One of my former students (graduated June 2003) stopped by today. He has plenty of time on his hands as his out on workman's comp for the foreseeable future.
Back in June he was working for a company here in N.E. CT that makes drill heads for serious drilling work (oil I think). He was lowering some pieces into a tank of tempering oil that was held at 1000 degrees F when some moisture that was on the parts exploded into steam spraying him with MUCH hot oil.
A co-worker heard the pop of the steam explosion and came running as my fellow came out of the heat treat room on fire on his right side.
They airlifted him to UMASS medical center in Worcester MA where he stayed for several weeks. He is healing nicely now but will carry the scars for a long time. Fortunately although his face was burned it has healed fully with no noticeable scaring. Can't say the same for his forearms and I don't even want to see his torso.
The phrase I use over and over with the kids when I am cautioning them about things safety related is "you are cruising along fat, dumb and happy one second and in a world of hurt the next. He has learned the lesson all too well.
He says that when he is able to go back to work it won't be in that shop!
Errol Groff Instructor, H.H. Ellis Vo-Tech Danielson, CT