I've been tied up the last couple of days.
My cousin's husband was seriously injured while working on his Excursion. He's a welder and uses his truck for work. It's fully loaded with over 1000 lbs. of equipment. While attempting to repair an exhaust manifold leak, he was lying underneath the vehicle with his legs straddling either side of the front passenger wheel. He needed to gain access to the piping so he disconnected the driveshaft. Unfortunately, he had a mental lapse and forgot that the rear wheels were only locked because the driveshaft was holding them in place. When he broke the connection, the rear wheels were free to spin causing the truck to roll. The tire rolled over his right thigh, across his crotch , and stopped on his lower abdomen. My cousin, hearing his screams, ran outside with her two small children to find him. She managed to back her truck into the Ford, and push it off of her husband. Because the truck's driveshaft was loose, it grabbed his head, shoving it into the transmission tunnel. She had to jack up the rig to free him. He managed to crawl out and pass out on the lawn.
Long story short, he is expected to live but has severe injuries. Crushed pelvis, broken leg, ribs, severe lacerations on his face, back, hip, and thigh, and possible internal bleeding as of this time. Amazingly, the truck stopped partially because of his mass (he's about 6' 5'', 245) and his right steel toed boot getting wedged under the tire when it rolled.
Lesson learned...he's been a machinist/mechanic for over twenty years. He thought everything was "planned out" but he grew complacent over the years and failed to use suitable wheel chocks on all four corners (no, bricks will not hold a nearly 7,500 lb. vehicle) Being a Safety Engineer myself, I too have to remind myself to practice what I preach. You need to plan two steps ahead, especially in situations where one slip of a jack or chock could mean you life. ALWAYS use a backup to the primary, at least it will give you a few extra seconds should something give way. I've started (about a couple of years ago) using jack stands AND a floor jack when working under my vehicle. If the stands shift, the jack will hold until I can wiggle out.
Luckily, this story "should" have a happy ending. But only because people where in the right place at the right time. I know I rarely am in calling distance for help should somethin like this happen to me. Maybe now, I'll start to rethink the process.
Stay safe folks...it only takes one "brain fart" to do you in for good.
My cousin's husband was seriously injured while working on his Excursion. He's a welder and uses his truck for work. It's fully loaded with over 1000 lbs. of equipment. While attempting to repair an exhaust manifold leak, he was lying underneath the vehicle with his legs straddling either side of the front passenger wheel. He needed to gain access to the piping so he disconnected the driveshaft. Unfortunately, he had a mental lapse and forgot that the rear wheels were only locked because the driveshaft was holding them in place. When he broke the connection, the rear wheels were free to spin causing the truck to roll. The tire rolled over his right thigh, across his crotch , and stopped on his lower abdomen. My cousin, hearing his screams, ran outside with her two small children to find him. She managed to back her truck into the Ford, and push it off of her husband. Because the truck's driveshaft was loose, it grabbed his head, shoving it into the transmission tunnel. She had to jack up the rig to free him. He managed to crawl out and pass out on the lawn.
Long story short, he is expected to live but has severe injuries. Crushed pelvis, broken leg, ribs, severe lacerations on his face, back, hip, and thigh, and possible internal bleeding as of this time. Amazingly, the truck stopped partially because of his mass (he's about 6' 5'', 245) and his right steel toed boot getting wedged under the tire when it rolled.
Lesson learned...he's been a machinist/mechanic for over twenty years. He thought everything was "planned out" but he grew complacent over the years and failed to use suitable wheel chocks on all four corners (no, bricks will not hold a nearly 7,500 lb. vehicle) Being a Safety Engineer myself, I too have to remind myself to practice what I preach. You need to plan two steps ahead, especially in situations where one slip of a jack or chock could mean you life. ALWAYS use a backup to the primary, at least it will give you a few extra seconds should something give way. I've started (about a couple of years ago) using jack stands AND a floor jack when working under my vehicle. If the stands shift, the jack will hold until I can wiggle out.
Luckily, this story "should" have a happy ending. But only because people where in the right place at the right time. I know I rarely am in calling distance for help should somethin like this happen to me. Maybe now, I'll start to rethink the process.
Stay safe folks...it only takes one "brain fart" to do you in for good.
,SLP~Shorty headers, LoudMouth, Air Foil, LineLocks. Catco Cat. Hypertech 160. TB Bypass. MSD~8.5mm. Walbro 255lph. FT MAF ends. LT4KM. BMR~Adj LCA's, Rear sway, Panhard rod. HAL QA1 rear shocks. Random Tech adj TQ arm. Nitto NT555R's. Covered in Zaino. 13.466@103.85 N/A.
13.410 @ 102.66 11/20/05]
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