MAINTENANCE

Meeting Notes of the May AOMC Delegates meeting

Guest Speakers:  Todd Owen, ACCC.  Topic: Staying Safe – DIY Vehicle Maintenance.
Todd started by pointing out the alarming statistic that 5 people are killed each year in Australia whilst carrying out do it yourself (DIY) maintenance, whilst hundreds more suffer serious injuries. Most affected are the 40 to 50 age group, followed by the 50 to 60 age group. Most deaths result from incorrect use of lifting equipment, or using unsafe alternatives such as bricks or wood blocks. Mandatory standards introduced in 1985 for trolley jacks, stands and ramps.

  • Never get under a car that is only supported by a jack,
  • Never exceed weight capacity of jack/stand or ramps,
  • Never use a tyre jack for anything other than changing a tyre.
  • Never allow another person or pet to remain in a vehicle while it is being lifted.
  • Do use a trolley jack to lift vehicle before lowering onto stands,
  • Do use a hard level surface,
  • Do always ‘chock’ the unlifted wheels,

 

 

Todd asked delegates to share this information with their clubs. A video on DIY safety and more information can be found by simply googling DIY Vehicle Safety

 

Robinette Emonson.  Robinette spoke of the loss of her husband Robert to a home garage accident. Bob owned a fully restored 1967 MGB which was kept in a garage and where he occasionally did those ‘little jobs’ which need doing on an older car. At the time of the accident I was not at home, so what I have to tell you comes from the brief police and Coroner’s report. The car had been driven onto ramps and a hydraulic jack raised the vehicle in three points.  The trolley jack was then knocked and fell to the side, the car falling down and crushing Bob below, causing asphyxiation. Robinette’s main point of her talk was to consider all the people that are left behind, and the consequences and what they have to go through when something like this happens.


Questions from the floor: 

Q   Any statistics available on whether incidents due to equipment failure or poor judgement.
A:  Nil equipment failure. Most due to human error. Also, it is usually a family member who finds the deceased or injured.