If you’re going to do anything under a lifted vehicle, it must be supported by jack stands. Always prop cabs, trailers etc that could drop under their own weight. The vehicle should be raised on solid ground, and you must not go under the vehicle until it is supported on stands, AND lowered onto those stands. As long as the stands are put under the car properly with all the legs on the ground and placed where the car can't slide/rock (I suggest using a part … If the hoist hydraulics malfunctions while vehicle raised on hoist, with out safety latch engaged, it will fall and the safety latch will NOT engage. We’ve put together this car jack and jack stands guide to help you understand the different options available for getting your vehicle off the ground. As one turned his back on the raised load, the other moved the gantry, which fell onto his colleagues head, killing him. The flimsy factory jack he was using to keep the car off the ground failed, causing Ken to become trapped between a concrete driveway and a few thousand pounds of automotive steel. Position the safety stands under the factory lift points along the sides of your vehicle, or under an axle, control arm, subframe or frame. Vehicles must be kept safe and fit for purpose and the driver must be able to get in and out of the vehicle safely. Tester[/b] 1st March 2018 All Rights Reserved. Tip: If you plan to remove your tires, loosen the lug nuts slightly while the car is still on the ground. Our huge range of Safety Signs are designed to meet local and government regulations and we supply sign products to schools, construction, & building, warehouse, office and workplace environments. A tyre fitter went to change six tyres on a school coach parked on a sloping car park. Vehicles falling/rolling off incorrectly positioned jacks or stands, particularly where they are not chocked, are one of the main causes of fatal accidents in MVR. There were no end-stops on the lift and he was unable to stop the car falling off the lift onto him. Once things get a bit more serious it may be worth investing in a 2-post lift or a 4-post lift. We recommend choosing a jack rated at roughly the same capacity as the curb weight of the vehicle it is lifting. He died in hospital from crush injuries. What I have done in the past is put a 2in concrete pave stone under the stand. OSHA Fact Sheet. The jacking point is an indentation under the vehicle, where it's structurally strong enough to take the force of a jack. car jack, floor jack, garage safety, jack stands, lifting equipment, safety, shop tools, tool safety, tools. There is something wrong. No supplementary supports were used. Lifting plant and equipment can cause accidents if they are used unsafely or poorly maintained. Do not lower the lift to rest on supporting jacks. Be sure to lower the car onto jack stands before starting your work. Instead, they provide a safe, fixed support for a raised vehicle. If you place your jack incorrectly, you can injure your car. Before going underneath, place jack stands under appropriate parts of the vehicle and lower the vehicle onto the stands. Simply jack up the vehicle and lower it onto the jack stand or stands. It is recommended that this is done every six months. An almost identical accident, again involving a trainee working with an experienced fitter, happened three years earlier at a different company. There were no end-stops on the lift and he was unable to stop it falling off the lift onto him. Once you've changed the height of the stand, put the safety pin attached to the stand through the hole at the base to secure it place. Do not stand directly in front of a vehicle being driven onto a rack or lift, or into a wash or lube bay. Otherwise, the results could be disastrous. Use a pair of jack stands every time you lift a vehicle and you will vastly decrease the likelihood of becoming a victim of a falling vehicle. Nick Palermo is a freelance automotive writer and NAPA Know How blogger. Ramps are not as versatile as jacks and jack stands, though. If you need to remove a wheel to replace brake pads, for example, a ramp does you no good. A car fell off a two post lift, killing the mechanic working below. Extend the height of the jacks to support the weight of the vehicle. Jack stands do not lift vehicles. Your email address will not be published. Since becoming an auto news and reviews contributor at AutoTrader.com in 2011, he has broadened his coverage of the automotive industry to include topics like new car technology, antiques and classics, DIY maintenance and repair, industry news and motorsports. If the vehicle wobbles, stop immediately and reposition the problem jack stand before crawling under the vehicle. OSHA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), (2004). An HGV recovery fitter was crushed to death under the air-lifted axle of a tractor unit he was attempting to rescue from the roadside. A committed advocate for automotive media professionals, Nick is a member of the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association. If you are using your vehicle for the first time in several weeks, following Government advice, it will need a thorough check to ensure it is roadworthy and safe. If unable to handle