The reason for this post is 2 fold...
Firstly to update everyone as to whats happening with Davetheraveuk so you can wish him well with his upcoming operation...
and Secondly to use his "real" example to hopefully educate the idiots out there (I am one of the worst offenders!) who take short cuts and dont wear safety equipment (PPE).
I know it is long but please read this all the way through and learn from it...
Many of the SE guys will know DavetheRaveuk from our SE meets, the workdays where has been one of our star grafters, and from the help he gives me in the evenings up the woods getting stuff ready for gatherings.
Some of you may already know that he has been suffering problems with one of his eyes for a while, and after having a chat with Dave we considered that sharing his unfortunate experience with all members on FOG was essential and might hopefully save someone else the pain and loss in the future that he is currently suffering.
This is Dave's story so far, thanks for letting me share it mate....everyone please please learn from it...
Just before I met Dave (last feb) he had been using an airchisel at work to remove a broken wheel bearing race from a hub...
Whilst doing this the race shatterered and lumps of metal shot into Daves eye...Dave was not wearing safety glasses, even though he had some at work...
His boss then took him to hospital in great pain where they removed what they thought was all the metal from his eye.
The pain continued for weeks and dispite several more hospital visits and treatments there was no real abatement.
Gradually the eye sight in this eye got worse and worse, an optitian pescribed special glasses which worked for a short while but werent a lasting fix.
Over the last couple of weeks the eye sight stopped completely from the eye, leaving Dave in pain and blinded in one eye.
Then Dave started suffering intense pain in the eye which culminated with one Dave descibed as a single pop sound, like bursting bubble wrap, and then he could see spots in the damaged eye...
What had happened was that his eye had built up so much internal pressure that it had burst open at the back.
Daves eye then became really blood shot so back to the hospital again.
Dave, over the last couple of days, has seen a number of consultants and specialists...
Basically there is still a lump of metal deep in his eye...and a cataract has formed over the initial wound.
The salty liquid in his eye which fights infection has made this metal start rusting, which has invoked a serious infection which has caused the build up of pressure, which led to the burst at the rear of Dave's eye.
Dave has been given eyedrops to take every 2 hours to help reduce the effects of the infection and pain, as no surgery can be contemplated with the amount of pressure his eye is under at the moment, as it would simply explode causing irrepairable damage if punctured by the surgeon.
So this is where Dave is up to now...
Pain, blindness in one eye, and the uncertainty of what the future holds...
Hopefully the eyedrops will reduce the swelling/infection, because then the surgeons can operate.
They need to remove his eye, cut it open and try and dig out the remaining piece of metal,if they can get to it, and then cut off the cataract...
The Surgeons have advised 50/50 on the success of the operation...
50% that Dave will get 80% of his original sight back,
and 50% that the eye will be dead and Dave will be totally blind in one eye for ever.
For Dave its a no brainer, he is blind in the eye at the moment and in a lot of pain...so the outcome cant be worse than he is suffering at the moment.
So there you have it....a real story, that one of us is really going through at the moment, and all for a moments stupidity by not wearing safety glasses.
I, for one, admit that I regurarily have chanced luck and used powertools without PPE, even though I have all the gear at the workshop
...but that stops now and goes for anyone else working in my workshop. 
This is just stupidity, it isnt cool or macho, and having seen what Dave has been through and is facing, my future useage will be safe for certain.
Safety glasses are only a quid a pair....just a quid a pair,
so no excuses for not wearing because they are old and cant see clearly through them, just buy some spares and keep them in the garage.
Both Sally and I would like to wish Dave every bit of luck with his impending operation, and a quick and successful recovery.
Please dont post "blaim/claim" stuff or "legal advise" below...
The reason for this thread is to wish Dave well and to highlight his plight so we can all learn from it, so anything posted off that topic will be deleted without explanation.
Please please please take heed Foggers and use PPE...you really dont want to be where Dave is at the mo.
When I first started my boss was very hot on ppe(personal protective equipment) even though at the time there was still quite a lot of bravado about not wearing safety gear,especially on building sites ,so I have worn safety gear ever since then. Even so there have been times when I have not used them just to do something quickly but I just stop myself now and go and fetch the glasses. 
