Long hair: Cut, or proceed with caution?

[SagaciousKJB]

Well, I'm currently enrolled in a machine tech course at a local trade school. My instructors have told me that wearing a cap and putting my hair in a pony-tail should be enough, but I just saw a very chilling video on Discovery channle where a woman working around machines had her hair pulled into a machine, ven while she was wearing a pony-tail.

I was just wondering what advice you people could offere me to as to whether or not I should cut my hair short.

Thanks.

[Klox]

It's the safest, to wear your hair short. I have seen a couple of photos where a guy scalped himself due to the fact that his hair got caught by the spindle of a drill press.......
According to law (in South Africa) you must wear a hair net if you have long hair and are working in an evironment where there's a lot of moving machine parts.

[CNCRob]

Originally Posted by SagaciousKJB Well, I'm currently enrolled in a machine tech course at a local trade school. My instructors have told me that wearing a cap and putting my hair in a pony-tail should be enough, but I just saw a very chilling video on Discovery channle where a woman working around machines had her hair pulled into a machine, ven while she was wearing a pony-tail. I was just wondering what advice you people could offere me to as to whether or not I should cut my hair short. Thanks.

Was that the video where they had to put her scap back on. I think I might have seen that too.

[Chris D]

Originally Posted by SagaciousKJB Well, I'm currently enrolled in a machine tech course at a local trade school. My instructors have told me that wearing a cap and putting my hair in a pony-tail should be enough, but I just saw a very chilling video on Discovery channle where a woman working around machines had her hair pulled into a machine, ven while she was wearing a pony-tail. I was just wondering what advice you people could offere me to as to whether or not I should cut my hair short. Thanks.

There is nothing wrong with having long hair in a machine shop if you don't mind losing your scalp at some point

There is nothing wrong with wearing a neck-tie in a machine shop if you don't mind losing your head at some point

There is nothing wrong with wearing a necklace in the machine shop if you don't mind being chocked or having your head popped off

There is nothing wrong with wearing rings in a machine shop if you don't mind losing a finger at some point

There is nothing wrong with wearing a wrist watch in a machine shop if you don't mind losing a hand at some point

There is nothing wrong with wearing long sleeve shirts in a machine shop if you don't mind losing and arm at some point

There is nothing wrong with day-dreaming in a machine shop if you don't mind being the subject of an emergency room operation at some point

In other words...

In the machine shop, short hair is required, no neck ties, arms are naked from the elbows down, and you will pay attention to what you are doing no matter how boring it gets! If there is the slightest chance it is dangerous, then it probably is - the machine shop provides plenty of "Slightest chances"!

Chris

[psychomill]

Those are good ones Chris.... and it pretty much describes me with exception to the necktie and I do try to avoid 'daydreaming' while I'm at a machine....

I myself have long hair. I've had it since I was just a little kid. It's just about down to my a$$. I wear rings, necklace, long sleeve shirts when its cold (even worse, rolled up on my forearm when it begins to get a bit warm), no watch but I do wear a copper bracelet for the joints....

OSHA sees me like this ... .........

Anyway, I've been lucky enough to never have had an incident for 25 yrs and going..... In the early days, I'd have it back in a cap, or just in a pony tail. Then I'd tuck it in the back of my shirt. I haven't been doing that since the '80s though. Nowadays, I'll either have it in a ponytail or, for the most part, wear a cap with the hair pulled through the "opening" (where the adjusting band is), but loose, not tied through.

Back in the '80s, I watched a guy running a NC lathe get caught in one. He was an older guy with hair just as long as mine. He was a seasoned machinist, been doing it (at that point ) for 30 yrs or something. Anyway, he leaned over a part to get a close look while turning a real fine detail. His hair (pony tail) came around his shoulder and got caught in the part. He immediately grabbed his tail and hung on for dear life. A co-worker nearby got there and hit the e-stop. Unfortunately, the side of his face hit the part before (luckily) his tail literally tore apart. It didn't scalp him but this definately could have been a lot worse.

I'm not advocating that you should or could wear your hair long as I do.... Just understand that with it, you play certain amount risk with it. Pay attention for sure....



By the way, I work with mills, engine lathes, chuckers, punch press, brake, centerless grinders, HMC, VMC, VTL, welding equipment, lathes and more..... all with long hair...

[JFettig]

wear it up in a bun and youll be ok

I have had long hair a few times, always felt quite the relief after cutting it really short


Jon

[CNCRob]

Originally Posted by Chris D There is nothing wrong with having long hair in a machine shop if you don't mind losing your scalp at some point There is nothing wrong with wearing a neck-tie in a machine shop if you don't mind losing your head at some point There is nothing wrong with wearing a necklace in the machine shop if you don't mind being chocked or having your head popped off There is nothing wrong with wearing rings in a machine shop if you don't mind losing a finger at some point There is nothing wrong with wearing a wrist watch in a machine shop if you don't mind losing a hand at some point There is nothing wrong with wearing long sleeve shirts in a machine shop if you don't mind losing and arm at some point There is nothing wrong with day-dreaming in a machine shop if you don't mind being the subject of an emergency room operation at some point In other words... In the machine shop, short hair is required, no neck ties, arms are naked from the elbows down, and you will pay attention to what you are doing no matter how boring it gets! If there is the slightest chance it is dangerous, then it probably is - the machine shop provides plenty of "Slightest chances"! Chris

Well done Chris

[keithorr]

That's why god invented mullets. Business (and safety) in the front, party in the back.

[SagaciousKJB]

Heh, wow. Hearing some of your stories certainly makes a good case for cutting it. I think I will cut it, at least while I'm still in training. I guess there's no sense endangering myself further around these machines when I'm still inexperienced with them. I just wish my long hair wasn't so important to me; but I guess my career choice, and the ability to even grow hair is more important.


And yes, CNCRob, that's the one I was talking about. Seeing that made me cringe.

[psychomill]

All in all, that may be the wisest choice, even though that wasn't (or ever) the choice I made. You can always grow your hair back later (unless you lose it all before then... but then there is Rogain.... or a wig!! )

It's a little tougher to grow your head back!

[PaulH]

Originally Posted by psychomill It's a little tougher to grow your head back!

Viagra?

[Jay Kyle]

Well having had my sleeve caught on a part on a lathe, luckily no broken bones; and having my coat hanging out when leaning over the winch on the back of a CAT D4 and getting caught in it winding up, again lucky no broken bones; and other logging, chain saw and motorcycle close calls, I've had the fear put into me enough that shop safety starts to haunt me. Long hair is an accident waiting to happen. (oh yea, the ring thing, my dad knows a guy with a missing finger)... and they do happen, I'm sure everyone here know someone who has been hurt somehow in the workplace.

Jay