First published in the June 2008 issue of Street Machine

Have a look around your garage or shed and see what the most dangerous thing in the shed is. If you caught your own reflection somewhere then you’ve spotted it — it’s you. Figures from the National Coroners Information System show that in the period between 2000 and 2007, 81 deaths in Australia were linked to misused, badly maintained or faulty consumer products and the humble car-jack topped the list as the most dangerous, with 29 deaths related to improper use.

A further 19 deaths involved other vehicle equipment such as faulty brakes (which killed six), while seatbelts, LPG tanks and petrol caps claimed 13 lives between them. Most of these 19 deaths could be attributed to poor maintenance and the folk involved being oblivious to the dangers, despite written warnings on the equipment in some cases. Warning labels are not just there to cover the arses of product manufacturers in case of liability — they are meant to help you avoid injury or death.

To many of us it’s unbelievable that anyone would work under a car without using axle stands but then again, not everyone grew up with Dad or an older sibling reminding them to never, ever give in to the temptation to ‘just have a look’ while the car is supported by the jack alone.

But don’t go thinking that it’s only young teens getting into this strife — all 29 of the jack-related deaths were men aged between 30 and 60, mostly working at home. In some cases they used light-duty car jacks to work beneath boats, caravans and even trucks. The vehicles fell or rolled, crushing or suffocating them. That’s not a cool scenario for someone to find as they wander out with a cuppa for you. Being crushed to death isn’t a nice way to go — it can take an agonisingly long time to squeeze the life out of you and often it’s impossible to call for help as you simply can’t get enough breath.

Reading our Top 10 Safety Tips sounds boring but the alternative is even more boring — you’re a long time staring at the lid of your box. Impatience can be deadly, especially if you make the decision not to take any precautions before you start working under your vehicle.

For starters, get some retail therapy by buying basic safety equipment. Blokes love showing off their tools so you’ll earn street cred when your mates roll around and spy your shiny new heavy-duty trolley jack and axle stands. But all this gear isn’t for just making your garage look like pit lane — you’ve got to actually use it.

Here’s a tip for partners, parents and family reading this — give safety gear as birthday or Christmas gifts. Most personal safety gear (such as ear muffs, safety visors, fire extinguishers and goggles) is tax exempt so if you’re a tight-arse, you can still be a caring tight-arse. Then make a point of reminding them that they should be using it.

Top 10 safety tips

1. Jack your car up on level, firm ground. Secure any grounded wheels on both sides with proper wheel chocks. Use the appropriately rated jack for the weight of the vehicle you are lifting. Heavy-duty jacks are highly recommended — light jacks are dangerous and will fail. Don’t rely on the jack to hold the car — use axle stands or a ramp and check these are also rated to hold the weight of the vehicle. Place the axle stands in positions where they cannot slip or tip.

2. When using power tools, wear the appropriate safety gear such as a full-face visor and earmuffs or earplugs. These items are cheaper than a hospital visit and way too many cylinder-head maestros have bad tinnitus from long hours on the die-grinder. Bare skin is vulnerable to UV rays and hot metal, so wear gloves, long sleeves and trousers when grinding or welding.

3. Flammables such as thinners and petrol or carpets will catch fire when you least suspect it. Don’t smoke or have flammable liquids around an ignition source such as heaters. When heating or welding under cars, have a look at what’s likely to be cooking inside the vehicle before you start.

4. Car batteries explode more frequently than you’d imagine and can cause severe acid burns so be aware when jump-starting that a spark from a jumper cable can ignite the gas from a leaking battery.

5. There are very high pressures and temperatures in your car’s cooling system. Steam from a radiator can cause burns that may leave you painfully disfigured for life. Always let a car cool down before opening the radiator cap. Using a substantial amount of rag or towel helps but can also create a false sense of security — you can still get hurt when coolant erupts from under the loosened cap.

6. Electricity is always looking for somewhere to go. You can have an earth leakage device installed in your home and many modern houses have an earth leakage system fitted — check that yours has. Safety devices such as a portable anti-kill unit are a must when working away from home or using a generator. Check where you are running your power cords to avoid getting a nasty shock.

7. Take a defensive driving course — it’s a great gift to give to someone, too. These courses are not only about how to drive defensively but also teach you simple things like changing tyres and how to make sure everything in your car is secure and not likely to cause injury in an accident.

8. Working on your vehicle while you’re drunk, stoned or tired is going to increase your chances of something going horribly wrong. A lot of deadly accidents have been attributed to people working on vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Don’t ever do it.

9. A messy shed is a dangerous shed. This will end up with someone falling A over T, almost certainly while carrying something heavy and wearing thongs.

10. If you are working under a car, it’s a very good idea to have someone helping you in case things go wrong. At the very least, let someone know what you are up to. Be extra careful if kids are about and keep them out of the shed if dangerous work is going on.

Illustrations by Brendan Akhurst