Hideous Injury from being a Mechanic..?
Discussion
Ok, a bit of a morbid and sicky subject for a thread, but brought on by a recent occurrence...
I was at a house party a while ago, and there were some peeps there who I didn't know. Being a sociable type, I always like meeting and chatting to new people.
Anyway, got talking to one young lad - he was only in his early 20's. I would never have guessed, as he was stood in front of me and walking round the house like anyone else. But after a while, someone mentioned something and after looking at him with my eyebrows raised, it turns out the poor chap has a false lower left leg.
Social convention would normally dictate that you'd probably 'park' the subject and move on, but as I was a little drunk, I asked him to show me the prosthetic.
Which he was only too glad to do. It was a marvel of modern engineering, and very trick, made from anodised alloy and carbon fibre composites, which gave him a fairly normal range of movement with regard to walking normally and according to him, even the ability to run.
So the obvious question was 'how did you lose your leg'?
The answer - he was a lorry mechanic, and one day was routinely inflating a lorry tyre in the workshop. The tyre that he was standing in front of then just burst - and the thing exploded with such force, it basically took his lower leg clean off
You don't expect that at work!
Plus I know of at least three mechanic mates with work injuries - one who lost a finger from using a grinder to cut bodywork, and another who got his hand caught and mangled in some rotating parts (I seem to remember either the cambelt or auxiliary belt). Plus one who also mangled digits oiling a motorbike chain where the engine was running and the rear wheel moving whilst on a stand.
So...anyone else with some interesting injuries from spannering cars / bikes / trucks / busses?
I was at a house party a while ago, and there were some peeps there who I didn't know. Being a sociable type, I always like meeting and chatting to new people.
Anyway, got talking to one young lad - he was only in his early 20's. I would never have guessed, as he was stood in front of me and walking round the house like anyone else. But after a while, someone mentioned something and after looking at him with my eyebrows raised, it turns out the poor chap has a false lower left leg.
Social convention would normally dictate that you'd probably 'park' the subject and move on, but as I was a little drunk, I asked him to show me the prosthetic.
Which he was only too glad to do. It was a marvel of modern engineering, and very trick, made from anodised alloy and carbon fibre composites, which gave him a fairly normal range of movement with regard to walking normally and according to him, even the ability to run.
So the obvious question was 'how did you lose your leg'?
The answer - he was a lorry mechanic, and one day was routinely inflating a lorry tyre in the workshop. The tyre that he was standing in front of then just burst - and the thing exploded with such force, it basically took his lower leg clean off
You don't expect that at work!
Plus I know of at least three mechanic mates with work injuries - one who lost a finger from using a grinder to cut bodywork, and another who got his hand caught and mangled in some rotating parts (I seem to remember either the cambelt or auxiliary belt). Plus one who also mangled digits oiling a motorbike chain where the engine was running and the rear wheel moving whilst on a stand.
So...anyone else with some interesting injuries from spannering cars / bikes / trucks / busses?
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Ok, a bit of a morbid and sicky subject for a thread, but brought on by a recent occurrence...
I was at a house party a while ago, and there were some peeps there who I didn't know. Being a sociable type, I always like meeting and chatting to new people.
Anyway, got talking to one young lad - he was only in his early 20's. I would never have guessed, as he was stood in front of me and walking round the house like anyone else. But after a while, someone mentioned something and after looking at him with my eyebrows raised, it turns out the poor chap has a false lower left leg.
Social convention would normally dictate that you'd probably 'park' the subject and move on, but as I was a little drunk, I asked him to show me the prosthetic.
Which he was only too glad to do. It was a marvel of modern engineering, and very trick, made from anodised alloy and carbon fibre composites, which gave him a fairly normal range of movement with regard to walking normally and according to him, even the ability to run.
So the obvious question was 'how did you lose your leg'?
The answer - he was a lorry mechanic, and one day was routinely inflating a lorry tyre in the workshop. The tyre that he was standing in front of then just burst - and the thing exploded with such force, it basically took his lower leg clean off
You don't expect that at work!
Plus I know of at least three mechanic mates with work injuries - one who lost a finger from using a grinder to cut bodywork, and another who got his hand caught and mangled in some rotating parts (I seem to remember either the cambelt or auxiliary belt). Plus one who also mangled digits oiling a motorbike chain where the engine was running and the rear wheel moving whilst on a stand.
So...anyone else with some interesting injuries from spannering cars / bikes / trucks / busses?
Few beers...?I was at a house party a while ago, and there were some peeps there who I didn't know. Being a sociable type, I always like meeting and chatting to new people.
