Always Remember To Be Safe!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

GMCjunkie · 10-10-2007, 11:52 AM

Just a reminder. Somtimes we get in such a hurry to get things done we forget about being safe. My Nephew-in-laws father was killed this past week while working on his truck. He had it up on a jack with no stands and no blocks behind the wheels. It rolled and crushed him to death. He was only in his early 50s. Our lives are too important !!

BB72CHEVKT · 10-10-2007, 11:55 AM

Very sorry to hear your news. I have seen a car fall on someone and it is not a pretty sight. I was about 17 or 18 years old and a few of us quickly picked the old 280z up off of him and he walked away. He was very lucky.

caminokid · 10-10-2007, 12:00 PM

I had it happen to me. There was 4 of us under a 69 Ranchero trying to put a trans in...then it happened. My friends dad was there. Me had the wrecker sitting in front of it...hooked it and lifted. We all got out with scapes and bruises. He was real sorry he didnt let us use the wrecker after that. We had asked to use it to just lift up the front end.

Sorry about your nephews lost. It has to be hard on his wife family.

sick69 · 10-10-2007, 12:12 PM

I'm sorry to hear that!

We all get the thought "It won't happen to me I know what i'm doing" at one time or another.

But the simple fact is it can happen to anyone,,,,,,rookie or the most experienced builder,,,,,,,,ANYONE.

Thanks for the reminder!

Frank

Alvin · 10-10-2007, 02:14 PM

Great reminder!

Just yesterday a friend laughed at me for having 4 jackstands under my mom's grand am while we changed the gas tank. I figured over-doing it was just about right if I was going to be wrestling with a gas tank under there for any amount of time. edit - we only had the back of the car lifted up

A few minutes getting your vehicle safe to work on, can save lots of time in the hospital or what has happened in this sad story. My thoughts go out to his family!

**SactoJim** · 10-10-2007, 03:36 PM

Good advice!

I know I'm guilty of throwing the floor jack under many a vehicle just to check something quick......I've heard a number of these kinds of stories over the years and now I always think "safety first"!

Sorry for your loss.

**Yukon Jack** · 10-10-2007, 05:48 PM

That is sad - definitely a good reminder to all to keep safety at the forefront of our thoughts when working on our vehicles.

Blazer1970 · 10-10-2007, 05:53 PM

I have said it before and I will say it again. I always get it up on jack stands and then I grab the fender and shake the hell out of it before I am going under there. If you are not SURE, you are not safe.

67mater · 10-10-2007, 05:59 PM

Amen, I always rock the car back and forth to make sure, and I always use stands; takes 30 more seconds

jeffspower · 10-10-2007, 07:39 PM

I've always done the shake it hard test also. Use stands, wood blocks, but NEVER concrete blocks or rims standing on edge.

One day back in high school auto shop, I thought two guys were gonners. They had the front end of a mid- '70s Laguna on stands pulling the transmission. Class ended, and they were to the point of dropping the trans but didn't quite get it done. So they left the trans supported by the jack & the car on stands. Nothing wrong with that. Returning to class the next day, they went to lower the trans jack & drop the trans, and WHAM! The hole car came down, bouncing the front tires damn near off the ground and pinning them underneath. Some SOB in the following class the day before needed jackstands and took them! The little Blackhawk 1/2 ton tranny jack was holding up the whole car! It was unbelievable that they came out with minor scratches.

Bottom line, make sure your stands don't dissapear

69halfton · 10-10-2007, 07:46 PM

...just last week i watched the floor jack slip off the 86 camaro we have in our shop class.

nobody was under it...but it sure shows how heavy, and fast things happen,

it was a good wake-up call, thats for sure.

PanelDeland · 10-10-2007, 08:03 PM

Here's a tip I tend to use.My jackstands are stored on top of my floorjack.If I need the jack I have to move the stands to use it.I might as well use them since I have them in my hand.I do the shake it like it's offroadin' test and leave the jack just an inch or so below the appropriate part of the truck.Centersection of rearend or front crossmember.In the valve closed position.I've been accused of overkill but I figure it's better than being underkill.

xshadow · 10-10-2007, 08:17 PM

sorry about your loss. I went to school with a girl who's father was welding under a car. something caught on fire, that caught him on fire. I can't remember but I think it had to do with gas....anyway he put himself out with a nearby hose, but still died from the burns.

