PSA - Wear your PPE!!!!

[jeffncs]

Ears, eyes and respirator!!

Just had this cutting disc explode in my face while removing a body brace. Fragments peppered my safety glasses, forehead and respiratory. Seemed like it was slow motion and I felt / heard every piece hit me.

 

[Colo77Bronco]

As an Emergency Doctor, I see chunks of metal and other debris lodged in people‘s eyes fairly regularly. Safety glasses are not an optional convenience to allow you to see what you’re doing. They are imperative. Also, take a little extra time to protect your hearing too!

 

[RM70]

I use a full face shield most of the time with cutting discs. I still use my handheld grinder with the shield installed on it even if it makes it a little more difficult to use.

 

[Yeller]

When I see my associates grinding without a face shield, this is my go to pic when I catch them without a face shield on. Grinding tools are no joke and one of the most dangerous in the shop.


Disclaimer: pirated photo from google images.

 

[Speedrdr]

Ouch!

 

[Cooper]

How in the world did that guy have the presence of mind to take a selfie? Or is that s side effect of shock in some way? My first thought is that the pain would compel someone to immediately try to pull it out; but "thank you Lord" I have no experience in this regard.

 

[jeffncs]

How in the world did that guy have the presence of mind to take a selfie? Or is that s side effect of shock in some way? My first thought is that the pain would compel someone to immediately try to pull it out; but "thank you Lord" I have no experience in this regard.

Personally - these events typically bring about a calm “oh $&@#!!, I need to respond correctly to this or it’s going to get real bad.” mindset. Maybe it’s adrenaline. Maybe it’s my training but it’s always controlled response.

I’ve seen things in serious, adrenaline sports and deep, tech diving that I hope others never see.

 

[JB Fab]

Yeah, I caught one in the knee...

 

[SteveL]

Been there. Usually I wear the full shield but that day just glasses. Ended up in the er getting my chin stitched up.

 

[gnpenning]

Most dangerous tool I own. You can be doing everything right and they can still get you. Any miss alignment when cutting is asking for it. I still have a slight scar from over 30 years ago on my left arm.

Not only your face but the rest of your body need protection, as proven here. Watch your junk. Full leathers isn't a bad idea. Use the shield all you can.

 

[Glass Pony]

Welder buddy of mine at work would use the "flip up" view finder in his welding hood. One day a fragmented wheel came through that thin piece of clear polycarbonate and danced across his nose.

 

[BOBS 2 68S]

Retired 40+ year machinist. All I own are safety glasses (can't see with out them)
In all my jr high and high school shop classes we had to watch a safety film where a guy had his glasses in a pocket and pedestal grinder wheel shattered. Then showed the eye surgery to get the stone chunks out of his eyes.
Still grosses me out when I remember the movie.

 

[ntsqd]

I no longer use those bonded cut-off wheels. I now use these exclusively: https://www.cutwithlenox.com/product/1972921/lenox-metalmax?tid=568846 The initial purchase hurts, then when you realize that they're the freakin Energizer Bunny of cut-off wheels it quits hurting. I have not, yet, had one fail on me but I'm always expecting it.

Needed to use a carbide burr in a die grinder on something. Put on safety glasses. Watched a sliver of razor sharp steel fly up at my face, felt it bounce off my eyebrow, watched it bounce off the INSIDE of the safety glass lens, saw and felt it lodge in my eye. Doc started to give me a ration of shiat until I interrupted him with how it got there.

Two weeks later I need to do something similar. Put on safety glasses. Put on face shield. All good. Until the next morning when my eye, the same one! is so gooped up from something that I can't open it. Doc asks "what now?" He found another sliver of steel in my eye. Best guess is that it landed in my eyebrow and then ended up in my eye while sleeping.

So now I put on safety glasses, put on welder's cap pulled down low on my forehead, put on face shield, put on ear muffs. A little duct tape and I'm ready to walk on the moon.
After I'm thru, grab the blow gun and from a long distance away from skin I blow myself off. And I keep blowing myself off as I remove each piece of PPE. Knock on wood I've not had a repeat eye event. I have had those slivers get pushed into my skin from brushing myself off, which is why I now use a blowgun. FWIW a leather welder's jacket is ideal to wear when using one of these tools. Those slivers will stick in anything woven and washing them doesn't always remove the slivers.

My take-away from all of that is don't just pay attention to the big dangerous operations. Pay attention to all of them.

BTW, if you're ever going in for an MRI you need to mention that these kinds of events have happened!

 

[Shimmy]

appreciate this thread! we can never take safety too serious and it should be at the forefront of anything we do. we often become complacent and that's when stuff goes bad.

 

[Master Chief]

Tree down, chainsaw rotating at idle on the bar as I stepped through the branches. Just a pair of cammies between me and that chain. As I stepped, my foot slipped on an unseen branch causing my leg to contact the chain. Cut the pants and hit my thigh causing a very minor flesh wound. That warning shot stopped me for a few hours while I went and bought a pair of safety chaps.

I have a buddy who was not so lucky. Very bad leg wound. He now has safety chaps too.

 

[Yeller]

Those slivers will stick in anything woven and washing them doesn't always remove the slivers.

And when your wife has them turn up in her undies from the washing machine you have a much bigger problem

 

[ntsqd]

And when your wife has them turn up in her undies from the washing machine you have a much bigger problem

THAT would be a VERY BAD THING!

 

[Speedrdr]

I’ve had angle grinders do some weird gyrations that caused a loss of control and had to cut the disc out of my sock and lower leg. When I got home and Betty saw my bandage job (some gas station napkins secured with cable ties) she castigated me all the way to the ER. I told her It was all I had in the truck to stop the bleeding, so it was a win in my opinion…plus it let me clean out some trash.

Learned to 1) leave the shield in place, 2) do not trust the strength of a single hand and more importantly, 3) shorts and hiking boots are not appropriate PPE.

 

[Jeff10]

Hey Everyone,

A personal experience with side-shield glasses when grinding...

Wearing fairly tight-fitting safety glasses when doing some minor grinding on some pick-up steps.

Lesson learned. A day later having two pieces of metal removed from an eyeball. Not something I'd like to experience again.

I thought good safety glasses would work. Now I wear safety glasses with side shields, and a full face shield (or welding helmet in cut/grind mode) when grinding or cutting. I'm amazed when I watch YouTube videos of guys cutting and grinding with no protection. They must live charmed lives.

Jeff

 

[ntsqd]

The good ole "safety squint" as made popular by one youtube channel in particular. Shame on him.