9.2: Auto Lab Equipment Safety
Reflection: Auto Shop Equipment
Vehicles are used in everyday life as people drive to work, to see family, or just for the enjoyment of travel. In order for vehicles to be road-worthy, they must be in top operating condition. Failure of any vehicle’s component or system may result in injury or even death. Auto technicians receive vehicles brought in for routine maintenance and/or service. Technicians in automotive shops when servicing vehicles utilize numerous equipment that must be routinely inspected, operated correctly and safely.
Review the Automotive Shop Equipment discussed below and identify the standard that would compliment a safety protocol for the safe use of that equipment. Considering the hierarchy of controls what type of control is it? Reference workbook section 7: Tools and Equipment-Industrial Safety and Manufacturing and textbook chapter 12: Crane and Hoists for insight.
Automotive Shop Equipment-Hazards
There are several different areas in an auto shop. You must describe the areas by name and understand the basic rules that apply to each. It is important that you learn your shop layout and organization to improve work efficiency and safety. The auto shop includes the following work areas:
- Repair area
- Tool room
- Classroom
Repair Area
The repair area includes any location in the shop where repair operations are performed, such as in the shop stall, lift, alignment rack, and outside work area. It normally includes every area except the classroom, locker room, and tool room.
Shop Stall
A shop stall is a small work area where a vehicle can be parked for repairs. Sometimes, each stall is numbered and marked off with lines painted on the floor. Some auto shop facilities have an outside work area adjacent to the garage overhead doors. In good weather, this area can be used for auto repairs. Always raise the shop doors all the way and pull cars through the doors very slowly.
Lift
The lift is used to raise a vehicle into the air. It is necessary for working under the car (draining oil, greasing front end ball sockets, or repairing exhaust systems).
Remember these lift safety steps:
- Ask your instructor for a demonstration and get permission before using the lift. You must be trained and authorized to use the lift.
- Always read manufacturer's operating instructions closely before using a lift. If a lift lowers a car on someone, they will likely be crushed and killed instantly. A-Most lifts have a mechanical safety catch. A large metal lug must be engaged fully into the metal post before working under the vehicle. Without the mechanical catch engaged, a hydraulic failure could make the vehicle drop instantly to the ground with deadly crushing force.
- Inspect the lift, the floor area around the lift.
- Position the vehicle's center of gravity (point of perfect balance) on the lift as described in the vehicle service manual. If a front-engine vehicle or a pickup truck with no weight in the bed, position the lift arms (if applicable) more to the front of the chassis. In a mid- or rear-engine car, place the lift pads more to the rear so the car will not slide or tilt off the lift.
- Raise vehicle slowly while keeping your fingers away from any moving parts on the lift. Raise the car about one inch off the ground. Double check your lift points and make sure the vehicle is perfectly level. Always place your head next to the shop floor so you can see the alignment of the liftpad and vehicle pinch welds or frame rails.
- When the vehicle is high enough to be worked on, make sure the lift's mechanical safety catch is engaged. Do not walk under the lift without the catch in the fully locked position
Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Diagram of Lift. (Source; Greg Ling-Long Beach City College)
Alignment Rack
The alignment rack is used when working on a car's steering and suspension systems. It may contain a special tool board and equipment used when replacing worn suspension and steering parts, or adjusting wheel alignment. When using an alignment rack, the car should be pulled onto the rack slowly and carefully. Someone should guide the driver and help keep the tires centered on the rack. As with other complicated and potentially dangerous equipment, obtain a full demonstration before using the alignment rack.
Tool room
The tool room is a shop area where larger pieces of repair equipment are stored. The tool room is used to store shop tools, small equipment, and supplies, such as nuts, bolts, and oil. It is normally located adjacent to (next to) the repair area or classroom. When working in the tool room, you will be responsible for keeping track of shop tools. Every tool checked out of the tool room must be recorded and called in or retrieved before the end of the class period.
