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SHOP SAFETY

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I have read and responded to several posts on this forum, and, during this time, have heard mention several unsafe practices. I'm going to address 2. One has to do with the use of gasoline as a solvent/cleaning agent. The other, modifying lifting equipment.

Gasoline is a very dangerous cleaning agent. It is an unstable hydrocarbon. The fumes from it are dangerous to breath, the liquid is poisonous for skin contact. It's flash point is low and it can spontaneously ignite from static electricity, and the fumes are much heavier than air. One inadvertent spark from a dropped tool can ignite it, and if one is using as little a a quart to clean parts in, there is enough accelerant to totally destroy one's workshop. Mineral spirits (Varsol), on the other hand, does just as good a job, and will not spontaneously ignite. It has to be combusted in order to burn. Hot soap and water work also. An old dishwasher will do wonders for old dirty parts!

The second concern here is modifying lift equipment. This includes welding scrap metal to high stress points without benefit of proper tecniques of x-raying critical stress bearing welds or strength testing the scrap metal for high point loading purposes. There are times that short cuts to save a few bucks, or careless use of dangerous liquid for parts cleaning are just downright hazardous. And touting these as acceptable is a recipe for disaster.
 
umm... th' ball bat here is languishin' inna corner fer now, as this isn't a defense of unsafe practices...

<ascending soap-box>

I agree that gasoline is a dangerous thing to use as a cleaning solvent, mineral spirits is a great one. BUT: if used in open air environs, in small quantity and with prudence, gas is a "pinch hitter" if necessary. I don't recall anyone recommending it as a PRIMARY choice for cleaning. Due dilligence required, as with ANYTHING to do with automotive projects (or most any other endeavor).
There is such a thing as being OVER cautious... getting outta bed in th' morning is a DANGEROUS thing. Anything from a turned ankle from steppin' on a shoe to a concussion from tripping over th' CAT can occur! Conclusion: DON'T LEAVE TH' BED!?!?!?

Tool modification? Tell ya what: If Nial decided to do up another of those nifty floor jacks and send it to me, I doubt very much I'd be for spark testing/Magnafluxing/tensile testing his welds. It'll fit under a 1500 pound Elan suspension... I'd <span style="font-weight: bold">USE</span> IT (nudge-nudge, wink-wink)!!

Would I lift a Benz with it?? No need. I have other jacks for that.

Would it be prudent to trust welding odd bits to a hydraulic/electric lift and have faith it'd then hold a Rolls safely? Not a hope in Hades. Even an engineering PhD would cringe at that'n, methinks. :wink:

All-in-all, it's good that the subject is addressed but (!) appearing to issue a: "You're all incompetent buffoons 'cause I'm an expert, I've seen people killed!" is less-than a well thought out approach. We all have "war stories".

There IS such a thing as enlightened risk assessment. I fully trust that the majority of folks on this forum who engage in these 'dangerous practices' have done so after minimizing their risks.

Buzz welding a Crescent wrench to one leg of a pair of Channellocks makes for nifty "One-piece gets", BTW. Grinding the OTHER leg to a screwdriver blade is an enhancement. 3-in-1!

But the genuine concern is noted and logged.

<clean, military dismount>
 
It's good advice. Let's face it, there are a few rookies at the wrenching game among us, and any posts that focus on safety are going to be valuable....... Some of us are veterans and have a few wrinkles and tricks of our own, we know what works for us, but those of us who are relative newbies should take Sherman's words as gospel and not try to cut corners.
 
As I said to another fellow LBC owner/forum member.... If we were conversing face to face, you would be able to hear my voice inflections, see my body language and gestures... and perhaps not take such a posture of condemn and execute.

When I first began working on automotive A/C systems in 1975, I was working on a 1968 Olds Cutlass LS A/C system. I was NOT wearing eye protection or using gauges to fill the system... My father walked over and asked me a question that still rings in my mind EVERY time I take on a potentially hazardous duty. "What is your life worth to you?" He was not telling me that I had to do anything... just to think first. I stopped right then and went and purchased a set of guages and protective eye goggles. Not long afterward, I was pressing an axle bearing. I was wearing the goggles over my corrective glasses. The bearing exploded and shrapnel went into me in several places. I still have one in my left lower leg, and another in a finger... in the joint. However, one piece went through the goggles and cracked the glasses lens... but my eye wasn't hurt...I have ZERO doubt that I would be one-eyed today, but for dear old dad's question. In the years since, I have observed other's injuries.... most due to neglect or insolence..There AIN'T a smart accident. There ARE a lot of STUPID ones.
 
Sherman said:
As I said to another fellow LBC owner/forum member.... If we were conversing face to face, you would be able to hear my voice inflections, see my body language and gestures... and perhaps not take such a posture of condemn and execute.

When I first began working on automotive A/C systems in 1975, I was working on a 1968 Olds Cutlass LS A/C system. I was NOT wearing eye protection or using gauges to fill the system... My father walked over and asked me a question that still rings in my mind EVERY time I take on a potentially hazardous duty. "What is your life worth to you?" He was not telling me that I had to do anything... just to think first. I stopped right then and went and purchased a set of guages and protective eye goggles. Not long afterward, I was pressing an axle bearing. I was wearing the goggles over my corrective glasses. The bearing exploded and shrapnel went into me in several places. I still have one in my left lower leg, and another in a finger... in the joint. However, one piece went through the goggles and cracked the glasses lens... but my eye wasn't hurt...I have ZERO doubt that I would be one-eyed today, but for dear old dad's question. In the years since, I have observed other's injuries.... most due to neglect or insolence..There AIN'T a smart accident. There ARE a lot of STUPID ones.
Click to expand...

