Safety Glasses - Not Just For Shooting!

[BarbC]

Yesterday, our lazy neighbor ("LN") sent his stepson out to weedwack their - well, I would say yard, but it's more of a rocky pasture with a trampoline. The neighbor does nothing except eat Doritos in front of the TV but he's good at delegating heavy chores (like dragging the huge, wheel-less garbage cans up the steep rocky driveway) to the two stepsons, who are around 8 and 10, and very short. I saw LN use the weedwacker exactly once in the 2-1/2 years they lived here and he only mowed the lawn once after his own mother came out and dropped off a mower.

I saw LN show the boy how to start the weedwacker and then he walked away. The boy is only around 4'8" and close to the ground. Every few swipes, the tall grass would get wrapped around the propeller so the boy would stop to pull the grass off. LN came out with a pair of gloves which he threw down in front of the boy and then walked off again. Meanwhile, I'm stomping around inside our house, outraged that the boy doesn't have safety glasses on.

My husband said, "Stay out of it." About 15 minutes into the weedwacking, the boy threw down the weedwacker and the gloves and grabbed his eye.

I went down to my range bag, got out a pair of nice shooting glasses and walked over there. LN was in the garage and I said, "He really needs to wear safety glasses." LN said, "Oh he went upstairs to go get something, thank you anyway." Just then, the boy started to come down from the deck with a set of goggles with an attached black hood (whatever that was) but when he saw me with the safety glasses, he threw that thing off and gratefully took the glasses.

We went out after that and when we came back, the family had gone out. After they came back, the boy came over to return the glasses. I said, "Keep them. And wear them when you do tasks like that. Protect your eyes." He kept them.

[Justin251]

Good deal.

I learned at work friday night to always wear you safety glasses. While trying to fix a leak on a line to our paint system a fitting busted with about 2500psi behind it. I was about 10 inches from said fitting and I got covered in paint activator. My safety glasses were ruined but my eyes are ok.

[gunlovingirl]

Good for you Barb. At least someone is looking out for the boys' safety.

[JcMack]

Two years ago my 35 yr old son lost an eye in a stupid work related accident. Good looking kid, now with one eye.

[Bailey Boat]

One of the "advantages" of getting older is that you need to wear reading glasses to see anything closer than arms length. Since you have to wear them anyway might as well spring the few extra bucks and make them safety reading glasses!!!!! So I can't do anything without safety glasses on!!!!! (well there a couple of things we can't discuss here) Karma to you Barb!!!!!

[Stainz]

Many years ago, I had a '65 Rambler wagon 'beater' that needed a piece of exhaust re-welded. I went to a local national muffler chain - they said $10 to weld it back and put it on a lift - the kid that got the job had me drive it to the lift, raised the cart, and rolled his welding cart closer - and started to weld - I hollered, "Your eyes!". He said he was fine - I said stop - the service manager said it was a simple job and 'no protection' was needed. I said I didn't agree - and got my car back.

I drove across the street to a long gone now discount store with a service department. The young man that rolled the same welder under my car grabbed his hood and took a minute max to complete the 'job' - properly - and charge $5, too. I told him about late registration that evening - he came during his food break - and I advised him. I lost touch when he went to a local university to complete his studies. Win-win - except for that first fellow. Can't win them all.

I tired of working at a local public range as an RO on the weekends. Continued gripes by folks not wanting to wear eye & ear protection got old. They always argued they were adults and could do as they wished. I informed them of their first initialed rule on the form they filled out to get to the range - that they'd obey any commands of the R.O. - me. I only had to eject one couple - with his fiance apologizing the entire time for his bull-headed nature. I hope she dumped him!

Good going on the eye protection, Barbc.

Stainz

[JcMack]

I've welded without glasses/helmet. You only do it once. The pain involved is unbelievable.

[labworm]

In the workplace there was always a problem getting people to wear safety glasses, for those that refuse to wear them, buy yourself a eye patch, wear it for a day.

[n4zov]

Good job Barb! You are right, there are lots of times when safety glasses should be worn. For example when reloading, casting bullets, or working on guns with springs that might cause an eye injury if released. The man who taught me to shoot had lost his right eye during WW2 and that motivated me to take good care of my eyes. He still shot right handed but used his left eye.

[Strato]

When I was younger I had a hard time keeping my safety glasses on at work. Between the sweat and the lenses getting scratched from wiping off sawdust and metal shavings it was hard to see through them so off they would come. Well, the first trip to the ER I had trouble filling out the paperwork with an 8d nail in my eye. I was lucky that the only permanent effect is a floater in the corner of my eye that I barely notice anymore. The second trip was more painful. I had a small piece of wood in my eye that I thought would come out as I slept from REM. When I woke up the next morning my eye had grown over it so I went to the ER again. I didn't mind the nurses sitting on me to hold me down but I didn't enjoy when the doc took a needle and perforated my eye around the piece of wood then stuck it in the center and plucked it out. They numbed my eye before starting but once that needle hit the numbness was gone and it was quite painful. I try a lot harder to keep my safety glasses on now.

