It’s not every day I get to write about jewelry here at TileLetter, but when the opportunity pres- ents itself, I have to jump at the chance! OK, this story is REALLY about hand safety, the dangers of finger bling, and how to avoid injury while making a fashion statement or proclaiming your commitment with your jewelry. A recent Global Tile Posse thread on Facebook, started by Tee Lee (aka Travis Libner) of Suburban Tile and Flooring in Homer Glen, Ill., pointed out something I’d never even considered – the danger of wearing a ring while working on the job site. In addition to the chemical reaction of different substances with the metal of the ring that can irritate your skin or destroy your ring, there’s an even more harrowing consequence of symbolizing your undying commit- ment to your spouse with a wed- ding band: ring avulsion. Basically, this is when your ring gets caught while you are moving your hand away from an object or piece of equipment and the ring strips not only your skin off your finger but also underlying tissues, muscles and tendons: a most undesirable consequence to be sure. (Check outYouTube videos of Jimmy Fallon who spent 10 days in ICU and had microsurgery to restore function to his finger after it was degloved by catching his ring on the counter top while simultaneously tripping on his kitchen rug.) Rob Savana of The Renovations Guru in Maricopa, Ariz., described this gruesome outcome: “I can’t wear a ring while I work,” he said. “While I realize you may just do tile/stone, I also am a carpenter. In cabinet making school, I saw an apprentice’s hand get sucked into the dado blades on the table saw because the blade grabbed the ring HOT TOPICS ––––––––––––––––––––––––– Ring avulsion, and how to avoid it Safeguarding your hands while symbolizing your love By Lesley Goddin, Editor 66 TileLetter | June 2019