Garage safety - do not be a dum-dum (foot-injury version

[Otter74]

Obviously it's not too serious, since I'm here writing, I'm fully mobile, etc.

Yesterday I was moving a spare engine I have for my Sentra SE-R. Put it and the hoist into the borrowed truck, drove to the garage, pulled the hoist out and reassembled it (rather harder solo than with a helper), picked the engine up out of the truck, rolled the engine and hoist over to the garage apron and then started pulling it up the apron. When the front wheels get to the transition it sticks so I have to sort of give it a big tug to get it up and over. Do this, but I give it a big tug right into my left foot. The back of the hoist (with engine, so a few hundred pounds moving at a foot per second or so) nails me squarely in the big toe. Ow!! Take foot out of shoe, starts bleeding like a mofo (looks that way, anyway) so I hobble over to the truck to look for a towel, etc. eventually get a roll of TP from a neighbor who happened to be leaving to stanch bleeding. Impact separated about 2/3 of the toenail from its bed and put a big cut in the front of the toe, too. Waited for my GF and her dad to show up (they were on the way anyway, and it was his truck) then drove to nearby hospital since I figured this was something they could patch up better than I could. Rest of the evening shot, sitting in the ER instead of at my friends' party that I was looking forward to.

No serious injury, but it is kind of a PITA. All because I was wearing...boat shoes! I love boat shoes and have worn them as a default non-winter shoe for about 30 years. But not the best choice of footwear for shop work. (Duh!) (GF said that the first thing her dad said when she told him was, "I bet he was wearing boat shoes") Even if I had been wearing my Airwalks I probably would have avoided most of the injury due to the thicker soles that would have taken some of the impact. I don't have steel-toed anything but I think I'll be getting some just because.

Also, eye protection. Made recent reminder to self to keep a couple pair of safety glasses in the garage. This incident sort of amplified that. I wear eyeglasses, but that's not enough to keep stuff out of your eyes.

We are very safety-conscious at work, where there is a big shop. I have always taken care of things like good jacking protocol - never, ever get under a car unless it's well-supported on jack stands, use good support points, make sure floor even and can take it, keep jack under the car as backup, put wheels under body as 2nd backup, etc.

I took care to not overstress my back, etc. as I worked with the hoist. I thought I was taking care when rolling it into the garage (in retrospect, pushing would have been better than pulling) But I didn't think of everything, as I learned the painful way.

If you've been getting lazy about some safety habit, let this be a reminder to stop

[ckelly78z]

We need to stop and think about our actions, and remind ourselves that we are not 21 years old anymore. The other day, I was re-routing a cable TV wire to the other end of my shop. I didn't have a step ladder or step stool other than in the barn 200 ft away from the house. I turned a 5 gallon buckeyt over and stood on top to reach the ceiling....needless to say, it twisted, or buckled, and threw me off. To prevent going through the windshield of my Porsche, I grabbed the mounting chains of the overhead florescent lights on my way down. I knew instantly I was messed up. My right hand was bleeding from all 4 fingers, but the pinky finger was opened up pretty wide. 9 stiches on a 1.5" long gash later, I am now trying to still work without using my pinky finger.

[Baz]

Most accidents are a result of being in too big of a hurry.

Moral to the story......slow down......think about every move you make.......get a strategy.......get a plan....work your plan......then allow for adjustments to the original plan if needed......slow it down.

Also, I always have music playing when I work and do my best to work without others around who could (and usually do) create a distraction. Allows me to focus better.

[porsche tech]

One of the techs in our shop was standing under an Audi removing the AC compressor. When it came loose it fell straight onto his foot and broke several bones. It's a profession that requires careful attention and not being in a hurry. The "not being in a hurry" part is difficult when you're paid on commission.--Dave

[Hawkeye's-911T]

Just to add to this most important of topics: "When you get tired, you get stupid = accidents."
The 2nd line in Baz's post should for the most part, be a central tenet to us all.
Work Safe!