Normally, the tools hang on the walls of the tool room for easy access. Each tool may have a painted silhouette, which indicates where it should be kept. Your instructor will detail specific tool room policies and procedures.
Classroom / Training Room
The classroom is usually an office-like area in a school or large repair facility, where students or mechanics can meet to increase their knowledge of auto service and repair. Either a certified instructor or the service manager presents the information to the students or experienced technicians. The classroom is used for seminars, demonstrations, and other technician training activities. It is often located adjacent to the repair area. Follow all posted safety rules for the classroom.
Flash Card-Key terms and Definitions
This interactive feature not available in print version of this workbook
Standard Mapping - Identify Overlapping Standards for Automotive Safety
Working in the automotive shop is a hazardous environment which requires safety to avoid injury or possible death. As a technician, you will be working with tools and equipment to service and repair vehicles. In this activity you will map the requirements for tool and equipment safety and specific safety warnings and procedures to safety standards to OSHA safety standards applicable to shop safety.
Standard Mapping Table
| General Industry Standard Subpart | Section | Shop Equipment or tool Safety Warning, Safety Procedure |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 Subpart F – Powered Platforms, Manlifts, and Vehicle-Mounted Work Platforms | 1910.67 – Vehicle-Mounted elevating and rotating work platforms | |
| 1910 Subpart H - Hazardous Materials | 1910.106 - Flammable liquids | |
| 1910 Subpart I - Personal Protective Equipment | 1910.132 - General requirements | |
| 1910 Subpart I - Personal Protective Equipment | 1910.133 - Eye and face protection | |
| 1910 Subpart I - Personal Protective Equipment | 1910.134 - Respiratory Protection | |
| 1910 Subpart I - Personal Protective Equipment | 1910.138 - Hand Protection | |
| 1910 Subpart K - Medical and First Aid | 1910.151 - Medical services and first aid | |
| 1910 Subpart L - Fire Protection | 1910.157 - Portable fire extinguishers | |
| 1910 Subpart L - Fire Protection | 1910.165 - Employee alarm systems | |
| 1910 Subpart N - Materials Handling and Storage | 1910.179 - Overhead and gantry cranes | |
| 1910 Subpart O - Machinery and Machine Guarding | 1910.212 - General requirements for all machines | |
| 1910 Subpart O - Machinery and Machine Guarding | 1910.217 - Mechanical power presses | |
| 1910 Subpart P - Hand and Portable Powered Tools and Other Hand-Held Equipment | 1910.242 - Hand and portable powered tools and equipment, general |
Video-Equipment Safety
How to use 2-post Lift
How it works?!? The CAR WIZARD shows how to operate a two-post car lift.
Vehicle Lift Failures
Case Study – Fatality
Discuss in your group the specifics of the case below. The details are summarized. View the figures in the report showing the shop equipment and usage of the vehicle lift. Discuss in your groups how you would have prevented this incident. Consider creating a JHA to support your case.
Are there any standards that mitigate or are a work around for servicing a vehicle while on a lift? What are they and how would you implement?
Subject: Accident: 14543334 - Vehicle Fell From Auto Lift, Mechanic Crushed Under Auto
Accident detail
Introduction
Employee #1, A mechanic, was repairing a tie-rod on a vehicle which was suspended over his head on an auto lift. He inadvertently struck the lift securing pad with his hammer, causing the telescoping movable securing lift arm to move. The vehicle fell from the auto lift to the garage floor. The mechanic was caught under the falling car and crushed to death. The auto lift was manufactured by The Dover Corp., Rotary Lift Division. The auto lift's ID number was E770 3022M; serial number 0500, part number P451. The lift’s model number was AB00137-SP80 MARK II. It had a 7,000 pound lift capacity. The manufacturer’s lift instructions were not followed during installation of the auto lift.
Employer: Gronski Enterprises 3905 Birney Avenue Scranton, PA 18505