EE WAS USING AN ACETYLENE-CUTTING TORCH TO CUT THE WELD OFF OF THE RIGHT SIDE CORNER BIT BOLTS WHEN A PIECE OF HOT SLAG BOUNCED OFF A GUSSET ANDENTERED HIS RIGHT EAR. EE CONT. TO WORK WITHOUT SEEKING ANY MEDICAL ATTN. AS TIME PASSED, HE SUFFERED DRAINAGE FROM THE EAR THAT WOULD NOT CLEARUP.HE SOUGHT MEDICAL TREATMENT AND DISCOVERED SMALL HOLE IN EARDRUM. SURGERY ON MARCH 26TH