Today's PSA

[garage gnome]

When working in the shop, please remember to use the proper PPE (personal protection equipment). You know what it is, safety glasses, earplugs, gloves, face shields, ect. Also, remove combustibles when welding, cutting or grinding. Don't work fast or dumb, but work smart and safe!

Yesterday, I was doing a lot of grinding and cutting with a gas powered chop saw. I was wearing my safety glasses, ear plugs and gloves. Today when I woke up though, something is stuck in my eye and I'll have to get the particle removed by the doctor. Doesn't sound very fun. I'm not sure where it came from, I was fine yesterday. It was windy too and there was a lot of dust blowing around.

[Bob W]

I've had pieces of metal ricochet into my eye while wearing safety glasses.

Edit, I did not mean to say that the protective gear was not important. Personally I do think it's a good idea to wear safety glasses and stuff. Hope your eye is okay Nate.

[Comanche_County]

I violate PPE standards all the time...and I know I shouldn't given the many injuries I've seen.  

[p3ferris]

I have worn safty glasses At least 2 times in my life.  Other than welding helmet and welding gloves  safety in not a factor in my life. Four years ago , I for the first time wore a safty harness while cutting down a tree top.  I was busted up pretty good when I hit the ground.  If I did it without as I had done for many years I probably would not left the tree  and landed on the ground.  I am safe with other people haveing protection as many do not fare as well as I.

[athawk11]

There is nothing more annoying than a partical in your eye.  

I had to have a small piece of metal drilled out of my eye once.  It was in there like a fish hook.  It started to rust almost immediately.

Talk about a weird sensation. The doc used a local anesthetic, pinned my eye open, then started drilling.  My vision was bouncing all over the place.  Didn't hurt a bit, but I'll never forget the process.

Good luck Nate.

Tim

[ZekeD]

Hope it goes well........

ZD

[Buildinghippy]

Just last June I got a piece of metal in my eye, it was not fun. Waited two days before I went in and got it removed. Had to use eye drops for the next three weeks and had about 6 more visits. Still got a rust spot in it.

[garage gnome]

Got it removed today and all is well. I had a rust spot, which the doc removed with this tiny end mill looking thing. Felt kinda weird, but glad its over. I have to put drops in it for a few days to prevent infection.

[Carls_jeep]

I never do anything without eye protection.

[F Bill]

There is something about heavy duty grinding projects and large welding jobs that always seems to add more risk for garbage in your eyes. I can wear contacts and then reading glasses to see my welding better, underneath goggles or the welding hood. In the past I have had metal in my eyes, once from visiting the fair as a kid, must have had a piece of rust blow off a ride....the rest were all after large welding projects...and each time I was wearing glasses, safety glasses, goggles, or shields.  The contacts seem to be a final barrier to whatever might make its way past my eye protection....Without them I feel naked, and pray I don't get junk ion my eyes.  One thing that I have taken to doing is using a low pressure air gun to blow any debris off my head and hat or hair when I am done working so it doesn't fall in my eyes later. Even a small chip can lodge in your eyebrow and drop into your eye later.....and that is really painful, or at least for me it has been.


There are so many ways to get hurt working on our toys that PPE should be taken seriously. Now I am not to the point of the jobsite safety people that insist we use tie offs to climb on our trailers 5 feet off the ground......Sometimes they go overboard and the safety junk does get in the way.

Even with safety gear it is pretty easy to get hurt. I have a nice little black scar under one eye from a wire wheel bristle that decided to land there, under my goggles. I guess a full shield might have helped there..

Many of the opticians and optical dispensaries like the Walmart vision center can help you get a piece of metal out of your eye, and I have had them use a magnet to pop steel out of my eye once there....if you can't get to a DR or Optometrist it is another alternative. Rust can be an issue so don't wait too long.