the load alone, change the load or the equipment. Place a safety pin inside the axle stand, if your axle stands have them. Vehicles falling/rolling off incorrectly positioned jacks or stands, particularly where they are not chocked, are one of the main causes of fatal accidents in MVR. Working beneath a vehicle is often required to check for faults, servicing and repairs etc but because these tasks are so common people get used to working under potentially lethal weights. The accident was totally preventable, though. The mandatory standard is based on certain sections of the voluntary Australian Standard, AS 2538:2016 Vehicle Support Stands (available from SAI Global). The car slipped from the supports, crushing and killing him. A couple weeks ago I heard someone on the radio show mention supporting a vehicle with four jack stands, one at each “corner”, apparently by lifting one end with a jack, placing two stands, then doing the same at the other end. 7. HSE aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. Use jack stands with a bottle jack just as you would with a floor jack. Because a floor jack is on wheels, it will roll into a sturdy position as the car rises. Make sure that the vehicle is securely settled before going underneath. Although this should identify problems, it is not a replacement for regular in-house checks and maintenance (in the same way that you shouldn't rely on an MOT to keep your vehicle in good order), Other lifting equipment (eg trolley and bottle jacks, engine hoist, vehicle mounted cranes) should be similarly examined every twelve months by a competent person (and Report of Thorough Examination issued), Lifting accessories (eg chains and web slings) should be examined every six months by a competent person (and Report of Thorough Examination issued), Other equipment which are critical for safely supporting loads such as props (for cabs and trailers) and axle stands should be inspected every 12 months by a competent person, Make sure the ground if firm and level before raising a vehicle, If the area is unsuitable then move the vehicle to a safer place before any attempt is made to lift it to undertake any repairs. Place the jack under the part of the vehicle that it should contact when raised. If given a load to handle and someone is required to hold or position the load while the lift truck is moving – STOP. Motor Vehicle Safety Facts. 22. Choose a floor jack with a lifting pad that’s at least two inches in diameter. It's much bigger than the base of the stand, and is flat against the ground and the top surface is flat for the stand to sit on. A vehicle inspection will give you peace of mind about the vehicle's mechanical condition and operation. If your company requires a logged inspection for liability reasons, use an app like MaintainX . Do not work on the vehicle while it is being raised or lowered. If that's the case then you need to find another solid point under the car to position the stands. After you’ve observed all the safety precautions, follow these steps to jack up a vehicle: Place the jack under the part of the vehicle that it should contact when raised. These jacks are typically designed to be small and lightweight, ideal for a minor roadside emergency but little else. Always place the safety pin in your jack stand, or else the vehicle could fall on top of you while you're underneath it. Your email address will not be published. If you are able to place the axle stand at the jacking point that would be ideal but quite often there won't be room for both the jack and the stand. Required fields are marked *. Beta This is a new way of showing guidance - your feedback will help us improve it. The law requires that workplaces are maintained in a condition that is safe and without risk to safety and health. This 1967 Ford Mustang is safely lifted up high and allows serious work to be done easily. On the front, raise it enough so a jackstand can be placed under the lower control arm so when lowered the tire is off the ground. When the time comes to remove them, raise the vehicle slightly with a jack, remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle. Our jack and jack stands buyer’s guide explains how to choose lifting equipment that’s right for your needs. Once in position raise the stands to the correct height (ensuring that the locking pin/lever is in the correct place, then slowly lower the jack so the weight of the car is resting on the stand/s. Instead, they provide a safe, fixed support for a raised vehicle. There are saddle shaped tops on jack stands, which are designed to support the vehicle axle. Axle stands were available but not used. Cleaning/degreasing substances including valeting, Harmful dusts - Inhalation and Dermatitis risks, Safety in the use of two-post vehicle lifts, Measuring paint spray booth clearance time, Repair or recovery of buses and coaches fitted with air suspension, Make sure lifting equipment is correctly installed, Maintain lifting equipment and train operators to use it correctly, Check equipment regularly and get it inspected, Defective locking devices identified on modern 2-post lifts, Risk of vehicles falling off two-post vehicle lifts in motor vehicle repair (MVR), Safe recovery (and repair) of buses and coaches fitted with air suspension, Work equipment and machinery - free leaflets, Make sure there are safe working procedures in place when moving heavy loads, particularly when they are raised, Use the correct pins for axle stands - screwdrivers, nails and bolts are not acceptable, Use stands on a hard, level surface eg concrete and avoid lifting on sloping ground, Securely chock wheels remaining on the ground, Make sure that all lifting points for jacks and stands are correct for that vehicle - consult the vehicle manufacturer's handbook for guidance, Ensure that vehicles are always properly supported - do not rely on jacks alone, Once installed, the lift must be tested before it is used by a competent person, who will issue a certificate, Regularly check the fixing bolts with a torque wrench to ensure they remain tight, Vehicle lifts need to be kept in good order. These are a few of the basic lifting options that most home garages need. Motor Vehicle Safety Symposium. For example, a 4,000 pound (two ton) SUV would need a two ton jack. Automotive expertise from NAPA AUTO PARTS. The trolley jack is used to raise the vehicle and axle stands are placed at the points on your vehicles body to support it in the raised position. Because bottle jacks usually have a smaller footprint than floor jacks, though, they may not be as stable. To keep your car hoist in the best condition, there are different maintenance and safety checks you should perform every day, every week, and each month. Jack stands: Jack stands may be the most overlooked safety equipment items in a DIY garage. Raise the vehicle one corner at a time. Jack stands are important tools that keep a vehicle propped up after having used a floor jack, like a scissor jack or a hydraulic jack, to lift a vehicle.Once the vehicle is lifted enough to fit the jack stands on a solid part of the car underneath it, like the chassis, they can be carefully fitted and tested by hand for sturdiness, at which point the jack can be removed. The charts below outlines some popular car jacks, ramps, jack stands and other lifting equipment available from NAPA AUTO PARTS. Let's say it's time to replace the shocks. If you're using jack stands, place them near the jack. On older style in ground hoists there is usually only one safety latch. The arms did not lock and the lifting pads were damaged or missing. Always place wheel chocks before performing work on a raised vehicle. If you are using a trolley jack ensure that it is free to roll as the car is raised. A mechanic by trade, Ken was wrenching on a personal vehicle in the driveway one weekend when he became a victim of a nightmarish scene. put your phone away. ABS helps you maintain steering control under emergency braking. These steps, while lengthy, can be the difference between an on-site accident happening. A mechanic was replacing a gearbox with a car raised on a hydraulic trolley jack and two wheel removal jacks. Vehicle Safety Checks. Don't work beneath a vehicle with air suspension unless you prop it first. They were not following a safe system of work. While your vehicle may be equipped with a jack, it was never designed to be used for anything but an emergency. Once the front is lifted, position and adjust the jack stands under the main frame, bulk head or pinch welds of the vehicle. If your job is replacing a muffler, though, ramps are ideal. This is especially important if the car’s wheels at the opposite end have been chocked or one end of the vehicle is already sitting on stands, as the car then cannot roll. In particular, you should consider the following issues (more detail can be found in HSG261). Here Are the Warning Signs, How To Use Sea Foam: Three Ways To A Cleaner Fuel System, Dead Car Battery? Under health and safety legislation, a vehicle is a place of work. The unfortunate event changed his life. Yet these safety features don’t work if they’re not engaged – so make sure you use them before starting work on the vehicle. Smart lifting practices are a must to ensure the safety of anyone working underneath a vehicle. Unfortunately, serious and fatal accidents happen every year even though the dangers and precautions are well known.  You must always use the right equipment for the job. An engine hoist or engine crane allows you to lift an entire engine out of its bay while minimizing risk to yourself or your vehicle. Jack stands do not lift vehicles. Is that too much weight for the stand? Never crawl beneath a vehicle fitted with air suspension unless it is properly supported. For more information on working under buses and coaches fitted with air suspension see Safe recovery (and repair) of buses and coaches fitted with air suspension. Don’t let anyone walk under raised forks or load. If you’re using jack stands, place them near the jack. Once a vehicle is jacked up the stands are put in place and the vehicle is lowered onto the stands. Both rear nearside wheels and one offside wheel had been removed and he was in the process of jacking it up when it fell onto his head and chest, killing him. A transmission jack slides neatly under the transmission to safely drop it from a vehicle. 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