Anyway, got talking to one young lad - he was only in his early 20's. I would never have guessed, as he was stood in front of me and walking round the house like anyone else. But after a while, someone mentioned something and after looking at him with my eyebrows raised, it turns out the poor chap has a false lower left leg.
Social convention would normally dictate that you'd probably 'park' the subject and move on, but as I was a little drunk, I asked him to show me the prosthetic.
Which he was only too glad to do. It was a marvel of modern engineering, and very trick, made from anodised alloy and carbon fibre composites, which gave him a fairly normal range of movement with regard to walking normally and according to him, even the ability to run.
So the obvious question was 'how did you lose your leg'?
The answer - he was a lorry mechanic, and one day was routinely inflating a lorry tyre in the workshop. The tyre that he was standing in front of then just burst - and the thing exploded with such force, it basically took his lower leg clean off
You don't expect that at work!
Plus I know of at least three mechanic mates with work injuries - one who lost a finger from using a grinder to cut bodywork, and another who got his hand caught and mangled in some rotating parts (I seem to remember either the cambelt or auxiliary belt). Plus one who also mangled digits oiling a motorbike chain where the engine was running and the rear wheel moving whilst on a stand.
So...anyone else with some interesting injuries from spannering cars / bikes / trucks / busses?
whoami said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Ok, a bit of a morbid and sicky subject for a thread, but brought on by a recent occurrence...
I was at a house party a while ago, and there were some peeps there who I didn't know. Being a sociable type, I always like meeting and chatting to new people.
Anyway, got talking to one young lad - he was only in his early 20's. I would never have guessed, as he was stood in front of me and walking round the house like anyone else. But after a while, someone mentioned something and after looking at him with my eyebrows raised, it turns out the poor chap has a false lower left leg.
Social convention would normally dictate that you'd probably 'park' the subject and move on, but as I was a little drunk, I asked him to show me the prosthetic.
Which he was only too glad to do. It was a marvel of modern engineering, and very trick, made from anodised alloy and carbon fibre composites, which gave him a fairly normal range of movement with regard to walking normally and according to him, even the ability to run.
So the obvious question was 'how did you lose your leg'?
The answer - he was a lorry mechanic, and one day was routinely inflating a lorry tyre in the workshop. The tyre that he was standing in front of then just burst - and the thing exploded with such force, it basically took his lower leg clean off
You don't expect that at work!
Plus I know of at least three mechanic mates with work injuries - one who lost a finger from using a grinder to cut bodywork, and another who got his hand caught and mangled in some rotating parts (I seem to remember either the cambelt or auxiliary belt). Plus one who also mangled digits oiling a motorbike chain where the engine was running and the rear wheel moving whilst on a stand.
So...anyone else with some interesting injuries from spannering cars / bikes / trucks / busses?
Few beers...?I was at a house party a while ago, and there were some peeps there who I didn't know. Being a sociable type, I always like meeting and chatting to new people.
Anyway, got talking to one young lad - he was only in his early 20's. I would never have guessed, as he was stood in front of me and walking round the house like anyone else. But after a while, someone mentioned something and after looking at him with my eyebrows raised, it turns out the poor chap has a false lower left leg.
Social convention would normally dictate that you'd probably 'park' the subject and move on, but as I was a little drunk, I asked him to show me the prosthetic.
Which he was only too glad to do. It was a marvel of modern engineering, and very trick, made from anodised alloy and carbon fibre composites, which gave him a fairly normal range of movement with regard to walking normally and according to him, even the ability to run.
So the obvious question was 'how did you lose your leg'?
The answer - he was a lorry mechanic, and one day was routinely inflating a lorry tyre in the workshop. The tyre that he was standing in front of then just burst - and the thing exploded with such force, it basically took his lower leg clean off
You don't expect that at work!
Plus I know of at least three mechanic mates with work injuries - one who lost a finger from using a grinder to cut bodywork, and another who got his hand caught and mangled in some rotating parts (I seem to remember either the cambelt or auxiliary belt). Plus one who also mangled digits oiling a motorbike chain where the engine was running and the rear wheel moving whilst on a stand.
So...anyone else with some interesting injuries from spannering cars / bikes / trucks / busses?
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
whoami said:
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Ok, a bit of a morbid and sicky subject for a thread, but brought on by a recent occurrence...
I was at a house party a while ago, and there were some peeps there who I didn't know. Being a sociable type, I always like meeting and chatting to new people.
Anyway, got talking to one young lad - he was only in his early 20's. I would never have guessed, as he was stood in front of me and walking round the house like anyone else. But after a while, someone mentioned something and after looking at him with my eyebrows raised, it turns out the poor chap has a false lower left leg.