My uncle was welding under his '64truck...maybe floorpans, If i remember right he didn't like how the floorpans turned out so he was redoing it... he still had his freshly reupholsterd seat the truck. while under the truck the seat caught fire. He was able to put it out. He did loose a nice seat and had to redo the inside of his truck and repaint....he was just finishing his rebuild.

ChevLoRay · 10-10-2007, 08:41 PM

Jodie, thanks for the reminder. All too often, we take things for granted, as in "It'll only take a minute". But that's the key.....take a minute and look at what you're going to be doing and think about where you will be placing your body. We had a "Take Two" safety program where I used to work before retiring. It's a good phrase to use here, too.

So, Take Two minutes and make sure your equipment is up to par and that you use it safely. Screwdrivers are NOT chisels....Hydraulic floor jacks have wheels and they.....ROLL!! Is the floor level, or are you on a driveway with a "slight" incline? Are the pins properly in place in your stands or the cam locks in the ratchet on your stands? If you have to pick up one side "just a little" to get a stand under it.....you know the vehicle will rock and that it could roll, too. So, Take Two....and you can still call someone to talk about it when you're done.

**jerry moss** · 10-10-2007, 09:34 PM

Sorry For Your Nephew's Loss, Everyone Take A Lesson Here--be Extra Safe.

IAFF2407 · 10-10-2007, 11:32 PM

Jodie, sorry for your nephew's loss. I have been on the rescue end of it at least half a dozen times. It is something I always stress to my kids that safety comes first. Accidents happen in a blink of an eye and usually when we are in a rush or stressed.

again, sorry for your loss

Jim_PA · 10-11-2007, 12:51 AM

When I was about 17, I had my car rock backwards on whatever blocks I was using. Fortunately, the garage door was down, and the car was only about 6 inches from the door.... So, the car rocked back, hit the garage door, and stopped. I don't know for sure that I would have been crushed that day had the door been open, but I gained a whole new respect for suspending a 3700lb car in the air the right way.

Bishops Trucks · 10-11-2007, 01:31 AM

I'm sorry to hear that. I always take the time to make sure it is safe to get under one of my vehicles when it is in the air.

**special-K** · 10-11-2007, 06:23 AM

That`s a terrible thing to happen.No injuries and I know life is more precious than tools,but I have a twisted floor jack in my junk pile from lending it and they had a vehicle fall off of it.

10-10-2007, 11:52 AM	#1
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	Always Remember To Be Safe!! Just a reminder. Somtimes we get in such a hurry to get things done we forget about being safe. My Nephew-in-laws father was killed this past week while working on his truck. He had it up on a jack with no stands and no blocks behind the wheels. It rolled and crushed him to death. He was only in his early 50s. Our lives are too important !! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4

10-10-2007, 11:55 AM	#2
BB72CHEVKT Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hideaway, TX Posts: 4,950	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! Very sorry to hear your news. I have seen a car fall on someone and it is not a pretty sight. I was about 17 or 18 years old and a few of us quickly picked the old 280z up off of him and he walked away. He was very lucky. __________________ 71 Suburban 350/700R4 Project Trixie 72 CHEVY,Highlander,SWB,396,T400

10-10-2007, 12:00 PM	#3
caminokid Chevy nut Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Springfield, Illinois Posts: 2,266	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! I had it happen to me. There was 4 of us under a 69 Ranchero trying to put a trans in...then it happened. My friends dad was there. Me had the wrecker sitting in front of it...hooked it and lifted. We all got out with scapes and bruises. He was real sorry he didnt let us use the wrecker after that. We had asked to use it to just lift up the front end. Sorry about your nephews lost. It has to be hard on his wife family. __________________ 84 Chevy Custom Deluxe 1/2 Ton Named Fade To Black II "Remember kids there is NO replacement for displacement!"

