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Wear eye protection!!!!

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T

TR7/8 TPI

Jedi Hopeful
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I know it cant be said enough but I was just a victim of not using eye protection at all times.

Last Monday I was doing a little grinding on lower rear quarter of the TR and was using safety glasses but I took them off after I finished grinding and then used the the air to spray away the that I had just grinded. I didnt notice anything get in my eye but the next morning I woke up with my right eye being totally inflamed and extremely sensitive to light.

I went to the eye doctor thinking I had conjuctivitis(pink eye). He examined my eye and found two tiny pieces of metal and rust had started to form.

He promptly gave me a tetnis shot. He said the metal could be removed by just wiping it out with a swap. I asked "so is there some kind of drop or solution to remove the rust?", he then told me he would have to DRILL the rust out of my cornia with a burring bit!!!!!!!!! I almost shat myself! Low and behold he came in the room with what looked like a very fancy dremel moto tool with a 2 inch long tapered bit. He deadened my eye and and put my head in a vise type of thing and then began drilling/burring my cornia.

I will never be afraid of going to the dentist again after that experience. Luckily after 2 days of having totally blurred vision in my right eye, my vision was clear and back to 20/20 in both eyes!

[ 03-15-2004: Message edited by: TR7/8 TPI ]</p>
 
Haha, I have had a similar procedure. There is just nothing quite like watching a drill bit slowly come at your eye, and feeling the pressure when it makes contact!

Things like that in my youth are why I have about 10 pairs of safety glasses around my house, garage and in my truck. At least 20 pairs of gloves of a variety of types. I have 2 kinds of dust masks and 2 different resperators too.
 
It's always a good idea to leave the safety glasses on even when doing the "cleanup". For grinding, I wear the full goggles, plus a face shield. Prior to removing the goggles, I always close my eyes real tight, and use the low presure nozzle on the air hose to blow my face, hat, hair, etc, clean . It's worked so far.
I have visions of an old 'Grade B' horror movie when I think of that drill coming at my eye!
Jeff
 
I gotta say, it is testimonial time:
1. I was rebuilding my power steering rack. Had the tubes off, moving the stuck rack in one direction applying hard push pressure and SQUIRT a line of pressurized ATF smack into my right glasses lense. Safety glasses kept the fluid from going into my eye, but my hair had that 50's look!
2. Had the pipe wrench on a stuck bit in the vice, it slipped off and whacked my safety glasses square in the middle of the lense. Probably would have burst my eyeball had I not had safety glasses on. Lense got one big scratch across it but did not break, needless to say, I did not mind replacing the lenses for $150 after that considering the alternative.

I've had grinding wheel bits, flying nuts and weld splatter bounce off them too, one believer here!

Fortunately I wear them in prescription most of the time anyway.
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One of the issue related to me (and, I would suspect, to many of us here) was the need for bi-focals and safety glasses).
This is an absolute *must* for me at work and generally a good idea when working on my car too.
I searched for quite a while, including the internet and could only find really expensive models ($400 USD). Eventually, I realized that the optical center in my local Wal-Mart sold prescription safety glasses and they had no problem installing bi-focals in them....cheap too!
We have a very gruesome safety film that I show my students (to encourage safety glass use in our engineering lab). Lots of closeups showing removal of a metal chip from an eyeball. At least one student a semster has to leave the room during the really graphic part.
 
And, for those of you, like myself, who wear prescription glasses, when getting safety glasses, don't forget to get the side shields. They are available as clip on types, and are cheap.
I just ordered a new pair of prescription glasses, and made sure I got the polycarbonate lenses, which are approved safety glasses, and this is for my regular glasses, just in case I forget !
Here's looking at you!
Jeff
 
I got used to wearing safety glasses at work and now I feel naked without them. I also have polycarbonate lenses in my bifocals, which are taking a bit of getting used to, the bifocals that is. I had a friend who lost an eye when a brake spring got away from him so I've kept a supply of safety glasses in various sizes in my shop for myself and my helpers. I insist they be used
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also consider hearing protection, compressors and such are noisy. I've spent 20 years in a power plant and am half deaf even with hearing protection. ear plugs are cheap

[ 03-16-2004: Message edited by: Chuck Cougill ]</p>
 
HOLY ****! I hate drills enough without them coming at my EYE!! Your warning has left an impression on me, and I will certainly wear eye protection now, just from the fear of having my eye drilled. Boy does that sound sadistic or what?: 'Having your eye drilled.'
 
I found a pair of saftey glasses with side protection at Home Depot. These are designed to fit over your eye glasses. I have found them to be fairly comfy and for less than 5 bucks. (disclaimer): The author of this post assumes no responsibility for any eye injuries that were self inflicted or caused by a second or third party. Hereto and withfore etc. etc. etc.
 
Eye protection should be worn as a reflex action when operating any powered tool. Buy a pair of goggles with side protection, a good pair will last for years.

And, don't forget hearing protection! The noises that cause hearing damage normally do the damage after a few minutes' exposure. Once the damage is done it cannot be repaired. Has anyone ever experienced hearing "blackout" in which you're exposed to a very loud noise (gunshot, etc.) and then have ringing in your ears? That signifies that you've just experienced permanent hearing loss!

The soft, foam earplugs offer among the best protection because when compressed, they conform to the ear canal to block all sound waves to the inner ear. They're cheap and quite very comfortable, too. That's what I use as a general rule. To insert any earplug-type device, reach over your head and pull the top of the ear upward, which opens the ear canal and ensures that the plug fits the canal properly.

Headphones are easy to use, but are more expensive, provide less protection and are prone to damage with heavy use.

Workplace safety is my job, so forgive me if I seem to be over reacting. I've seen the consequenses when folks fail to take these simple precautions. It's so easy to do.

For highly detailed info about safety-related issues, this is the safety "bible": https://www.osha.gov/

Just type in your query at the top (i.e., "hearing protection") and you'll get tons of info.

I hope this helps.
 
Maybe I should wear ear protection in the spitfire since I can hardly hear my 50x2 sound system over the straight through exhaust at cruising speeds
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I was flying an r/c airplane last year with my neighbor and when he went to start it the engine flooded. He switched his starter thing that is pressed against the cone of the propeller from 6v to 12v. It backfired and shot the prop right at his eye. Luckily it he was weaing his prescription glasses which saved his eye and the only wound he has was a 1 inch cut right below his eye. I try to keep a pair of safety glasses in my garage and backpack.

Also Mr. Sledge if you ever plan on going to some rock or punk concerts bring some earplugs because the bands always try to make your ears bleed
crazy.gif
 
Stupid me was cutting some aluminum one day with a cutting torch. I thought "No big deal. I'll be done in a second. No need for safety glasses." A piece of molten metal headed straight for my right eye. Luckily, my reflexes are better than my judgement. I closed my eye and burnt my eyelid a little. Needless to say I received my diploma from the "School of the Hard Way" that day.
 
In bodywork eye protection is very important, but accidents happen. The first time I had to get steel removed from my eye, a funny thing happened. I had been suffering from an infection of the eye lashes(blefferitis) for many years. Modern antibiotics were useless, and I had given up and gotten used to the little crusts that formed at night and left the eyes red.
After the splinter was removed the Dr. gave me some sulfa drops to put in for a few days. Instant cure in the right eye. So I did the other eye and total cure!! and it never came back. So I guess there is good in most things even if you cant see it!!
MD(mad dog)
 
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