Shop Worker Crushed to Death by Vehicle

Feb. 1, 2018—A man who was working underneath a vehicle at a Katy, Texas auto shop was killed when the vehicle he was working on fell on top of him, KTRK-TV and Covering Katy News reports. 

Sources at the scene said that the man died after the jack holding up the vehicle somehow slipped.

Two other workers were nearby working on another vehicle. They heard a sound, looked at the truck and saw it fall on the victim according to a spokesman of the Harris County Fire Department.

This story echoes an accident that took a technician's life back in December.

Lift safety is a huge issue for many automotive repair shops, as noted in past Ratchet+Wrench stories. Here are two links to check out:

• Thorough research and measurements allowed TJ Cleveland’s lift purchase to up his shop’s efficiency
• What every shop needs to know about conducting regular lift inspections

The Automotive Lift Institute offers lift safety training classes, and recently updated it’s “Lifting It Right” online training course. The course covers safe lifting practices for all types of automotive lifts. 

Rotary also offers eight steps for daily lift inspections.

For more information about ALI and its lift safety initiatives and materials, visit its website.