10-10-2007, 12:12 PM	#4
sick69 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: colorado springs colorado Posts: 737	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! I'm sorry to hear that! We all get the thought "It won't happen to me I know what i'm doing" at one time or another. But the simple fact is it can happen to anyone,,,,,,rookie or the most experienced builder,,,,,,,,ANYONE. Thanks for the reminder! Frank __________________ 70 chevy lwb c10 454/th400 and a 9" rearend suicide doors, marker light fuel fill, 4" cowl , mini tub Last edited by sick69; 10-10-2007 at 12:13 PM.

10-10-2007, 02:14 PM	#5
Alvin Never Done? Join Date: May 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,435	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! Great reminder! Just yesterday a friend laughed at me for having 4 jackstands under my mom's grand am while we changed the gas tank. I figured over-doing it was just about right if I was going to be wrestling with a gas tank under there for any amount of time. edit - we only had the back of the car lifted up A few minutes getting your vehicle safe to work on, can save lots of time in the hospital or what has happened in this sad story. My thoughts go out to his family! __________________ Ethel - The Legend Continues... Ethel has been sold. Last edited by Alvin; 10-10-2007 at 02:15 PM.

10-10-2007, 03:36 PM	#6
SactoJim Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,970	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! Good advice! I know I'm guilty of throwing the floor jack under many a vehicle just to check something quick......I've heard a number of these kinds of stories over the years and now I always think "safety first"! Sorry for your loss. __________________ 72 Cheyenne SWB Fleet Nut & bolt frame off in progress...99.9999% - supercharged 383 - 4 wheel discs - relocated fuel tank - My Build Thread

10-10-2007, 05:48 PM	#7
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,686	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! That is sad - definitely a good reminder to all to keep safety at the forefront of our thoughts when working on our vehicles. __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

10-10-2007, 05:53 PM	#8
Blazer1970 Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Old Mission, MI, USA Posts: 2,507	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! I have said it before and I will say it again. I always get it up on jack stands and then I grab the fender and shake the hell out of it before I am going under there. If you are not SURE, you are not safe. __________________ Tim

10-10-2007, 05:59 PM	#9
67mater Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mundelein, IL Posts: 862	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! Amen, I always rock the car back and forth to make sure, and I always use stands; takes 30 more seconds __________________ time is inversely proportional to money; that's why it takes me so long 1967 K10 1967 Camaro

10-10-2007, 07:39 PM	#10
jeffspower Well, Whoop-dee-do! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others Posts: 2,302	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! I've always done the shake it hard test also. Use stands, wood blocks, but NEVER concrete blocks or rims standing on edge. One day back in high school auto shop, I thought two guys were gonners. They had the front end of a mid- '70s Laguna on stands pulling the transmission. Class ended, and they were to the point of dropping the trans but didn't quite get it done. So they left the trans supported by the jack & the car on stands. Nothing wrong with that. Returning to class the next day, they went to lower the trans jack & drop the trans, and WHAM! The hole car came down, bouncing the front tires damn near off the ground and pinning them underneath. Some SOB in the following class the day before needed jackstands and took them! The little Blackhawk 1/2 ton tranny jack was holding up the whole car! It was unbelievable that they came out with minor scratches. Bottom line, make sure your stands don't dissapear __________________ '68 GMC shortbox 4x4 350/SM465/T221- bought it in '83 SOLD '72 K20 500 Cad/TH400/NP205 SOLD '92 Chevy 2500 6.5 mech TD 4L80E crusty daily driver '72 Monte Carlo... sweet low mile toy '11 Dodge Challenger IE 392 6spd... midlife car

10-10-2007, 07:46 PM	#11
69halfton Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: King City, Ontario, Canada Posts: 974	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! ...just last week i watched the floor jack slip off the 86 camaro we have in our shop class. nobody was under it...but it sure shows how heavy, and fast things happen, it was a good wake-up call, thats for sure. __________________ - Jason If you can turn, Youre not going fast enough. Favorite caption: first car to 200 mph in the 1/4 mile, no parachute, drum brakes all the way around.. ..back when men were men.

