- Do keep a fire extinguisher and first aid kit within easy reach.
- Do wear safety glasses or safety goggles when cutting, drilling, grinding
or prying. If you wear glasses for the sake of vision, wear safety goggles
over your regular glasses.
- Do shield your eyes whenever you work around the battery. Batteries contain
sulfuric acid. In case of contact with the eyes or skin, flush the area
with water or a mixture of water and baking soda, then immediately get medical
attention.
- Do use safety stands for any under-truck service. Jacks are for raising
vehicles; Jackstands are for making sure the vehicle stays raised until
you want it to come down. Whenever the vehicle is raised, block the wheels
remaining on the ground and set the parking brake.
- Do use adequate ventilation when working with any chemicals. Asbestos
dust resulting from some brake lining wear causes cancer.
- Do disconnect the negative battery cable when working on the electrical
or fuel system.
- Do follow manufacturer's directions whenever working with potentially
hazardous materials. Both brake fluid and most types of antifreeze are poisonous
if taken internally.
- Do properly maintain your tools. Loose hammerheads, mushroomed punches
and chisels, frayed or poorly grounded electrical cords, excessively worn
screwdrivers, spread wrenches (open end), cracked sockets, slipping ratchets,
or faulty droplight sockets can cause accidents.
- Do use the proper size and type of tool for the job at hand.
- Do when possible, pull on a wrench handle rather than push on it, and
adjust your stance to prevent a fall.
- Do be sure that adjustable wrenches are tightly adjusted on the nut or
bolt and pulled so that the force is on the side of the fixed jaw.
- Do select a wrench or socket that fits the nut or bolt. The wrench or
socket should sit straight, not cocked.
- Do strike squarely with a hammer. Avoid glancing blows.
- Do set the parking brake and block the wheels if work requires that the
engine be running.