Jack Safety - AGAIN!

[dcotejr]

Looks like the message is not getting through...

Georgia man crushed by car when it falls off jack *| ajc.com

[Diesel911]

"of Danielsville is the third time in three years that someone has died that way in the county."

It makes me wonder if someone is loaning out the same Jack.

[Can't Know]

Originally Posted by Diesel911

"of Danielsville is the third time in three years that someone has died that way in the county."

It makes me wonder if someone is loaning out the same Jack.

...or the same DNA.

[barry123400]

There will always be people that are unable to do personal risk evalution for themselves. Generally speaking the younger the more lopsided a situation may be. But not in their favour. Normally your self preservation instincts should prevent taking unreasonable risks.

That said I still see people doing it all the time in many things. They are either not aware of the risks or very poor evaluators of it. Poor math skills may actually contribute to it. To evaluate risk is an equation basically.

[dude99]

"Never trust a jack" This was the very first thing my dad taught me about working on cars....

[mach4]

If I'm under the car, the car is supported by cribs if the wheels are on. And if the wheels have to be off for some reason, then it's jack stands as primary and cribs as secondary.

[gastropodus]

Originally Posted by mach4

If I'm under the car, the car is supported by cribs if the wheels are on. And if the wheels have to be off for some reason, then it's jack stands as primary and cribs as secondary.

Curious: what are those cribs made of? Are they wood and plywood?

Kurt

[mach4]

Originally Posted by gastropodus

Curious: what are those cribs made of? Are they wood and plywood?

Yes, 2x4s. The top segment that the tires set in are 2x4s and 3/4 inch plywood and 2x3s for the "chocks". I both glued and screwed the pieces together.

[Can't Know]

A Madison County sheriff's report says Gunderson was working under a 1987 Chevrolet Camaro around 6:30 p.m. Saturday in his yard north of Danielsville when the accident happened.

I think that's all you need to know right there. If you're under a car on anything other than a concrete or paved surface, you're asking for it. Mach4's cribs might be okay, but you're still going to have settling and unevenness, although it's likely never going to come completely down.

Sad that people are so willing to treat their lives so cavalierly, and for something so stupid.

[Can't Know]

Originally Posted by mach4

Yes, 2x4s. The top segment that the tires set in are 2x4s and 3/4 inch plywood and 2x3s for the "chocks". I both glued and screwed the pieces together.

Do you mind giving the overall dimensions for the plywood? Yours look like a good size for typical passenger car work. Good weekend project...for a lifetime.

[dcotejr]

Originally Posted by dude99

"Never trust a jack" This was the very first thing my dad taught me about working on cars....

X2!

Sad case...

[bamba]

I wonder what sort of equipment he was using. Especially if it was a toothed or pin-style of jackstand. I really, really dislike the toothed variety. The pin-style seem much, MUCH more foolproof in my opinion. Of course, the best protection is redundancy, redundancy, redundancy...

[sleepstar]

Originally Posted by bamba

I wonder what sort of equipment he was using. Especially if it was a toothed or pin-style of jackstand. I really, really dislike the toothed variety. The pin-style seem much, MUCH more foolproof in my opinion. Of course, the best protection is redundancy, redundancy, redundancy...

i took it to mean that he wasn't even using jackstands, just the jack itself to support the car.

[bamba]

Originally Posted by sleepstar

i took it to mean that he wasn't even using jackstands, just the jack itself to support the car.

Oh, well if that's the case... he deserves a posthumous Darwin Award.

Still sad, nonetheless...

[gatorblue92]

Yet another reason why I always use two sets of jackstands at all times. One is holding the weight and the other is just touching the car in a secure place so if one fails the other will hold.