Replies

1. 
   Lisa | Jun 08, 1999 06:21pm | #8

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   This is why we wives keep trying to get you to wear your rings in your noses - that way they are protected by your breathing mask. But do you he-men listen?? Nooooo. See, we are really just looking after your health and welfare... ;-)

1. 
   Lisa | Jun 08, 1999 06:21pm | #9

   *Hey Per! Number 4 show up yet?

2. 
   Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 08:39pm | #10

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   worked with a friend (still do) who was proud to never take his wedding ring off, always wore gloves when moving wood or metal etc. One day was climbing out of a truck (big flatbed) and ring caught in door handle (wasnt wearing gloves) and took his finger near off. Had to be pinned, couldnt work for quite a while, had no insurance and no workers comp (self-employed sub)cost him lots of $$$. Still cant move his finger very well and little feeling in it. Doesnt wear his ring anymore except after work.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 10:22pm | #11

   *I saw this post and just sent the whole thing to my wife. I have been married six years and stopped wearing my ring after having a close call four years ago (one that Barry describes above as skinning the rabbit). My wife still gives me grief to this day, mostly in a kidding fashion, but there is always a little bit of truth in jokes. Hopefully this will stop it. God knows almost losing my finger didn't!!!

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 11:09pm | #12

   *Nope, not yet....although it seemed like last night was going to be it, the contractions stopped & I ended up only sleep-deprived. It's a good thing my finger stayed attached. Otherwise, I'd have to use my thumb to count the kids!

3. 
   Lisa | Jun 09, 1999 12:05am | #13

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   my sympathies to your Lady! Will you be passing out Black Bush or Jameson's?

4. 
   Guest_ | Jun 09, 1999 04:25am | #14

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   Hi Lisa,

   Anybody dumb enough to follow that advise will probably make it in politics but never in construction.

   Seriously though, jewelry doesn't belong on jobsites. At some point you have to make up your mind between having something cool on your finger or having a finger to put something cool on.

   Gabe

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 09, 1999 08:57am | #15

   *Josh,That is why we should all quit our jobs and go on welfare...so that we can get only the best medical care and coverage while the rest of those working dopes pay for it!Anybody got change for a ten dollar food stamp?Public assistor,Pete

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 09, 1999 09:01am | #16

   *Greg, Greg, Greg, When will you ever learn that the loss of a mere finger or two pales in comparison to the wants of a wife.HIM: "honey, I'm calling from the hospital. I am having my finger sewn back on"HER: "fine, but did you still get paid today?"Lisa, don't hit me ... again. Pete Draganic

5. 
   AG | Jun 09, 1999 10:52am | #17

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   Hey - This is from a lady in
   painting/construction: I Always take my wedding
   ring off when I'm working for two reasons - safety
   of course and to protect the darn ring! Lady's
   rings are a lot wimpier (but much prettier) than a
   man's - It goes in my pocket till the end of the
   day - my husband is Very pleased I have all my
   fingers and thumbs and that he doesn't have to
   replace a ring or a wife -happily married for

6. 
   Guest_ | Jun 09, 1999 02:43pm | #18

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   get out of it....you just like to keep the blokes guessing

7. 
   Lisa | Jun 09, 1999 06:38pm | #19

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   Aw Gabe, didn't hurt to try...

   I know better too, matter of fact, can't stand wearing a watch anymore...also, keep in mind other hazards like loose clothing and hair (for those of you who still possess some).

   Be safe...

8. 
   Guest_ | Jun 10, 1999 09:08pm | #20

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   Pete,

   Luckly (or stupidly) I did not go for stitches. It wasn't something a rag, duct tape, and a couple of days taped to the other fingers couldn't fix.

   When I broke one of my fingers last year, the conversation was close to what you described, went something like this......

   Him: I have to go to the hospital

   Her: Is the job done?

   Him: Yes

   Her: Can you make the deposit on the way?

   By the way, it was my ring finger. If I had been wearing my wedding band, they would have had to cut it off.

   I wonder what kind of response that would have elicited???