[Rule3]

I weed wack every week or two. I have a pair of safety glasses with a big crack right in the center . If I did not have them on, I probably would not have that eye! I have Norm to thank from all those shows I watched.

Also if you are cleaning you guns with a aerosol spray like Gun Scrubber. wear glasses then also. You would not believe how bad that stings and how bad it is for your eye. ((don't ask)

As Norm Abram says:

"Before we use any power tools, let's take a moment to talk about shop safety. Be sure to read, understand, and follow all the safety rules that come with your power tools. Knowing how to use your power tools properly will greatly reduce the risk of personal injury. And remember this: there is no more important safety rule than to wear these — safety glasses." [He points at his aviator-style prescription glasses.]

[snowman]

Better have them on when cleaning your guns with bore brushes, too. When the bristles exit the barrel, they can fling solvent every which way.

Andy

[H Richard]

When you pick lead splatter out of your lenses after shooting steel plates it makes you a believer.

We have signs in our range, "Mandatory Eye and Ear Protection". We keep extra pairs of safety glasses and Muff's for visitors.

[cass]

It's time for me to get on my yearly safety glasses soap box. I am alive today because of a pair of safety glasses. In '76, I was getting ready for a Monday Night football game, and needed to split a few logs for the fire. The splitting maul wasn't in it usual place but there was a sledge hammer and a rusty railroad spike. Being too lazy to locate the maul, I used the spike/hammer. On the second strike with the hammer, the spike rebounded back and into my face. The entire spike went THROUGH the safety lens, split the eye lid in half, through the eye, and lodged in the sinus cavity. The eye wasn't nothing but goo, so I knew I was blind. The doctors said that if the spike had penetrated 1/4 inch either direction, it would have been fatal. They also stressed that the safety lens prevented a deeper and fatal penetration. So now I wear an artificial eye, they have to be replaced often ( $2500-3000). I have a drawer full of them. So wear the darn safety glasses!!

[BrianE]

Good for you Barb! A lot of people dont understand you only get one good set of eyes. And as far as the LN, those are a dime a dozen, unfortunately!

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I use them when I use power tools, even use them when I paint. I am nearsighted so I can do close work-18" or so-when I wear them. Also use the soft goggles when I need them. Foolish not to.

[rcnixon]

Many years ago there was a safety campaign for eye protection called "the Wise Old Owl Club". I am a member of that club several times over. I have worn prescription glasses for almost fifty years now and have always had the safety glasses option. I banged a concrete nail with a light sledge and it ricocheted into the left lens. I had a chisel head spall off a piece that bounced off the right lens and imbedded itself in my cheek. There have been others too minor and numerous to mention. Always wear your safety glasses.

Russ

[Bib]

You know how some women have too many shoes?....I have too many safety glasses. Every color of the rainbow, several with readers built in. I ride motorcycles, I drive a tank truck & deliver diesel fuel & I shoot and help out as range officer at handgun matches...this in addition to cutting grass and weedwacking at home. Hardly a day goes by that i don't have a pair on for whatever reason. Thay're literally dirt-cheap....eyesight is priceless! GOOD JOB Barb!!!!

[mod29]

Good job, Barb. Might consider giving him a handful of foam ear plugs, too. Gas powered trimmers are mighty loud.

-Jim

[MO_mule]

BarbC:

You're a good egg. I visit chemical plants often and a lot of them are in distant lands. It is horrifying to me that the plant employees do not have basic safety equipment. AFTER one or two 'incidents', the plant management usually begins doling out shoes (vs. sandals), safety glasses, and hard hats (vs. bandanas or ball caps). Things are better now than they were 20 years ago but there is plenty of room for improvement.

I am glad to see that others have nicknames for their more unlikable neighbors.

Chris

[ect1222t]

As a father, and now grandfather, all I can say is "Thanks for caring, Barb". -Ed.

[jomommy]

I weed whacked only once without glasses, and hit a big banana slug. slug goo in the eyes will not blind, just make you puke.

[truckemup97]

Originally Posted by JcMack

I've welded without glasses/helmet. You only do it once. The pain involved is unbelievable.

I got a "sunburn" while observing a welding process. My eyes were protected, but my arms weren't!

Many people neglect proper safety equipment. Having lost some of my hearing, I think I'll use it. I offered some ear plugs to my EMT buddy before we fired up the chain saws Saturday to clean up tornado damage at his house (just trees and fence, house is OK). He declined, but I was sure wearing mine.

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Yes, hearing protection should be worn when using power tools, I even wear it when I use a vacuum cleaner.
Safety glasses/goggles have become fashionable among bicyclists now. I
have been wearing presciption glasses since 1976, am also a cyclist, more than once I have felt something ricocheting off them.
Fit of safety/shooting glasses is important. I once had a 45 ACP land between the upper edge of my shooting glasses and my cheek. Ouch!
Years ago I met an appliance repairman, he had work bifocals made with the close section in the upper part of the lens as he often found himself looking up in close work.