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Thread: Near miss

  1. #1
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    Default Near miss

    I learned a valuable lesson about saftey glasses a couple of weeks ago. I have always been safety concious and will be a bit more after this. I was giving a mate a hand back filling around a high rise project he was working on. We were dropping gravel around the walls and part of this needed us to nail up plastic sheets against the block wall to protect the water proof membrane. We had nailed up a line of sheets when I had a nail fly back after miss hitting it. The nail flew back with speed that I didn't even have a chance to blink as it me fair in the middle of the right lens. I now have a nice chip in the plastic of my glasses, rather that than damage to my right eye. I consider myself lucky.
    Dave,
    hug the tree before you start the chainsaw.

  2. #2
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    Default

    Wow, it never occurred to me to wear safety glasses whilst hammering.
    Thanks for the warning.
    "There is always a way if you are willing to pay the price in time, energy or effort."
    Robert Schuller.


  3. #3
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    Default

    Interestingly, small chips of metal from the hammer head either due to miss hits or simply aging of the metal leading to metal fatigue or just a dodgy hammer or nail are another reason to wear protective glasses when using a hammer.

    (from my ex hospital days when we were warned to watch for the bits of metal people did not know they might have collected in their eyes - I believe it is even more relevant these days with MRI machines and the high magnetic fields present that can cause these little bits of metal to wander around - not good!)
    cheers
    David

    ------------------------------------------------
    A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they’ll never sit in. (Greek proverb)

  4. #4
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    Default

    You were lucky thankfully. Could have been much worse that a chipped lens.
    Reality is no background music.
    Cheers John

  5. #5
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    Default

    Duly noted. Lucky bugger. It's moments like that that reinforce why we should be so safety consicous. Kinda like playing paintball and getting hit in the face then spending the next week thinking "man, if it was a real bullet...".

    I managed to get a tiny chip of hot slag in my eye today whilst hammering off the crud from some arc welds. It didn't stay there but has given the ol' eye ball a bit of a singe that is hurting like buggery.

    At least it reminded me that I need to replace my broken down old mask which is missing it's clear view panel.

  6. #6
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    Default

    Re that bit of slag

    sorry to appear cautious but

    If something metallic has hit the eyeball get some one to check - there may be

    a) damage to the corneal outer layer that can become an ulcer - not nice (The Dr should put some green dye in the eye that stains (temporarily) any damaged areas) - if it hurts then it is likely that the outer layers have taken a beating at the very least.

    b) "rust" that can have long term effects

    all treatable EARLY.

    Hope all is easily dealt with and it does not hurt any more -- and yes I have moments when things get too close to the eyes because the face mask was out of reach or the hammer was at hand. I need constant reminding and they are MY eyes! Drilling metal with the cordless drill is the one I particularly have to watch out for myself doing.
    cheers
    David

    ------------------------------------------------
    A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they’ll never sit in. (Greek proverb)

  7. #7
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    Default

    It never hurts to be cautious. I think that's the point of these tales...to remind people to take the proper precautions...even when it's a complete PITA to do.

    Thanks for the heads up on getting it checked. I hadn't thought of the ulcer/rust aspect. It feels pretty good now btw.

    This is one of those injuries where my usual line of "pfft. I've got a spare" probably won't cut it

  8. #8
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by munruben View Post
    You were lucky thankfully. Could have been much worse that a chipped lens.

    I wasn't going to bother with safety glasses that day. As it was over cast and the only pair in my bag were a mirrored pair. I was only on a bobcat tossig gravel round but decided to wear them any how. I am thankful I did throw them on though.
    Dave,
    hug the tree before you start the chainsaw.

  9. #9
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    Lara, VIC
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    Default

    Hi,

    I am really glad you are ok, its pretty scary when something like that happens. I myself tend to always wear my safety glasses in the shed, even when doing something as inocuous as sweeping up sawdust. I never know when I might accidentally bend down and get a offcut from the scrap bin in my eye (its happened before - luckily I was wearing the glasses). I find its the safest habit to get into and makes me feel more comfortable knowing my eyes are taken care of.

    I also usually wear my dust mask most of the time as well.

    https://www.woodworkforums.com/f11/3m...mended-108472/

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