10-10-2007, 08:03 PM	#12
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! Here's a tip I tend to use.My jackstands are stored on top of my floorjack.If I need the jack I have to move the stands to use it.I might as well use them since I have them in my hand.I do the shake it like it's offroadin' test and leave the jack just an inch or so below the appropriate part of the truck.Centersection of rearend or front crossmember.In the valve closed position.I've been accused of overkill but I figure it's better than being underkill. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

10-10-2007, 08:17 PM	#13
xshadow Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: va Posts: 553	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! sorry about your loss. I went to school with a girl who's father was welding under a car. something caught on fire, that caught him on fire. I can't remember but I think it had to do with gas....anyway he put himself out with a nearby hose, but still died from the burns. My uncle was welding under his '64truck...maybe floorpans, If i remember right he didn't like how the floorpans turned out so he was redoing it... he still had his freshly reupholsterd seat the truck. while under the truck the seat caught fire. He was able to put it out. He did loose a nice seat and had to redo the inside of his truck and repaint....he was just finishing his rebuild.

10-10-2007, 08:41 PM	#14
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! Jodie, thanks for the reminder. All too often, we take things for granted, as in "It'll only take a minute". But that's the key.....take a minute and look at what you're going to be doing and think about where you will be placing your body. We had a "Take Two" safety program where I used to work before retiring. It's a good phrase to use here, too. So, Take Two minutes and make sure your equipment is up to par and that you use it safely. Screwdrivers are NOT chisels....Hydraulic floor jacks have wheels and they.....ROLL!! Is the floor level, or are you on a driveway with a "slight" incline? Are the pins properly in place in your stands or the cam locks in the ratchet on your stands? If you have to pick up one side "just a little" to get a stand under it.....you know the vehicle will rock and that it could roll, too. So, Take Two....and you can still call someone to talk about it when you're done. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

10-10-2007, 09:34 PM	#15
jerry moss Born Psycho Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: brentwood,cal,usa Posts: 4,936	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! Sorry For Your Nephew's Loss, Everyone Take A Lesson Here--be Extra Safe. __________________ jerry moss 72 cheyenne super K20- tilt,tach,vacuum,speedwarning,buckets,shoulder belts,am/fm,tow hooks,bumper guards,toolbox,aux. fuel tank,posi front and rear,plus other goodies!!! SOLD 69 suburban K20-tilt,tach,vacuum,speedwarning,buckets,shoulder belts,am/fm,4 inch all spring lift,4 speed, 14 bolt full floater, dana 44 HD,warn winch,posi front and rear,tow hooks,plus other goodies. 73/80 chevy/gmc K20 SB400,turbo 400,205,tilt,a-c,gas hog. 77 K/5 cheyenne blazer-daily driver/beater. SON HAS IT NOW BRENTWOOD,CALIFORNIA



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10-10-2007, 11:32 PM	#16
IAFF2407 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: White Rock Canada Posts: 865	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! Jodie, sorry for your nephew's loss. I have been on the rescue end of it at least half a dozen times. It is something I always stress to my kids that safety comes first. Accidents happen in a blink of an eye and usually when we are in a rush or stressed. again, sorry for your loss __________________ 1972 GMC Sierra 1972 GMC Super Custom Suburban

10-11-2007, 12:51 AM	#17
Jim_PA Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: PA Posts: 2,696	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! When I was about 17, I had my car rock backwards on whatever blocks I was using. Fortunately, the garage door was down, and the car was only about 6 inches from the door.... So, the car rocked back, hit the garage door, and stopped. I don't know for sure that I would have been crushed that day had the door been open, but I gained a whole new respect for suspending a 3700lb car in the air the right way.

10-11-2007, 01:31 AM	#18
Bishops Trucks KEEP ON TRUCKIN' Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sterling, Va. Posts: 5,730	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! I'm sorry to hear that. I always take the time to make sure it is safe to get under one of my vehicles when it is in the air. __________________ JIM '97 GMC Sierra K1500 '95 Chevy Silverado C1500 '71 Cheyenne Z71 / LT1 & 4-Speed SWB K/10 Father/Son Project http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l689JKXPnA http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/payments.php "LIVIN' FREE FOREVER"

10-11-2007, 06:23 AM	#19
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Always Remember To Be Safe!! That`s a terrible thing to happen.No injuries and I know life is more precious than tools,but I have a twisted floor jack in my junk pile from lending it and they had a vehicle fall off of it. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

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