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 12, 1999 07:02am | #22

   *Pete - my wife never says "did you get paid today?"She always asks "did you bring you check home ?"I can't remember why she always asks me that...............(-:

9. 
   Guest_ | Jun 12, 1999 07:02am | #21

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   Just had a cautionary experience which I figured might help others avoid similar incidents.

   As a general rule, I try to be very conscious of safety when I'm working on things (read the manuals, keep the blade guards on, etc.). I always heard that you should never wear jewelry or rings when working with tools. Since I don't dress like Mr. T, I figured my wedding ring was no big deal. It's always been kind of tight fitting, so I just keep it on at all times.

   Well, yesterday, I was working in a bathroom and stepping off a short ladder. I slipped the palm of my hand along the top of an aluminum shower door frame. The bottom edge of the ring snagged on a ridge on the frame, so my finger is attached and the rest of my (250lb) body is moving down to the floor. Before I knew what was happening, I could feel my knuckles start to pop. Fortunately, the ring popped free as the angle changed, or I'd be looking a lot like the late Jerry Garcia's hand.

   The sheer force on the ring drove the edge of the ring into the underside of my finger just below the middle knuckle. I couldn't slide it off because it immediately began to swell up, and it kept cutting deeper if I tried. After about 10 minutes, I was able to find my tin-snips & was able to cut it off. So from now on....rings off! You never know how some of these accidents will happen. By the way, the finger seems ok, just a bit bruised and cut.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 01:01am | #1

   *I told my wife I'd wear the ring until it scared me. I was handling a grundle of dead green and thick pine boards and one grabbed the ring as I let it go. I took the ring off, put it in my dresser drawer and told Ruthie. She agreed 100% and I haven't worn a speck of jewelry since. I never wore jewelry before I got married but I promised Ruthie I'd give it a try. We've been married for 19 years now and I can still count to ten without removing my shoes.Lee

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 01:01am | #2

   *Per,You're lucky. Usually the ring peels the finger's skin off, sort of like when you skin a rabbit.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 02:31am | #3

   *grundle???? I think I like that... a descriptive word.

1. 
   ChrisT | Jun 08, 1999 05:16am | #4

   *I knew a major in the Marine Corps who was jumping off a vehicle getting ready for some patrol training with his company. Caught the ring on the side on his way down. He went by Nine Fingers Mike when I knew him.Chris

2. 
   Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 08:06am | #5

   *I started my industrial working life as an assistant safety engineer in a steel foundary and wire mill and the older hands used to regale us with tales of those who got caught up in their machinery. (Fortunately, I was able to transfer quickly to the maintenance dept.)They had large powered spools for winding large diameter wire. Supposedly one guy working alone caught his ring on a spool and then the wire wrapped around his hand. As best they could figure he went up and over the wire spool and slammed into the concrete floor head first about once every fifteen seconds for up to 15 minutes before his helper came back off break. Needless to say there was not much unbroken or much life left in him at that point.They also liked to tell of those who got their loose clothing caught in the lathes and wire machines. Not to mention the guy who caught his pant leg on a catwalk over a large ladel of melted steel and pitched into it headfirst. Supposedly nothing left but ashes. I assume that most of these tales employed at least a little literary license to make their point. Which they did - I don't wear rings, wrist watches, loose clothing, ties, or whatever when I am working around machinery.

3. 
   Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 08:15am | #6

   *This is exactly why I've never had my nipples pierced.

4. 
   Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 02:42pm | #7

   *I know an older computer geek who got rich in the 80's manufacturing upper end microcomputers. He related the story of a co-worker who was wearing a metal watch band while working near the transformer of a computer power supply. Normally, you can't get more than 50-100 amps of 120 volts for long before the breaker pops. But on the low voltage side of a transformer you can 10-20 times as many amps out as in - like several thousand amps when shorted. Heated the guy's watch band so much it burned the tissue of his wirst and welded the tendons in their sheaths. He was left with an immobile claw in place of his hand.Take off that jewelry around the job site, power tools, and electricity. My wife didn't understand why I wanted my ring to be able to come off till I told her that story. Slip the ring on your watch band, buckle it, and put them in your pocket till you're done. -David