presentation we went to the other day for work. Proves exactly why you need to wear your safety stuff (and correctly).

[IgniteTJ]

Thats one thing I'm thankfully glad that schools and workplaces drill into your head nowadays.. Normally if I think I'll be doing anything at all besides driving or walking around I wear my dark safety glasses.. No they aren't oakleys but I've had too much stuff get into my eyes and cracked lenses on other things to not wear a set..

I try passing it along as often as I can too, my dad is a terrible offender on that one.. Installing a new water pump on the truck last night and using a die grinder with a cookie on it to clean up the old gasket.. Think he'd wear safety glasses? Nope.. The eyes are one of the softest and most fragile parts on your body people take care of them!

[hps4evr]

in the last 10-15 years a lot of bigger companies found its cheaper to give proper safety training to employees rather then lose an employee to injury. if i recall correctly insurance companies give better rates for fewer work accidents as well.

[Gearhead]

1990 ,  I spent five days in a hospital bed , recovering from surgery to my left eye. Yes , it was a small sliver of metal .  Treatment was not imediate ,  first handled in Canmore ( poorly ) , the hospital couldn't do anything , it was christmas eve , the only doctor available at the walk in clinic reeked of liquor , ya he got some of the metal out and pushed the rest in deeper. A day or so later the pain and inflamation was too hard to take , so I went to foothills hospital to have it looked at , they would not let me leave till it was fixed properly , surgery , stitches , ouch ............... For two years I had headaches on that side ,  anytime I or someone else was grinding or  using a hammer and chisel.   Be careful people .

[Full Metal Jeep]

When I work Iron Work in the summers, this seems to be the most common type of injury. Even on the rigs during a slip and cut. Its happened to me twice. Safety glasses and face shield... now I squint every time i use a chop saw, or grinder. Slag seems to find its way to your face.