Greg,

I sympathise with you completely. I dont understand why it is a problem if one wheres gloves either. They just seem to be really focused on hand injuries. But their logic doesn't hold up for me. We might as remove our belts because they could get hung up on something and hurt us. I think there are exceptions to most ever rule (if you dont believe that, look at our tax laws).

I think the policy states that no jewlery can be worn in maintenance, operations, or while driving rolling stock.

I wonder if all office personell removes their jewlery before walking into maintenance or going to the production office? I bet not.

I am an electrician so I take my ring off In the morning and put it on when I get home. This is my choice and I believe a wise one considering the dangers it could pose doing my job. My wife understands this so it isn't an issue with me. Also I have personally injured myself twice, because my ring got caught and cut my finger deeply. In those two incidents, I think that wearing a thick glove would have prevented the injury.

Its my opinion that this needs to go to Central Safety for further review. I am not even sure Central Safety had anything to do with this policy originally. It may have just been imposed.

Also you might contact the ACLU. I bet Weyerhaeuser hates hearing from them. A lawyer might have some insight also.

Gloves will not keep the ring from getting smashed onto your finger...... I myself have gotten out of the habit of wearing my wedding band to the extent of trying to put it on reciently, found that it shrunk.... :-) The idea of putting it on a chain around your neck sounds like a great idea...
Roger

While no longer work at the mill I still care for all of the people whom I spent so many good years with. I try to keep up with policy changes and mill attitudes. My belief is that psychological and physical aspects, both togather, make up the main focus in everyone's safety. I am very concerned for all of you that are in the mill at this point that there has been a severe break down between management and production when it comes to safety. I have worked in other mills where it was warranted to remove rings for certain jobs. I ask this, in fairness to all. When was the last "near miss" or first aid case in the different jobs at the mills related to a mill wide policy of removal of wedding rings ...and has there been a job by job hazard analysis study done on this policy to make it mill wide? Will the people in the offices still be able to wear theirs? What about the foremen?