When working on cars at your home or at a workshop, remember that safety is the number one priority for yourself and for others. Around 120 Australians have died as a result of do it yourself (DIY) car maintenance accidents since 2000, while many hundreds have been hospitalised due to injuries.
Research shows most fatalities happen when the victims are working under a vehicle and using equipment incorrectly, with many of the fatalities involving the use of vehicle jacks. Most of the fatalities were men and involved the vehicle being lifted or supported in the wrong way. Most victims were aged 40 to 49.
Injuries range from amputation to fractures and crush injuries. Know the risks and protect yourself, your friends, family and workmates.
Safety tips
- Never get under a car that is only supported by a jack.
- When working under your car, use a trolley jack to lift the car before lowering it onto vehicle support stands. Use vehicle support stands on a hard surface before working under your car.
- Never place any part of your body under a vehicle unless it is sitting securely on support stands or ramps.
- Never allow a person or pet to remain in the vehicle while it is being jacked.
- Never exceed the weight capacity of the jack.
- Always perform vehicle maintenance on steady ground, not on sand or a sloped surface.
- Never use makeshift support stands such as blocks of wood or bricks.
- Apply the handbrake in accordance with safety instructions.
- Always 'chock' the wheels on a raised vehicle.
- Follow product instructions and report faulty products.
Widow urges caution with DIY car repairs
We conducted an interview with Robinette Emonson whose husband tragically died after being crushed by his car while working in his garage.
Video transcript
ROBINETTE: I'm Robinette and I'm here to talk to you about garage safety and my experiences.
My late husband was a car mad man. From the time he grew up on the farm in Swan Hill, where his first car was a bush-basher. Bob's last car was a 1967 MGB Mark II. He had to make a choice of the MG or me, back when we first got married. So he finally got his MG, might have been 46 years later but...
Bob was very knowledgeable when it came to working around and under cars. He was working under his car, the car was on ramps, but the car rolled off the ramps and he was trapped underneath it. I got that dreaded phone call and the rest is history really. So from that moment, my life and the life of my children, changed dramatically.
I would hate to think that this could happen to anybody else. This is not a rarity, this happens more often than people could possibly imagine. It can happen to anybody. I'm making a plea to you, make Bob's legacy the fact that you, have taken an extra few minutes not to rush and to take your time and you've been careful. It's your life and it's the life of your family and your children and your grandchildren.
Sitting at home alone, it's awful. Nobody to talk to and I miss having a hug. Miss that a lot!
NARRATOR: Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.
DIY car repair safety
The ACCC has produced a new video explaining the correct procedure for common DIY car maintenance tasks to help car enthusiasts safely repair their vehicles.
Video transcript
VISION: Soledad stands in his garage next to his car.
SOLEDAD: I'm Soledad. This is my EH Holden. And I've done all my own repairs on this car.
On average five deaths and 160 injuries are associated with DIY repair each year. And these are preventable. So, I'm going to show you the correct way to lift and support your vehicle for DIY repairs.
First, you need the right tools for the job. Jacks, stands, and ramps all have a different purpose which I'll take you through.
TEXT: Dot points reading 'jacks, stands, ramps'
SOLEDAD: Your car will most likely come with a specific vehicle jack. Usually, in the boot. Remember, it's only designed for changing tyres and must never be used to get under your car.
TEXT: SAFETY TIP: Never get under your car using only a jack
SOLEDAD: If you do need to get under your car buy a good quality jack that's rated to lift the weight of your car and a pair of good quality support stands or ramps. Make sure all this equipment meets the mandatory safety standards.
VISION: An assortment of ramps, jacks and stands, all labelled. Text on screen reads 'Check the label for compliance with Australian standard AS: 2615:2016'
SOLEDAD: Always work on a hard flat surface, preferably concrete. Working on the lawn isn't safe.
TEXT: SAFETY TIP: Always work on a hard, flat surface
SOLEDAD: The surface needs to support the entire weight of your car. And you don't want to risk it.
TEXT: SAFETY TIP: Check your owners manual for your vehicle weight
VISION: A step by step process for lifting the car plays with Soledad's voice over.
SOLEDAD: Put your car in park and apply the handbrake. Place chocks behind all the unlifted wheels and locate the lifting points on your vehicle. If you're unsure where they are check the owner's manual. Then you can start to jack your car.
Check the safety warning labels on your equipment. These can provide you with valuable information on their correct use. Importantly, never get under a vehicle supported only by a jack.
TEXT: SAFETY TIP: Never get under your car using only a jack
SOLEDAD: This can be fatal. Never use bricks, blocks, or wood in place of good quality stands. Some DIY videos will suggest making your own as a cheap option. But you'll be risking your life for the sake of 80 bucks. They're a good investment.
Once you've raise the car slide your support stands into place and slowly lower that car onto them. It's a good idea to give the car a bit of a push and a shake just to make sure it's stable. If you're using vehicle ramps check their rated capacity specifications and again, compliance with safety standards.
TEXT: Check rated capacity; specifications; Australian Standard AS: 2640:2016.
SOLEDAD: Always use two ramps. These should be in line with the wheels, with the steering wheel straight drive slowly up the centre of the ramps.
Use a spotter if you can. The spotter should be away from the path of the car. As a rule of thumb, the spotter should be on the driver side, one car width away and one car length in front So they can still see the alignment of the ramps and wheels, but are safe if the ramps move or if the vehicle slides off one or both of the ramps.
Once at the top put the car in park and place chocks behind the unlifted wheels. Being able to lift your car the correct way is essential for any DIY car owner.
If you're unsure take your car to a professional and check the product safety Australia website for further information.
VISION: ACCC logo appears on screen with text: productsafety.gov.au/DIYcarsafety
NARRATOR: Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.