Good point about removing rings. I always take my wedding ring off when working on stuff. My dad taught me that rule when I was a little kid.

I couldn't resist:

^x3 on the wedding ring working on cars, if you knock your hand with a ring on it always hurts more - I always wear nitrile gloves just because I like having tactile feel when working on them and my hands get sweaty so it doubles as a "non slip" work area

I'm always mindful now of not being in a rush to get things buttoned up and if my wife says its 3 hours until dinner, if I can't reasonably take my time, including getting tools cleaned and put away and all work area cleaned up within 4 hours, I don't do the job. Whenever I rush, I break something, strip a bolt head, etc

I had a bad one about 3.5 years ago - replacing rear sway bar bushings on the X5 and stripped a bolt out because I was in a rush on the bracket holding the bushings. Stupid me tried to drill out the broken bolt but I wasn't wearing safety glasses, just thought I could squint.

Well 2 days later after my eye constantly tearing and washing it out and nothing else happening, finally went to my eye doctor and she said "oh yeah you have a small piece of metal stuck in your eye and it started to rust" - luckily it wasn't near my iris and came out cleanly with her little pincer, then she had to almost dremel the rust out and said there was a tiny little crater left in my eye which would fill back in eventually - but I had to wash my eyes 3 times a day for a couple weeks after that and they were hyper sensitive after. Now I'm always wearing safety glasses ESPECIALLY when working under the car.

My neighbor used to tease me about wearing eye and hearing protection when cutting my grass. I explained that I didn't want to speed up the natural process of going blind and deaf. He thought I was making a joke. Later, he started a lawncare business and manages several of the houses in our subdivision. I noticed that he now uses ear and eye protection. I guess he finally figured out what I meant.

Anyway, the point is that I think a lot of people don't take basic safety seriously when working in the garage. As I've gotten older and gained experience, I've established a set of rules that include nitrile gloves at all times. If I don't need the dexterity of the thinner gloves, I wear heavier work gloves. Safety glasses are a must whenever air tools are used, or there is any possibility of flying debris or liquids.

I don't have a cavalier attitude about safety and I still managed to get hurt. It just goes to show that sometimes basic caution isn't enough.

^True and great post and points. I landscaped and did construction for about 8 years since I was 17 years old, 3M Earmuffs are a must whenever a machine (mower,trimmer,backpack blower, snowblower, diamond saw, etc) is in use, even your standard orange earplugs do the trick) - The first year in the business I probably didn't do it ever but pretty soon it was standard practice, I value my hearing.

A summer or two without sunglasses when doing hardscape work also did a number on my eyes so now whenever its anything brighter than mostly cloudy, I have sunglasses on outside - even on hazy days I need them (blue eyes = most sensitive to light of all colors, little known fact)

Sometimes you can't be safe enough.

I was removing a through the wall AC unit. Brick wall. AC unit is 220v and is probably from sometime 1950 build date. So it was perma rusted in there. It was The day before Christmas. My guys were off, and only my father in law and I. We needed to get that AC out and lay brick so that the inside could get insulation and Sheetrock ASAP. So we pull the AC out, we get the cage out, but the amount of shit falling off this thing is wild. Socks, panties rubbers, everything was jammed in this guy to keep the cold out I guess. Pops in law goes outside grabs a ladder and goes to the hole from outside. I'm on a latter inside. When he ran out, he forgot to close the door. And as soon as his head popped in the hole where the AC was, a huge gust of wind blew through the door and through that AC opening right into his face.

Washed him out and all that shit. Next day his eyes look like raw meat. I spent Christmas Eve with him in ER. He had metal, rock, and other shit. Rust. They could not get it out with pincers. They carved it out with a needle. This went on every 3 days for the past month. Plus antibiotics, and lots of eye cremes. They are saying it's mostly out now, but he needs to go back in 2 weeks. They are waiting for a few last pieces to make it closer to be able to get it removed. He finally got back his day vision. He was super sensative to light. Like in pain for about a week when looking at light.

My lesson is to wear goggles every time you step into a construction zone. You just never know. And chances of some sort of airborne shit are high.

nice info guys, I have had a few "surprises" in the past too.
I refuse to buy/use cheap tools. Ive had a few sockets break and leave me on the brunt end of the excess torque. most recently was a water pump pulley wrench used to hold the waterpump pulley while a wrench on the fan clutch can pull the fan loose.
broke the pulley and the water pump holder wrench. and ended up smacking myself in the face. no stitches just a few butterfly closures ! I grew up running with scissors, and not wearing a helmet! Ive got scars (adventure marks) all over the place! :) they make for great stories!
that said, there's a "stupid line" that shouldn't be crossed when it comes to safety. ie, ALWAYS use Jack stands even if they are just pieces of firewood rounds that can hold the weight of the truck should it come down. Ive gotten into the habit of placing the wheel on the ground under the running boards to mitigate a total failure of the jack and the jack stands (earthquake??)
Pushing on the wrench instead of pulling is a good one too! sometimes its not always possible!
safety goggles for anything more involved than changing an airfilter!
nitrile gloves (gorilla brand are my fav) helps the clean up too! and keeps nasty chemicals off your skin! now if they ever came up with an "armoured" variety that might end my black and blue fingernails! !!!
moral of story, have fun but be safe!

Good point about using a wheel under the car in addition to jack stands. I do that too!

Glad you are still here to warn us... but I have to say that I think it is a disgrace that someone could sit in the waiting room of a medical center for an hour and a half, only to be told that you should run to another emergency room.

Aren't there triage doctors or nurses around to make an educated judgment as to who needs to be treated (or at least examined right away)?

Right there with you…