Possumblog

KITTY!

Okay, not really. But you have to admit, Catblogging Fridays have gotten pretty much played out, even amongst the top-quality A-list bloggers. Therefore, I have decided to do something completely different:

Foreignconstructionworkerblogging!

My Friend Jeff™ sent me these yesterday, and they are quite instructive in illuminating the handy building practices practiced in those parts of the world where there is no such thing as OSHA.

First up, we all know that welding can produce showers of white hot embers, and they hurt when they pop you. I myself have had the displeasure of having one of these tiny molten meteors of metal land inside my shirt, and it's not at all fun. Even worse is when your face is exposed, and to protect welders, there is a huge market for protective gear devoted just to the head and neck. But let's face it (so to speak)--all this equipment can be expensive, with all the custom Kevlar doodads and such. And now we find out completely unnecessary, given that you can get equivalent protection with a discarded piece of cardboard:

Inexpensive, infinitely configurable, easily modified to accomodate a wide variety of eyewear, and offers protection up to 451 degrees Fahrenheit!

Next up, I know you've all seen those warning notices on dry cleaner's bags--"PLASTIC BAG IS NOT A TOY!" Of course they're not toys--they're highly effective respirators!

Highly effective, and working on the principal that lung contamination can be best avoided by not breathing.

Finally, this clever fellow recognizes the dangers posed by head injuries. Falls, dropped objects, bumps, scrapes--all these things are very real hazards on the construction site, and you've probably seen all the wide variety of hardhats available. But when you get to thinking about it, wouldn't it be better to have something nice and cushiony to protect you?

Sure it would:

Safety and style all in one!

Thanks to all of our participants. If they're still alive.

UPDATE: Nate McCord of exotic Utah sends us this sign board from the much more safety-conscious continent of Australia. (Sanitized for your protection!)

I bet Todd gets a lot of calls.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at June 15, 2007 08:13 AM