Remember safety and redundancy when under cars!

[Chamelion]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...-29277,00.html

A MAN has been crushed to death under a car he was repairing in Melbourne's southwest today.

The victim, 48, and a friend were working under the car at a private residence in Werribee about 3.30pm (AEDT) today, police said.

One of the men got out from under the car to get a pair of pliers when the small electric forklift holding up the car failed, causing the car to fall on the other man.

Neighbours used jacks to lift the car once again.

Ambulance officers tried to revive the man but he died at the scene.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Sad :(

[KBBossedXR]

I have seen it done so many times before especially at the drags, people just put the Jack under the car and think that will hold instead of putting stands under once the cars jacked up. This person wouldnt be the first that this has happened to and wont be the last either. Even a good couple of bits of wood will do the job in some cases,
You should never get slack when it comes to safety in the work place whether that be at work or home, trust me i know all about it.
Just imagine the ordeal that this caused his family, mate and neighbours.

[XR6_661]

I never ever use a jack...Mainly because I'm paranoid. I'm even iffy about using stands.

It's ramps or nothing for me.

[KBBossedXR]

Originally Posted by XR6_661

I never ever use a jack...Mainly because I'm paranoid. I'm even iffy about using stands.

It's ramps or nothing for me.

you do have to make sure the jack/stands are on a flat surface obviously, ramps are another safe way of working on your car but they are not always available and especially if you dont have ramps on the trailer then you cant go taking them to the drags as there is no room.

[Lightning Strike GT]

Same thing happened to my neighbour years ago
He was home alone and used the cars scissor jack to get under the car and change the brakepads - it was an old Jag with the inboard discs. He was crushed like a bug and killed and was there for about 5 hours till his wife got home and the worst part we were home and did not hear a thing.

[MRJUCY]

I always have as much protection as possible, stands, wheels, wood & whatever else I can get my hands on. I've seen jacks fail & it happens pretty quickly, you don't have time to react so a back up is necessary.

[XR-ENVI]

i read this in the paper yesterday and it was terrible to read. in the speedway worl you see people using only jacks often and its quite sickening to think what could happen. Many years ago my sister in laws -brother's car fell off blocks and crushed him to death so it is forever in our minds whenever under cars.

[TZENU]

A few years ago at a calder drift day we had a mates car jacked up.. We were getting ready to get under the car and begin tightening steering bolts... We thought we'd grab a drink first... Thank god because when we returned the Jack had failed and the car was resting on the bodykit... WOuld hate to think what would have happened if we were under it...

Since then i use chassis stands and throw a couple of tyres underneath whenever i work under a car..

[DBourne]

Many years ago my sister in laws -brother's car

that'd just be your bother in law then wouldnt it?

[XR-ENVI]

nope...he is my brothers brother in law!!!lol

[kyro_02]

my head hurts!

[3vXT]

redundancy?

[[Tonko]]

makes me think about when i removed Pacemakers from my 351 XD with a single block of wood under the cross member...
Abit silly in hindsight....

[outback_ute]

Originally Posted by ken2903

redundancy?

The term is used for extra safety precautions above what is required - ie a backup

[Nostalgia]

Indeed a very sad story but also a timely reminder for us all to use ALL safety measures available to us. I have also had a bad experience of this nature and am very serious when it comes to working under the car now.

[protd]

Originally Posted by XR6_661

I never ever use a jack...Mainly because I'm paranoid. I'm even iffy about using stands.

It's ramps or nothing for me.

how would you say take a wheel off or maybe remove a diff or front suspension.. Bit hard on ramps :

[sleekism]

Originally Posted by XR6_661

I never ever use a jack...Mainly because I'm paranoid. I'm even iffy about using stands.

It's ramps or nothing for me.

I use manholes..........

[ELtim]

Originally Posted by XR6_661

I never ever use a jack...Mainly because I'm paranoid. I'm even iffy about using stands.

It's ramps or nothing for me.

I'd rather use a pit than anything.

Originally Posted by protd

how would you say take a wheel off or maybe remove a diff or front suspension.. Bit hard on ramps :

Why would you be under the car if you were changing a wheel?

[pauljh74]

Even if you were short on gear (no stands etc.) - at the very least throw the spare tyre under the side you've got jacked up. If it drops the tyre will reduce the damage to the car. Wouldn't recommend getting under it still.

[T3ts50]

I use to always have a go at my brother for using the scissor jack with no jack stands underneath the car. He has the 'nothing is gonna happen' attitude.

[TwistedEL]

It happens way too often, there are some sad stories in this thread
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=83955

[protd]

Originally Posted by ELtim

I'd rather use a pit than anything.



Why would you be under the car if you were changing a wheel?

the reply was a joke regarding never using a jack :
and only ever using ramps or nothing else, how do you remove a diff on ramps..


didn't think it was that hard to understand :

it was a tongue in cheek statement ment for a laugh :

[Feathers]

I saw my Dad use one of our forklifts to raise the front of an old corona to about shoulder height, then get under it and start welding up a hole in the sump.

I had a go at him about it. He didn't care.

Didn't feel comfortable watching it, but I thought if something happened, then I should probably be there to be able to get help instantly.

[ltd]

Very sad indeed.

I also agree with most of the posts here, use stands; but not the cheap ones from supercheap auto that are made out of really flimsy metal, use some of the heavier duty type. My stands are rated to 3 tonnes each, and they never move. They are constructed like 4 A's welded together with a sliding ratchet in the middle.
Also, if taking the wheels off they should be placed under the sill for added protection. It can be the difference between a mild injury and death. Whatever you do though, have a contingency and let someone know you are working under the car if you are working alone. That's even more horrible about the fella working on his Jag being there for 5 hours, I feel for the person who made the discovery.

[BFYOOT]

whilst on the topic, anyone recommend the best type of stands to use?

[Lightning Strike GT]

Originally Posted by ltd

Whatever you do though, have a contingency and let someone know you are working under the car if you are working alone. That's even more horrible about the fella working on his Jag being there for 5 hours, I feel for the person who made the discovery.

It was his wife when she came home from visiting the kids. I spoke to him about 10am when he was watering the garden and the next thing you know at about 4pm there was Ambo's, police, firey's, accident investigation the whole shebang asking Q's and taking statements from the neighbours - not a good day for the street

[ltd]

Originally Posted by BFYOOT

whilst on the topic, anyone recommend the best type of stands to use?

Yeah, stay away from parts discount stores. Go somewhere like rare spares, or even rare spares. I got mine from a friend who used to build racing fairmont XP's, but he got out of and I bought them from him. I'd recommend having a look at the types used in garages, but don't ever buy the type which have a flat piece on the ground and a welded pipe coming out of it with a bit of 8mm soft gal rod as the pin. They are made in China to support much lower weight cars, and I have personally seen them fail. When the car is lowered on to them you can actually see them bend forward under the weight and the path of least resistance.

Like I said before, my ones are like 4 letter "A"s welded together, so it is much wider at the base than at the top. Inside that, there is a 2 inch thick solid piece of steel with ratchets cut into it. Each one is rated at over 3 tonne, and I have never had an incident with them, even when the ground is not quite level and/or I've jacked up the back whilst the front remains on the stands. I've seen these in use at several repair places, including the odd ford dealer.

[nb_351]

yeah the a frame ones are the ones i use... they ratchet up, and you hve to pull the lever to let them down...