Cheers
JB

[rusnak]

Get some steel toe boots. Wear adequate safety gear. Accidents occur as a result of being lazy, and not taking safety measures. You figure oh what the hell, I don't need the right tools, the right lighting, the right gear. I can take a short cut.

[Tobra]

I should take more pictures when they call me from the ER.

Never pull when moving heavy stuff or standing behind a lawnmower, push.

[rnln]

Yes

Originally Posted by Hawkeye's-911T

Just to add to this most important of topics: "When you get tired, you get stupid = accidents."
The 2nd line in Baz's post should for the most part, be a central tenet to us all.
Work Safe!

Cheers
JB

[john70t]

Last ski run of the day and do a kick-out on a bunny hill jump.
Hook the ski tips and end up w/dislocated shoulder for many hours.

Finish changing brakes at 2a.m.(early celebration) and spin the wheel with finger still in it.
Lose fingernail and expensive trip to ER.

Lean over '89 Golf in the dark after work to check timing (mark is on flywheel) but slip and plug cover has popped off.
Lose same fingernail on flywheel.

I got nothing on johnco.

[Oh Haha]

Jumped over our cyclone fence a few weeks ago like I had many times before. Missed the landing and tore the quad muscle in my left knee.

Messing with a garage door cable once and it snapped tearing my middle and ring finger up but good. No permanent damage but it hurt like he!!.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

Jumped over our cyclone fence a few weeks ago like I had many times before. Missed the landing and tore the quad muscle in my left knee.

Messing with a garage door cable once and it snapped tearing my middle and ring finger up but good. No permanent damage but it hurt like he!!.

This is why Woody Hayes seldom traveled into Michigan.

I whacked off the side of my left index finger with a boring mill bit in 1974. I was 17.

Never did that again.

Why is the uptake in MI so farkin slow?

With all the compassion I can muster....

Kind Regards,

The Bobster

[aap1966]

For @#$%'s sake...................EYE PROTECTION guys!

Always.

If you lose a toe, it cuts down on your 100m times, but you'll cope.

Lose an eye, and that just sucks.

[Oh Haha]

Dear Bobster,

Who the he!! is Woody Hayes and why would he be in MI?

What do you mean by "uptake"?

Sincerely,

Mr. Wayne

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

Who the he!! is Woody Hayes and why would he be in MI?

Just say no to Bo. OMG, there should be love between brother states. You are widening the gap. I have no animosity towards Michigan or their stupid 'Wolverines" mascot. I have never seen a Wolverine in MI but I have seen buckeyes in Ohio.

All the best.

Some say he was ok.

[Oh Haha]

I don't follow college football or the pros so I did a search on Mr. Hayes. I know there is a big rivalry between OSU and UofM but I just don't get into it.

You are welcome anytime at our home Bob. The only flags you'll see is the American and the Porsche.

[FPB111]

Did it look like #3 when you left the ER? caution gross pictures.
60lb vise and sandals.

[Otter74]

Yikes!! Sorry that happened to you

Mine looked mostly like #1. Kept it wrapped up for a few weeks (got to wear my Chacos to work, so I stretched it out longer than necessary) and the cut healed well. Toenail is probably about to fall off, then it'll grow back. Will probably go to podiatrist to see if they recomment letting it fall off or taking it off.

[FPB111]

Let it fall off. If you pull it off it could open a wound that might get infected. Then it could look like #3

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I have never seen a Wolverine in MI but I have seen buckeyes in Ohio.

Wolverine was a derogatory term made up by Ohioans.
(thx.)
You guys got one little port of Toledo but we stole the entire mineral-rich UP from WI:
How The States Got Their Shapes - 10 Things You May Not Know About the U.S. States - HISTORY.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo_War

Buckeyes are for roasting.

[Don Ro]

Ouch!!!...that missing toe sent chills up my spine.