BillyBones Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 This is not just about smithing, but about many things we do in life. Saturday was a fairly nice day so i went out to do a little work. I am trying to improve my forge and needed to cut a piece of angle iron. Just 1 cut on a 1" by 1/4" piece. I get my tools out, get it clamped down,plug in the angle grinder, and can not find my safety glasses. So i look, the old lady says they may be in my range bag, i look but to no avail. So after a few minutes i figure dang it i would have had it cut by now. So what do i do? I just start cutting. About half way through the cut i felt a sudden stinging, burning sensation in my eye. I tried but could not get it out. So off to the ER i go. After about 4 hours there i finally get home. Find my safety glasses in of all places my tool box, yeah who would think to look there, and Sunday finished my cut. I have worked with my hands all my life. I used to be a machinist, and i am currently a mechanic. I was on an M1 Abrams in the Army. I have used and been around many dangerous tools and equipment. And i know better. Do not short cut safety. It does not matter if that cut would take me 5 minutes or 5 hours. You can lose an eye in a split second. Complacency kills. So old timers i do not care if you have done it a million times or not be safe. Younger guys, take heed those words of safety from the old timers. Knowledge comes from a book, wisdom comes with learning from those around you and your own mistakes and not repeating them. Learn from my mistake, i sure did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubalcain2 Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 I came 2 inches from losing my left eye yesterday morning... wile not wearing proper PPE. Glasses glasses glasses! Learn from my stupidity, everyone! I definitely have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 I always have learned from others mistakes, figured I wouldn't live long enough to make them all myself. Of course that lesson I did learn decades ago and I have my prescription lenses impact resistant polly-carbon which cost a lot more but worth every penny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 I have been one to not find my safety glasses and take the chance on a quick job. I now have a habit of getting and placing safety glasses all around my shop so I have no excuse to not find or wear them. Cheap compared to an ER visit and misery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 Advantages to whearing glasses, always have the in my face part of the reason I don’t whear contacts (once with a good dose of brake cleaner in the eye with contacts was enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Back when I worked at Bell Labs; my boss used to sign for prescription safety glasses for me even though I was a computer engineer. He said it would save the company a ton of money over missed work and medical bills if I messed up my eyes. (Of course he knew my hobby----see TPAAAT!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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