[flynbrian48]

This morning I read an awful thing here, it's bothered me all day. A gentleman posted in a thread started by "Carguy68", which was a fairly recent thread, from a week or so ago. It was by his son, who related that his dad was killed working on the Hudson Espress Pickup when it fell on him and killed him. He had just gotten the car, just found this site, just started working on it.

There were the usual condolances, and I added mine. One struck me, loosely quoted, "He died doing what he loved". The sentiment I'm sure was heartfelt, but it's cold comfort to the family and friends of this guy. The irony and tragedy of this story has bothered me all day, and I feel that I need to do something to make this mans death (whom I never met and don't know, but do remember reading the thread when he started it) mean something to us here.

I've been notoriously careless in the past at times working in the shop, as I'm sure all of us have been as well. Please, Please, PLEASE think of this situation when working around or under your cars. Think about the worst that could possibly happen, and plan for that, don't assume it can't happen, because, obviously, it can.

I don't want to read of another needless death or serious injury on this or any other message board, and I don't want someone in my family to find me dead under a car, or end up maimed because of some preventable accident.

Be careful, be smart, be safe. This is supposed to be fun.

Brian

I also posted a similar thread on the HAMB board. Not to be morbid, but I feel this is important and want to do something to prevent a similar thing from happening.

[poncho62]

Thanks for the post Brian...I was not aware of the other thread until I read it here........It sure hits home.....Too many times I have slid under a car not supported properly.......Makes you think

[techinspector1]

The old fellow who lives across the street from me has very little experience working on cars. I just happened to glance across one day and saw him all humped up in the wheelwell of his van, working on the brakes with only a bumper jack holding the whole mess up. And the jack was at the top of its travel. Needless to say, I freaked and grabbed the handle of my floor jack, pulling it over there at a trot. I placed the jack and a couple of my jackstands under the van appropriately and jokingly told him that he is too young to die. He laughed and thanked me. Could have been ugly. Be careful.

[Scotto]

Always, always use jack stands at any time. The guy my brother got his old car from died the exact same way only 2 weeks after we talked with him. People do always need to consider any possibility when dealing with safety around cars.

[2-manytoyzs]

I had a close call when I was 15. The car was on the lawn on 2x4 blocks and fell off when I was installing a rear end. Learned my lesson early in my career. I ALWAYS use jack stands and put the old wheels and tires under the car for extra insurance. What a sad story about carguy68. Lets not repeat that.

[SSedan64]

I always try to work safely. My brother learned the hard way installing an auto trans in 76-T/A with a floorjack under the pan. I was 16 at the time and had to recover 2 of his 3 fingers he lost, then drive him the the ER.
The edge of a trans pan is sharp. Jack slipped out from under the trans and it came down on his hand then the 2X12's the jack was riding on.
Todd