The last thing on many an avid amateur mechanic’s mind is safety. Yet have a vehicle roll on you, or roll down the driveway to collide with anything else and your day week, or month can well be ruined. Never mind the explanation to auto insurance or MPI autopac insurance agent, adjustor or having to make an unnecessary claim on your home or auto insurance.
You would be amazed. More than one amateur mechanic has produced sparks or even open flames near leaky gas tanks or wet fuel lines. How downright dangerous a practice indeed. Included in such events are the use of electric power tools, grinding, welding as well as using propane torches to loosen rusted fasteners around these leaky or leaking fuel tanks and gas lines. Experienced and well trained mechanical and auto service department experts such as Shinderpal Jandu state to always fix the leak first and foremost. Then do the other repairs work or sets of task to complete the repair and fixing process fully.
What are some safety precautions that backyard and do-it-yourself mechanics and budding service technicians should employ as a matter of standard procedure and course?
First of all after raising an automobile product, you should take the care to place a jack stand (better yet a pair of jack stands) underneath the auto to support the vehicle’s weight. Sure most vehicles are light weight to save on gas mileage, as compared to older vehicles which were made substantially with metal, real chrome and even real metal bumpers. Today in 2010 just look at and examine the lightweight even flimsy plastic and plastics which are so common and prevalent in auto construction. Still any vehicle still packs a lot of dangerous weight, especially if it drops a distance to gain acceleration. The jack stands should always be positioned and placed under a strong part of the chassis – such as the frame rails , control arms, rear axle or bumper supports – and the jack lowered so that the weight is supported by the jack stands, not the jack. If you do not have jack stands, use something that can safely support several thousand pounds, for example concrete blocks or wood four by fours. Never use milk cartons, footstools, garbage cans or boxes.
Similarly when workings with batteries always remember that they contain sulfuric acid, so treat them with great respect when handling them. Be careful not to upset the battery, or to spill acid on the automobile’s finish when installing or removing a battery. Protect your hands with rubber gloves and your eyes with goggles. Corrosion on the outside of the battery case can leave an acid residue that will and can eat holes through clothing so it is best to not use Sunday best when doing battery work. Play it safe out there when working on and repairing autos.