Again, I agree with you. There should be no shortcuts taken when it comes to safety. Heaven knows I have sailed rather close to the wind on a couple of occasions, but safety is becoming more inportant the older I get. :nonono:

I also see your point about voice inflections, gestures and facial expressions. We don't all write the same way, and sometimes it can be hard to get a point across without ruffling a few feathers.

What you may find helpful is the "smilie" option, just click on the icon on the toolbar above and select the ones you find most suitable, not only to illustrate your point as I did above, but also to convey the tone in which your message was meant.
 
walked into a sporting goods store last week and noticed a young man moving camo shirts on a rack with one hand while the other hand was in a sling wrapped up in gauze and tape the preperation looked only hours old, as i walked closer to him i could see what i call "percocet eyes" and asked "table saw?" yup this morning how did ya know? he responded. ive seen too many of these over the years and wonder why/how so many people have done this with that particular tool, ive concluded the reason to be that of having ones head and hands in seperate places. :wall:
 
When in the industrial shops in high school, we had huge signs that declared..."MACHINES HAVE NO MERCY. Always wear eye protection and follow safety guidelines!" That was 35 years ago... Still applies today! In spite of that, one idiot student ignored the warning on a planer that stated the minimum length of material was 14 inches and to use a push stick. This moron attempted to run a 6 inch piece of material through with no push stick. The machine kicked the piece up, and sucked it and this kid's hand into the 15,000 rpm knives.... you don't need the rest of the story, do you? :cryin:
 
Things get REAL exciting when a guy drops an F-350 dually 4-door crew cab from 6 feet up on a lift! People CAN run like the wind blows! :eeek:
 
Well, I consider myself pretty safety conscious in my 3,500 square foot shop....fire extinguishers placed appropriately around the facility, first aid kits situated in easy to get locations & adequately marked...lots of floor jacks & jack stands always used anytime a car goes in the air, car on QuikLift properly chocked, 4-post lift operated properly & car blocked correctly, air compressors properly plumbed & maintained, proper venting for parts cleaner & sandblast booth, etc., etc., etc......

I wear nitrane gloves whenever working with tools & pay attention to common sense rules for benchpress, grinders, floor drills and other equipment....but, I don't go overboard & make my work miserable by being <span style="font-weight: bold">TOO</span> safety conscious! &, yes, IMO, one can be <span style="font-weight: bold">TOO</span> safety conscious!

You are absolutely correct, Sherman, most shop accidents happen because the person involved forgot about their own 'head space & timing'...they did something stupid or didn't think common sense safety....however, I know of a situation where the shop had so much emphasis on safety that an accident actually occurred because of the stringent safety requirements! So, it is possible to go overboard on safety.

However, even though I've been guilty of it, using gasoline to clean things is just <span style="font-weight: bold">DUMB</span>!!
 
Dumb, as in stupid, is right. https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/images/icons/default/grin.gif
grin

One gallon of vaporized gasoline has the explosive potential of 50 lbs of dynamite. For most building demolitions, about 15 lbs is the usual charge. Most municipal fire codes prohibit storage of gasoline in basements and garages. Think of a basement full of gas vapor. More than likely, your insurance company gets an "out" if your house fire is traced back to a gasoline container in the house.

Your clothes absorb gasoline vapor, making it possible for you to become a human torch. Gasoline fumes are heavier than air and will accumulate on your garage floor. That is why most municipal fire codes require water heaters and furnaces to be located at least 18" above floor level. Your catalytic converter is only 6" above the floor and until it cools down, it is hot enough to ignite gas fumes.

I have used gasoline to clean parts. Stupid. Really stupid. After reading about a couple of deadly local house fires attributed cleaning parts with gasoline, I saw the light, so to speak. I threw away all my metal gas cans, replaced them with plastic and set up a small storage unit on the back fence of my lot to store gas, paint, thinner, etc. I bought a fire proof paint cabinet and grounded it to the metal walls of my shop. Maybe, with luck and not being stupid in some other way, I will continue to enjoy this hobby.

Sherman, you are right on target.
 
I work for an extremely safety conscience company. EVERY incident / near incident etc is thoroughly investigated and learned. Not to "punish" someone but to avoid a repeat / or a near miss becoming a hit.

Despite that we have had TWO fatalities, both involving contractors working in building sites. BOTH times from falls at heights (one from 12meters through a sky light, one from nearly 40m off of the frame of a new building) Shockingly BOTH individuals were wearing safety harness and for whatever reason they had choose to un-hook themselves from the safety line. Both of these individuals would have gone home if they just followed basic simple rules.

Same thing working around the house / shop. Safety 1st. The consequences are just to great and affect everyone around us.
 
As I said in a previous post... All dad had to ask in 1975 was "What's your life worth to you?"....EVERY time I think of being lazy "Just this once", those words ring in my head... and I go get safely prepared for the task at hand.

Through the years, I've seen many guys mangled and dis-abled from accidents... not a one of them stated that their negligence was smart. Isn't it odd how the guy that has to have his eyeball drilled out to remove a metal shaving had his goggles less than 10 feet away or dangling around his neck......

And there are always those that minimize the danger in the light of being macho. Tell that to the guy that got 50% of his body burned form being so macho... the same guy that screams very loudly when they de-bride those burns and administer physical therapy to the joints to prevent scarring !

One visit to the burn ward at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston, Texas is an eye-opener!
 
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