If you own an auto body shop, you likely know the importance of jacks. These devices allow a wide range of vehicles to be lifted for repair purposes. From collisions to recalls, there are many reasons someone might need to have their respective vehicles worked on. In fact, statistics show that over 390 million vehicles have been recalled throughout the United States since the year 1996. Considering that, much of the work conducted in an auto body shop involves being underneath a vehicle. This usually requires the help of a jack device. With that in mind, here are five important safety tips to follow while using a floor jack.
- Start with a Reliable Product
Statistics show that the average national cost to repair a vehicle is $356.04. Considering this number, your business can potentially bring in a lot of potential revenue. However, this is hard to achieve when you’re not using quality floor jacks. One of the most important safety tips to take before using a floor jack is ensuring you’re using a quality product. Many body shops prefer to use an AC hydraulic DK13HLQ floor jack. You’ll find that the AC hydraulic DK13HLQ floor jack features the ability to provide long reach while being great for those vehicles with extremely low clearance. No matter which type of floor jack you’re using, make sure that it’s a quality product. Using a cheap or low quality floor jack could become a very dangerous choice. - Ensure Weight Ratings Match Properly
Next, it’s wise to ensure that the weight rating of your jack is able to support the vehicle you’re working on. It’s wise to check these numbers before any repair work begins. If the vehicle your working on is too heavy for the floor jack you have, it could cause the car to suddenly slam towards the ground. Surveys have estimated that tools used in the workplace cause nearly 400,000 annual visits to the emergency room. Needless to say, a moving floor jack is not something you want to deal with while under a lifted vehicle. - Use a Floor Jack Only on Flat Surfaces
After finding the proper points on a vehicle for lifting purposes, it’s easy to want to place the jack down and get working. However, you’ll want to make sure you take a few minutes to place the jack on an even surface. Check nearby surfaces for even the slightest signs of unevenness. If the surface isn’t perfectly even, move the next to another location. It’s imperative that a jack is placed on a stable surface. If not, one small push could topple the floor jack over which creates a disastrous situation. - Raise a Vehicle’s Emergency Brake Before Lifting
Another important safety tip is to ensure a vehicle’s parking brake is engaged before it is lifted. Not remembering to raise the parking brake could cause the wheels on a vehicle to roll. It only takes one slight roll for the vehicle you’re working on to lose support from a floor jack. In addition, this could cause the automobile to roll out of the shop. Therefore, always remember to check that a parking brake is engaged before lifting an automobile off of the ground. - Keep Everyone Back While Lowering Vehicle
Once work on a vehicle is complete, it’s time to lower it down. Certain jacks lower too fast which can be dangerous. That being said, the AC hydraulic DK13HLQ floor jack is known to lower slowly and easily. This is a major help if you work in an auto body shop with many others around you. Regardless of which floor jack you’re using, ensure that anyone around you clearly hears and acknowledges that you’re about to lower an automobile before it happens.
In closing, there are several important tips to follow while using a floor safety jack. It’s always important to begin any auto body repair with quality equipment. Many body shops prefer working with tool distributors to find OEM tools. An OEM tool cart can work well for keeping tools handy while an AC hydraulic DK13HLQ floor jack has a vehicle raised. Whether you prefer an OEM tool box or cart, these containers work well for keeping your tools safe and secure.