View Full Version : PSA: Use jack stands, dang it!
A guy from work was crushed to death this weekend by a vehicle he was working on. His son found him.
Not really clear on how it happened, if he was using jack stands, or if he was, if he tested stability prior to getting under; or, if he was using them on an unstable surface.
He had just retired from a 20 year Army career about a year and a half ago and was on his second career.
Either way, if you are getting under a vehicle, please, please, please be as safe as possible.
A quick job can become a quick problem.
I'm sorry to hear that. I've had a jack fail, and it's a scary situation.
Prayers for the family.
Thanks for sharing. This is a good reminder of having double or triple safe features.
Also always use wheel chocks no matter how safe you think it appears.
kidicarus13
12-05-2018, 17:07
This is a good reminder of having double or triple safety features.
Yes
Prayers sent for peace, I'm very sorry about your coworker.
Wow. Sad news. Sorry to hear it.
I knew two people who had something similar happen but were fortunate to avoid a fatality. Both of them suffered broken pelvises among other injuries.
Got to show respect for anything that could maim or kill you and always take every reasonable precaution.
Sorry to hear it.
A friend of mine not long after highschool was found dead on the side of the freeway crushed under his car. From what the authorities could gather something was going on with his driveshaft and he had the car up on a Jack and was under it when it probably rolled forward off the jack crushing him..
Was a great guy.
Sorry to hear it. I always get nervous when either hammering on something or having to use a lot of force to break something loose when on jacks/stands.
Very sorry to hear also. Avoidable accidents are always the toughest to swallow.
I always slide whatever wheels I have off under too even if I have stands set, something my old man taught me.
Seemed to stick with me.
I’ll even lower it onto stands , and reposition the jack somewhere else with slight pressure.
buffalobo
12-05-2018, 21:09
Very sorry to hear also. Avoidable accidents are always the toughest to swallow.
I always slide whatever wheels I have off under too even if I have stands set, something my old man taught me.
Seemed to stick with me.
I?ll even lower it onto stands , and reposition the jack somewhere else with slight pressure.
^^^This.
theGinsue
12-05-2018, 21:32
Very sorry to hear about your coworker. Absolutely horrid that his son had to find him as well.
Sorry to hear it. I always get nervous when either hammering on something or having to use a lot of force to break something loose when on jacks/stands.
I'm exactly the same way. Scares the heck out of me.
Very sorry to hear also. Avoidable accidents are always the toughest to swallow.
I always slide whatever wheels I have off under too even if I have stands set, something my old man taught me.
Seemed to stick with me.
I’ll even lower it onto stands , and reposition the jack somewhere else with slight pressure.
While I always remove the wheels from the immediate area I'm working in, I too tend to keep my floor jack under the vehicle and lower to just below where the jack stands catch the weight of the vehicle, just as an added measure of protection. And yes, tires always chalked.
My condolence.
Folks if you are going to push and pry use all of the above or get some crib blocks and park your car on them.
Condolences.
I'd also add that cinder blocks are not intended to be used as stands/crib blocks.
However, if you MUST, please stack them as they would be in a building with the holes vertical, cross hatch 2 wide if you need height, and always use a heavy board on top. Haven't seen it firsthand, but heard some horror stories of blocks getting crushed as well as the person under.
Oh, and ditto on chocking your wheels properly. Parking pawl alone isn't enough, e-brake if you don't need it off, and know which axle (or electronic) it actuates.
FWIW, my huge Craftsman jack has a POS valve and won't hold a load long, so I never ever work without stands, even for a minute.
Happened to someone else just a few months ago: http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?221445-A-CO4x4-member-has-passed-chester70
I like the idea of using 6"x6" blocks that some one was posting about a few weeks ago. Probably take up less space to toss under instead of the wheels.
GilpinGuy
12-05-2018, 23:51
We had a dude get crushed to death in high school by a car with no jack stands. That stuck with me ever since. It just takes a few seconds to be safe.
Sad for your friend/co worker.
I hate getting under anything that is lifted off the ground. Done it many times and still have issues with it. Too many variables.
StagLefty
12-06-2018, 08:43
Sorry about your friend !! Good reminder to do it right,my son gave me holy hell a few years ago when he saw I didn't use jack stands.
encorehunter
12-06-2018, 11:02
I had this happen to me a few weeks ago. I was replacing the changing the airbags to coils on my wifes GX470, I had two jack stand under the frame, a third set off to the side and the jack under the receiver hitch. The wheels were chocked, I thought I was safe. Some how, the whole car went sideways landing on top of me. Thank goodness I left the tires on or I wouldnt be here. The wife came out a couple minutes after it happened while I was still under the car. Talk about a helpless feeling. I was able to inch my way out from under it. I used cribbing to finish the job. The tird jack stand caught the running board, and I think that is what helped keep it from crushing me. It still gave me a heck of a chest compression. Not only have jack stands, but if possible, have someone there with you, NOT under the vehicle.
