it doesn't say id he was using them or not but still a shocking reminder to be careful working under your cars

http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/..._as_car_collapses_on_top_of_him/?ref=mr&lp=13

RIP clacton man

Sad, but it happens a few times every year,

always best to take a "Belt + braces" approach..,

sure - it'll take a few more minutes to set-up before you're under the car swinging things up to high torque figures,
but you'll be safe in the knowledge it'll STAY up in the air until you've completed the job.

Oopps. Acts as a reminder to DIYers!

Living on a main road, this is why I wont work under my car - even on axle stands the car can rock as some vehicles pass it.

Never work under a car that is solely supported by a set of axle stands!

Is it wise to have your life dependant on nothing but a set of 9.99£ metal blocks quickly welded together in some sweatshop fareast? I think not..

Everytime I take a wheel off, I have made it a habit to put it in under the car in a well chosen position, and when working under I have several stands, jacks, etc. so that I never rely on just one thing!

I've always used axle stands
If the trolley jack can provide support - its there for emergency only

I'd say the wheel under the car thing is a good habbit
A wide tyre COULD save your life, but a decent and STABLE set of axle stands shouldnt let you down

I trust mine with any car upto 1.5tonne, even though its a 2tonne set

Ziggy

Ziggy122 said:

I've always used axle stands
If the trolley jack can provide support - its there for emergency only

I'd say the wheel under the car thing is a good habbit
A wide tyre COULD save your life, but a decent and STABLE set of axle stands shouldnt let you down

I trust mine with any car upto 1.5tonne, even though its a 2tonne set

Ziggy

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Ditto all the above. A few months ago my son was working on re-building his drift car on our drive. It was on 4 axle stands . He was working on something at the back end with two mates and I was lying under the transmission tunnel area welding something. The lads at the back got a bit carried away with a breaker bar, and one of the axle stands at the rear had been put in a daft place (I should have checked but I trusted the lads). One of the axle stands pushed up in to the floor and slipped and that allowed the back end of the car to slide off the other back stand. Luckily for me there was no engine or gearbox in the car, and also a lot of the movement was sideways rather than just down, but the body shell fell on me. The 3 big lads lifted the car off me in seconds, but it was a big big wake up call. It could have been goodnight Vienna.
I always check the axle stands now myself, and definitely put a nice big fat wheel and tyre underneath if you have one . Luckily we have more than enough but that's another story!
Be careful guys. We don't want any FF funerals.