The Auto Shop Safety Quiz

Four jackstands - one at each corner of the frame - are placed underneath the car while it's raised. This ensures it's supported and doesn't fall on the mechanic.

It's OK to be near the vehicle while its moving into the service bay so long as you're not in front. This can potentially lead to serious injury.

Exits and stairwells should never be blocked. If there's an emergency, workers and customers have nowhere to go.

Safety googles prevent any debris or foreign objects in the car's underbelly from falling into the mechanic's eyes. A mechanic needs to see what they're working on to make sure all goes well for the customer.

A grinder should always be firmly attached to the work bench. This ensures it doesn't move or jiggle during a job.

A wire brush is designed to get rid of oxidized rubber and dried soap solution safely. Other tools were not specifically built for this task.

Checking both sides of the tire is the only way to ensure that the beads are even with each other. Doing only one side will not give you an appropriate idea of where the beads stand and could lead to trouble on the road.

Rugs and mats that don't lie flat should be straightened out or removed to prevent trips and falls. This helps to avoid injuries.

Safety and danger signs are not decorations. They should always be obeyed.

If an object is high up, you'll need a ladder. Place it firmly on the ground and careful walk up. Never place it on an unstable surface.

The bed of a pickup truck does not contain seat belts. Therefore, riding in it is unsafe.

One should use a 3-point contact involving either one foot and both hands or both feet and one hand. This lets others know that they're exiting or entering a vehicle.

In an auto shop, the environment is unpredictable. Therefore, to ensure safety at all times, one should always be wearing a seat belt while inside a moving vehicle.

Honk the horn to let all nearby employees know that you're backing the vehicle up. This lets them know to steer clear.

All three should be done to get the attention of both employees and customers. This will let them know to steer clear of the entering vehicle.

All equipment in the bed of a truck should be tied or latched down at all times. This ensures that it won't move about and cause danger.

A vehicle should be going no faster than 5 mph when traveling into an auto shop. This speed is low enough to keep conditions safe and prevent injury to others.

The positive lock-down device is used to keep a wheel held by the tire machine. A moving wheel prevents a job from being done properly and can hurt others.

An air hose with an air pressure gauge is used to determine a tire's stability. Too much or too little pressure can damage a tire, and this tool allows you to be sure.

Putting the emergency brake on and chocking the wheels ensures that the car will stay in one place. If the vehicle moves on its own, people may be put in danger.

40 pounds is the maximum amount one can exert when seating the beads. Any more can lead to damage.

Wearing leather gloves is the best way to prevent injury to one's fingers when removing foreign objects from a tire. The leather is strong enough to keep foreign objects from damaging the skin.

Placing the tire in a horizontal position allows a mechanic to get a full view of the tire. Any other position or direction may affect the mechanic's sight pattern.

A wheel's narrow edge should always be facing up. This allows the mechanic to properly remove it from the vehicle.

Beads are always loosened from the rim flanges. This allows the inside of the wheel to be properly lubricated.

Using your hands and hips is the best way to ensure your body encompasses the tire. This will also give it the most support.

Pipes and makeshift bars do not have the strength to support wheels. Thus, they shouldn't be used for bead work.

The bottom bead should always go in first. This provides the proper support for the remaining beads.

Starting the tire changer allows one to remove the top bead. It's the first bead that should be removed in the tire changing process.

A changer hold-down cone is the proper tool for fastening a wheel to a changer. Such an item was built with this job in mind.

The axle hub should always be positioned at waist height. This ensures the mechanic has enough space to work while lessening the chances of injury.

The tire and wheel should always be facing you when being positioned on the floor. This way, you can be in a comfortable position when working on the vehicle.

All of these options should be carefully understood and followed when loading and unloading tires from a vehicle to ensure top-level safety. Not following one or all these steps may result in a rolling tire, which may lead to damage or injuries.

No tool with a mushroom head has any place in an auto shop or garage. They are dangerous, and can damage portions of the vehicle.

One should use a mechanical lift to raise a vehicle about one foot above the ground. This gives the mechanic enough space to work on its underside while being able to perform a close, hands-on evaluation without having to strain.