Snowman78
12-06-2018, 11:29
^ WOW, that is scary
Very sorry to hear also. Avoidable accidents are always the toughest to swallow.
I always slide whatever wheels I have off under too even if I have stands set, something my old man taught me.
Seemed to stick with me.
I?ll even lower it onto stands , and reposition the jack somewhere else with slight pressure.
That's a good 'belt and suspenders' approach.
The buddy system is also good insurance.
Do you guys rock your vehicle once it's up on stands? I don't have that nice of vehicles so I usually kick mine a few times.
Do you guys rock your vehicle once it's up on stands? I don't have that nice of vehicles so I usually kick mine a few times.
A buddy of mine will give it a few good kicks/shoves from different angles to test before he crawls under.
It's not just being under the vehicle totally either. Even just a simple brake change and the rotor coming down on a leg is bad news.
I would encourage all to look up Col. Mike Mullane's presentation on the "Normalization of Deviance" on YouTube.
DavieD55
12-06-2018, 18:02
Sorry to hear this. Always use jackstands and always have a person or two there to assist you just incase something goes wrong.
I use the wheel chocks, vehicle weight on stands, jack still in position with some weight. Try not to be completely under vehicle.
In high school in '73, my Chevelle fell on me. I was using cinder blocks for jack stands and they crushed. I was lucky though, the block on the side I was under only crushed halfway and held the car up enough for me to slide out.
I can still remember the feeling of the crossmember smashing me in the face. Smashed the right lens of my glasses into my face, I have a bitchin' scar around my right eye.
So now, I have a monster 3 ton floor jack and the best damn jack stands I could find. Still gives me the willies to get under a vehicle.
Sad for your friend/co worker.
I hate getting under anything that is lifted off the ground. Done it many times and still have issues with it. Too many variables.
Same here. I work on my own vehicles (asian,us to euros) and I still dont feel 100% comfortable under the vehicle even with extra safety features as a backup.
I try not to spend time under the vehicle when it is not necessary.
For that, I might invest in low profile mechanic roller thing.
Jeffrey Lebowski
12-07-2018, 06:50
It's not just being under the vehicle totally either. Even just a simple brake change and the rotor coming down on a leg is bad news.
I’ll confess to the stupidity of this. I don’t even recall why, but I had to pull one wheel off a TJ once and it rolled onto my thigh. My leg was pinned under it (I was kneeling). It wasn’t really painful per se (although heavy), but I was definitely stuck. No cell phone on me. After a while, started yelling for my wife, and my neighbor across the street (who also wheeled a TJ) helped get me out. More embarrasing than anything.
Great reminder here and very timely for me as my Factory Five kit is shipping right now. As with a lot of things, it is easy to get complacent. It is unfortunate that the reminders come after a tragedy.
thedave1164
12-07-2018, 20:09
Working on cars is dangerous like many other activities.
Jack stands, jack still in place.
I replaced a 3/4ton ford 4 speed manual tranny myself with out a transmission jack, it was all good until got the tranny input shaft out of the pilot bearing, then I ended up with the whole thing on my chest.
Not_A_Llama
12-08-2018, 12:16
Anyone have experience with in-home lifts? Been tempted... https://www.amazon.com/TRIUMPH-NT-9-9000Lbs-Floor-Plate/dp/B00QHEUULM
I've got a buddy that has had a few. Recently helped him stand up his latest one which is a two post like the one you posted.
SideShow Bob
12-08-2018, 12:35
I've got a buddy that has had a few. Recently helped him stand up his latest one which is a two post like the one you posted.
Don?t use the ?drop in anchors? on these, cut the concrete and pour in a proper foundation with full length anchor bolts. The you tube videos of failed lifts like these look as though they were not anchored properly.
That's a good tip. Buddy had his garage custom built with thicker areas in the pad from the get go with the intention of putting in a lift later on.
my wifes GX470
Off topic:
Let me know if you are in the market for a new floormats
Dark brown.
encorehunter
12-08-2018, 20:47
Off topic:
Let me know if you are in the market for a new floormats
Dark brown.
I think she is more in the market for an escalade esv. Lol
Anyone have experience with in-home lifts? Been tempted... https://www.amazon.com/TRIUMPH-NT-9-9000Lbs-Floor-Plate/dp/B00QHEUULM
A lift for only $1795? That just SOUNDS scary.....
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.