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What should I do when servicing vehicles?
What are some things I should avoid while servicing vehicles?
What should I do when servicing vehicles?- Look completely around and under vehicle and check for brake pedal pressure before moving the vehicle.
- Have all bystanders stay in a safe area until the driver has stopped the vehicle.
- Move vehicles at a low speed and in low gear – especially up and down ramps.
- Use a guide when moving the vehicle in reverse, near blind corners or narrow areas.
- Park on a level, hard surface to make repairs.
- Chock and block the wheels to prevent movement during servicing.
- Disconnect battery and discharge any capacitors before starting to work on vehicle.
- Secure the trunk and hood to prevent them from falling on you when you are working underneath them.
- Inspect a running engine with extreme caution. Avoid contact with fan blades and belts.
- Only do work or repairs on a cool engine. Hot metal and fluids will cause burns.
- Avoid working around hot equipment such as exhaust pipes and manifolds. If such work is absolutely necessary, cover the hot equipment with some insulating protection to prevent getting burned.
- Always wear eye protection when working on a vehicle or when using power tools.
- Store the keys in a secure place when the vehicle is not in use or not attended.
What are some things I should avoid while servicing vehicles?- Do not use tools or service equipment without proper training.
- Do not allow smoking, open flames, or other sources of ignition in areas used for fueling or servicing fuel systems. Warn others before servicing a fuel system.
- Do not wear loose clothing or jewellery near moving parts or machinery (engine, tools, etc.). Tie long hair back.
- Do not walk between a moving vehicle and a stationary object such as another vehicle or a wall.
- Do not hold open a fuel nozzle with fuel caps or other objects. Use only approved latches supplied by the nozzle manufacturer to hold open an automatic nozzle.
- Do not stretch or pull on a hose with small loops in it. The hose can kink and break.
- Do not rely on jacks, hoists or hydraulic cylinders to hold the vehicle. Support equipment on proper size blocks or stands.
- Do not use compressed air to remove dust from equipment, work surfaces, or from clothing.
- Do not put hands near the cooling fan. Even when the ignition is off, many vehicles will still engage the fan until the coolant is cold.
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Document last updated on December 1, 2009
Copyright ©1997-2012 Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety
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