How to use car jacks with safety
kevin McClintock GateHouse Plus

Every new tire comes with a pre-installed jack deep down inside the trunk. It's also a fact, jack, that the mechanical jack is one of the more common ways people injure or even kill themselves when going about changing a tire.

So while we all know how a jack works, do we know how to use one safely?

Injuries are caused when a vehicle slides off a jack, either at home, at the office or worst of all, at the side of the road. Some of the reasons why this may happen includes:

• Failure to apply the hand break on the vehicle.

• Failure to leave the vehicle in gear.

• Incorrect use of the jack. • Use of an inappropriate jack.

• Uneven terrain.

To avoid accidents, it's always best to read the instructions that come with the jack and to follow the instructions to the very letter.

Here are some safety tips: • It's a very bad idea to stand in the road while using your jack, however sometimes it is unavoidable. If you must do this be sure to light your workspace as much as possible so on-coming traffic can see you. Flares and reflectors are best for this if available. Try to have someone standing beside you facing the traffic and directing it clear if needed.

• Always work on a flat, solid surface. Most jacks do not function safely on uneven or soft surfaces.

• Be sure no one remains in the vehicle. The smallest shake can unsettle the jack. Remove any heavy loads from inside the vehicle.

• Apply the handbrake and leave your vehicle in gear.

• Never place any part of your body beneath the vehicle, particularly your head or chest.

• Never raise the vehicle any higher than necessary.

• Always keep an eye on the jack to see if it's holding steady. If it looks to be slipping or moving in any way, get away from the vehicle immediately.