respirator overkill?

[murphy4trees]

I did a stump grinding job as a stump in VA. this afternoon...
The main contractor sent over two men to cut this monster uprooted twim cherry closer to the dirt... The foreman was running a 66 with sun glasses no hearing protection or hard hat.... and he had that saw screaming... running at max rpm for long periods of time... I just walked away and started cutting this 22" locust trunk down a couple feet wearing body suit, gloves, safety glasses, respirator, and hard hat with muffs and face shield.... and I ran the grinder a bit later...
As they were leaving, the foreman asked me "isn't that respirator a little overkill?"


JUST ASK ANYONE WHO'S BREATHING O2 THJROUGH A LITTLE TUBE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES IF THEY THINK WE SHOULD BE WEARING RESPIRATORS....

Bumps bruises, cuts, and even broken bones seem insignificant if you can't breathe...

 

[a_lopa]

respirators are a must especially doing stumps i know of an old retired stumper who dont breath to well now

 

[JonnyHart]

AMEN

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Man when you've lost lung function you've lost life. mine are burnt from ozone and huffin fumes and sawdust plus an operation. Used to run marathons, now 5k's are a dream. I have to catch my breath halfway up a tree, what a bore.

I use a bandana in the tree when cutting or even when climbing in a dusty area. Also pull it on over a mask when i'm digging in the dirt or sawing on the ground. there are all sorts of bacteria flying around, and boy you better cover good when you're messing with toxins.

Too much exposure and your immune system goes haywire. It's called Cancer, folks, and it's no fun when you've got to check your ins. and will before you go into the hospital for chemo. Worse yet is the look on your kid's face when he visits you in the hospital; you can tell that he wonders how long you'll be around and he's scared.

So yeah, be a man, don't bother with those sissy masks that cover up your macho good looks. They also stop you from smoking those cigs with all that yummy tar that acts like glue, holding in the poisons you breathe. YOu won't get leukemia or nothin, nah, never happen, it's the other Guys who do...:angel:

 

[NeTree]

Breathing...

still worth all the hard work it takes.

 

[JonnyHart]

Oh Yeah, did any of you guys ever work on a London Plane tree? Some people call them Sycamore, but thats not correct, you know, the ones that got the camo bark. Did ya ever get a little of that in your eye or in your nose? MAN! That stuff makes ya sneeze and snot and gives ya itchy red eyes for a few days. Beautiful looking trees though, very hard to split for firewood. I think it may cause a little panic among the public to see a crew of tree guys decked out in respirators, but I wear mine.

 

[Sylvatica]

Particulate matter and gaseous pollutants are more than just nuisances, they cause health problems, increased need for medication, decreased breathing function, are often carcinogens, and cause early death.

Some PM is worse than others, but none are good for the lungs. I use more personal protection now than ever. Guys wonder why I use ear pro for anything loud. I tell them that I've got too much invested in my CD collection to go deaf now.

I know a macho stonemason who used to smoke a Camel cigarette while cutting bluestone, inhaling both with gusto. He is not doing too well now.

 

[tawilson]

I haven't found a respirator that won't leak around the bridge of my nose and fog up my glasses. I'm sure there's something available, any suggestions?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Put a thin layer of vaseline on your nose. This suggestion came from a woodworking article since fine dust is a terrible health hazard.

Tom

 

[murphy4trees]

Proper adjustment should keep the glasses from fogging...
And some respirators are better than others.. A friend gave me one that had a tab that would flip open as a quick release, for talking etc...
Since having a serious breathing condition a couple yers ago, I have to be extra careful... I used to use one in the tree, because I was so sensitive, but now I can get away without one in the tree. I MUST use one when chipping and like to have one when running a saw on the ground..

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I had some people ask me something similar while I was doing some air excavation. My reply is that i hate the dirty coughing up all that dirt for a day or so after I do one without, and i get headaches durring that time.