Workshop safety.
I was going to cover specialised fasteners, but that will have to wait to
another time.
Its probably worth covering safety in the workshop.
Some do’s and don’t’s.
Do have a couple of large CO2 extinguishers in the workshop.
Do have a fire blanket.
Don’t have any flammable fluids around if you are welding, heating,
grinding or even spinning the engine up on the starter with the leads
disconnected. (I know this one from personal experience).
Never work on a car without it being held up by something substantial,.
ie. Axle stands or ramps or whatever steel supports you have concocted,
most of all NO jack is safe…even the quicklifts we use in the paddock!
Don’t use grinders, drills, punches or anything that generates bits of
metal, glass fibre, carbon fibre or Aluminium without protecting your
eyes. You’ve only got one pair and it hurts like hell when you get something
in one.
Do use a low voltage lead light when working on the car, they are not
expensive now. Like many previously professional tools they have become
accessible to the likes of us in our home workshops.
Do protect your lungs if you are creating paint fumes or dust from
sanding. I know it can be a pain to wear goggles and a breathing mask but
think of what can happen if you don’t.
Do make sure you have a correctly wired feed to your workshop, and all
13amp plugs have the correct fuse in them.
If you are struggling to lift or move something, ask for help. Even the
strongest lads will suffer with a pulled back.
I know a lot of this is common sense but it is still worth thinking about, I
was talking to a guy last week who has been in the trade all his life yet he
almost lost half his hand when an angle grinder kicked back and sliced
through…well I’ll leave you to imagine the damage caused....if only he had
been wearing gloves??.