AISA TREVINO
Joint Forces Headquarters
South Carolina Air National Guard
Columbia, South Carolina

We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.” This expression could not be truer, especially in the Army. Most military occupational specialties require personal protective equipment (PPE). From medical technicians to motor pool mechanics, PPE is required for myriad daily tasks and procedures. I’ve learned the importance of this equipment firsthand, and I assure you that the discomfort of some PPE is worth the protection it provides.

Several years ago, I was an experienced mechanic performing a hydraulic servicing procedure on an AH-64 tail wheel strut. I had on the required PPE, but as I was waiting for the strut to drain, I decided to take off my safety goggles. I then waited by the strut for the next step in the task.

A fellow Soldier walked up curiously to see what I was doing. As a joke and without thinking, he collapsed the end of the strut quickly. Hydraulic systems are pressurized to push fluid through the system. When the Soldier collapsed the strut, the remaining fluid in the cylinder sprayed out of the drainage port and into my eye. Fortunately, I knew exactly where the eyewash station was located and immediately flushed my eyes. However, I suffered damage to my left eye.

At first, I was angry with the Soldier. Then I realized I should’ve kept on my goggles — or at least stepped away from the strut while it was draining. So, I was also at fault. One might assume that this incident would make me an avid goggle user, but that’s a big negative. Eventually, I forgot about this experience and complacency crept back into my work habits.

So, there I was (again), coating a tail boom frame with epoxy, a mixture of chemicals that form an enamel coating. The harsh fumes emitting from the mixture were evidence that it wasn’t good for skin and definitely worse for eyes. I had on all my PPE — gloves, glasses and mask — and so did my co-worker, who was a sergeant like me. Two noncommissioned officers should set the standard, right? Not this time. Sadly, experience sometimes causes complacency, and that’s when mishaps happen.

When we were cleaning up the area, we did not wear our goggles. They were uncomfortable, sometimes affected depth perception and fogged up in hot weather. A litany of excuses, yes, but still reasons many Soldiers choose not to wear them.

We had neglected to clean off the residual epoxy from the can’s rim. When my co-worker closed the lid, he slammed the edges with a hammer to secure it. As he did this, the remaining epoxy in the rim splashed directly into my left eye. I was rushed to the emergency room, but this time the damage was irreparable. Fortunately, these two mishaps haven’t prevented me from performing my job. However, there’s a difference in strength and clarity between my left and right eye.

Today, I’m extremely cautious of any chemicals or particles that could get into my eyes, on my skin or ingested. I cannot explain how foolish and irresponsible I feel to have had two mishaps like this happen. To make matters worse, at the time, I was unaware of the standard I was setting for my Soldiers. To them, I was promoting that it was OK to not wear PPE if you were experienced and knew what you were doing. Because of my mishaps, I lost credibility with my Soldiers. I’m hopeful they learned from my experience, though. PPE is required for a reason — to protect you and others. Use it!

FYI

March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, each day, about 2,000 workers sustain job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment. Of those, 90 percent could have been avoided or had their severity lessened if the worker had worn eye protection. Using the proper eye protection while conducting potentially hazardous jobs can save your sight. Make sure you know what kind of eye protection to wear. See the Army’s Authorized Protective Eyewear List on the PEO-Soldier website at https://www.peosoldier.army.mil/Equipment/Approved-Eyewear-QPL/.