Wear Goggles!

[Jeremy]

Thought it might be worth relaying what has happened to me over the last few days as a result (I think) of working on my bus last week.

Last thursday, whilst at work in the office, I began to have a bad headache - so bad in fact that I left work early, came home and went to bed for a couple of hours. Although this was unusual I didn't think too much about it at the time, and just blamed it on spending far too many hours staring at computer screens over the previous few days.

On the friday a similar thing happened, although the headache had turned more into a pain behind one of my eyes. This got worse over the weekend, with sunday night being really bad - I barely got any sleep at all due to the pain, and on the monday morning it took me about an hour to open my right eye.

It was obvious I had a problem which was getting worse, so first thing on monday I went to the local pharmacist; on hearing my story (and seeing my eye, which was glowing red by now) the pharmacist told me to make an emergency appointment with my doctor, which I did. The doctor looked at me and immediately sent me to A&E (ER to you). They in turn sent me to the hospital's specialist eye unit, who fortunately were able to sort me out.

The upshot of it all is that apparently, whilst working on the bus last week I got some sort of foreign object in my eye. I'm doing lots of metalwork at the moment, meaning lots of grinding and so on - so presumably the foreign object was a speck of metal - the odd thing though that this speck of metal or whatever was so small that I wasn't even aware that it was in my eye - and apparently after being in there for several days the cornea of my eye had grown over it, and the whole eye had become quite seriously infected, which it what caused the headaces in the first place. The specialist eye people had to cut into the cornea to remove the object, and since then I've had to take various medications every hour (night-time included) which send me dizzy each time I take them. I'm typing this in the breif period of semi-normalcy I have before having to take another dose of the medication.

So, take care of your eyes guys, and, if you have any odd headaces or eye pains don't do as I did and just assume that it will fix itself if you just leave it a few days!

Jeremy

[TomC]

Good post Jeremy-and am glad you're on the mend.  On those same lines, it never ceases to amaze me at how many use loud machines-from a simple hand drill to air hammers without ear protection. I always use ear plugs when working and the nice sideline to this is you're not so tired at the end of the day-plus your ears don't ring.  If you have ringing in your ears at the end of the day, you've had hearing loss.  I have ringing in my ears all the time and wish I had not played the good old rock and roll so loud or gone to those loud parties in my youth.  There is nothing less manly than one with bad or almost completely lost hearing-give me my ear plugs every time-so much so I won't do a loud job unless I have them.  Good Luck, TomC

[jjrbus]

Good post Jeremy!!  

[HB of CJ]

Wow...even though it was a very painful ordeal for you, it turned out all right in the end.  The stories that could be told using a Dremal tool WITHOUT eye protection....but will not.  AUGHHHHHH!

Just imagine $5000 and a whole lot of pain later....about the same thing you went through.  Yeah....let's all be very careful out there imploying stuff that can make particles fly very fast. 

[VAN]

Yea nothing like haven 2 assistents tying to hold your eye open while the doctor goes to work on ya eye ball with an over sized dremel tool to get a piece of rusted metal out .Even with script saftey glasses ya syill need dem dar goggles ,ben there dun dat,got the t-shirt it shure ain't fun trying to drive home in the bright sun light after they dialate your pupils and you forgot your shades ,ouchy.

    Good post

P.S even the doc was wearin gogglesLOL

[Don4107]

I had something in my eye after working in the shop even with goggles.  Thought I had rinsed it out.  Couple days later had a dental appointment.  Dentist hit me in the eyes with that laser they call a light (I am super light sensitive), and my eye cramped if that is even possible. 

Anyway, got out of the dentist chair and into the ophthalmologists chair to remove the particle of iron and route the rust out of the edge of my cornea.  No lasting effect.

Also had a piece of aluminum find it's way past the goggles and embed in the same cornea.  Lucked out again.  At least it didn't rust.  Got rid of the vented goggles.  Trying not to go for number three!

Let's be careful out there,
Don 4107

[rv_safetyman]

I too have had to have some steel ground out of my eyes several times.  Really scary in my case, as I only have one good eye.  I am very careful to wear safety glasses, but I have figured out that when grinding, the grit can bounce off of something and ricochet into your eye (even with side shields).  When grinding now, I wear one of my welding helmets with the flip-up dark lens and that has kept me out of trouble for the past couple of years.

I am not sure if boogiethecat will reply, but he talks about using a strong magnet to remove the steel before it does damage to the eye.

Jim

[luvrbus]

Jim, glad you wear goggles now if you find something to protect the rest it would save Pat a lot of travel taking you to get stitches.Did you find me a MOL built Eagle across the water.               welcome back

[Sojourner]

So, take care of your eyes guys, and, if you have any odd headaces or eye pains don't do as I did and just assume that it will fix itself if you just leave it a few days!

Jeremy

Amen! Thank for sharing an awaken event of what can happen to anyone.
Pray that it all come ok for you.
Take Care.

Sojourn for Christ, Gerald

[niles500]

Some of the more experienced mechanics on this BB could put together a list of the most common dangers experienced while wrenching on these beasts (such as how to safely deal with working under an air equipped bus) - make it a sticky - I'm sure the newbies would appreciate it, and it would keep you from having to remind them every time - FWIW

[rv_safetyman]

Clifford, saw some beautiful buses, but not any Eagles.

To clarify, I tried the normal safety glasses with shields, and then went to the full goggles (not comfortable, problems with the straps and steamed up) and then ended up with the welding helmet.  Another reason I like the welding helmet it that if offers much more protection for my pretty face .  I have had grinding discs let loose (especially if they catch on an edge) and they cut pretty deep (another trip for stitches).  I have never had the lens fog over, and the clear lens they sell are really very durable. 

The helmet is kind of clumsy, but I think it is worth it.  I use good safety glasses for drilling and machine work, but not for grinding or cutting aluminum or steel on the table saw.

Jim

[Dreamscape]

Many years ago while working on an Austin Healey I had a piece of rusted steel get embedded in my eye. I wear prescription glasses and it made a believer out of me to wear personal safety equipment. It did not do any lasting damage, the darn thing sure hurt though.

Jeremy, glad you're OK. Every once in a while this topic comes up, and I'm thankful for that! Makes me think twice before working on our trusty rusty Eagle! 

Be safe out there!

Paul

[Blacksheep]

Jim I too have had success using a magnet to remove metal from my eye! A regular magnet may work but the best is cobalt! Very very strong and it would pull teeth if given a chance! I found small squares on ebay really cheap and they have come in handy often!
Ace