Social convention would normally dictate that you'd probably 'park' the subject and move on, but as I was a little drunk, I asked him to show me the prosthetic.
Which he was only too glad to do. It was a marvel of modern engineering, and very trick, made from anodised alloy and carbon fibre composites, which gave him a fairly normal range of movement with regard to walking normally and according to him, even the ability to run.
So the obvious question was 'how did you lose your leg'?
The answer - he was a lorry mechanic, and one day was routinely inflating a lorry tyre in the workshop. The tyre that he was standing in front of then just burst - and the thing exploded with such force, it basically took his lower leg clean off
You don't expect that at work!
Plus I know of at least three mechanic mates with work injuries - one who lost a finger from using a grinder to cut bodywork, and another who got his hand caught and mangled in some rotating parts (I seem to remember either the cambelt or auxiliary belt). Plus one who also mangled digits oiling a motorbike chain where the engine was running and the rear wheel moving whilst on a stand.
So...anyone else with some interesting injuries from spannering cars / bikes / trucks / busses?
Few beers...?I was at a house party a while ago, and there were some peeps there who I didn't know. Being a sociable type, I always like meeting and chatting to new people.
Anyway, got talking to one young lad - he was only in his early 20's. I would never have guessed, as he was stood in front of me and walking round the house like anyone else. But after a while, someone mentioned something and after looking at him with my eyebrows raised, it turns out the poor chap has a false lower left leg.
Social convention would normally dictate that you'd probably 'park' the subject and move on, but as I was a little drunk, I asked him to show me the prosthetic.
Which he was only too glad to do. It was a marvel of modern engineering, and very trick, made from anodised alloy and carbon fibre composites, which gave him a fairly normal range of movement with regard to walking normally and according to him, even the ability to run.
So the obvious question was 'how did you lose your leg'?
The answer - he was a lorry mechanic, and one day was routinely inflating a lorry tyre in the workshop. The tyre that he was standing in front of then just burst - and the thing exploded with such force, it basically took his lower leg clean off
You don't expect that at work!
Plus I know of at least three mechanic mates with work injuries - one who lost a finger from using a grinder to cut bodywork, and another who got his hand caught and mangled in some rotating parts (I seem to remember either the cambelt or auxiliary belt). Plus one who also mangled digits oiling a motorbike chain where the engine was running and the rear wheel moving whilst on a stand.
So...anyone else with some interesting injuries from spannering cars / bikes / trucks / busses?
Ive nearly lost the top of my thumb after i accidently caught it on a timing belt pulley when it was turning. Luckly pulled it away just in time but did smash my nail up and a deep cut in to the skin below it that was a year ago you wouldn't know it looking at it now.
Nothing worse than that apart from the scuffed nuggles and cuts on the fingers.
Nothing worse than that apart from the scuffed nuggles and cuts on the fingers.
http://www.stripes.com/news/air-force-captain-dies...
It never occured to me that tyres could be that dangerous before I heard about that.
It never occured to me that tyres could be that dangerous before I heard about that.
carinaman said:
http://www.stripes.com/news/air-force-captain-dies...
It never occured to me that tyres could be that dangerous before I heard about that.
I know, hideous isn't it? After meeting matey with the missing leg, whenever I inflate my car tyres at a petrol station now, I put the line on and stand well clear of the wheel, to the side of the car.It never occured to me that tyres could be that dangerous before I heard about that.
One of my lecturers used to be an Aero. Engineer (eventually was qualified to write planes off etc) in the RAF... someone said 'catch' and threw a knife... has a massive great lump on his hand now where the scar grew way too much. About the size of a golf ball.
And the classic story is of a guy refuelling a Canberra tip tank, and sitting on an A-ladder at the wingtip while doing so (the filler is like your typical petrol station filler on those old things)... plane gets heavier, the undercarriage settles down a bit. Legs crushed. Plane has to be jacked up to free him...
And the classic story is of a guy refuelling a Canberra tip tank, and sitting on an A-ladder at the wingtip while doing so (the filler is like your typical petrol station filler on those old things)... plane gets heavier, the undercarriage settles down a bit. Legs crushed. Plane has to be jacked up to free him...
redtwin said:
One that I personally know of is my uncle who was reaching across an engine to adjust a carb while the engine was running. Fan blade broke off and embedded itself in his armpit. The amount of damage to the various nerves there means that his hand is now a barely usable claw.
That's some bloody bad luck. All those miles the car did without a fan blade breaking off, only for it to not only break off while he was leaning over it, but hit all that.Nowt too bad myself but i did once see a work mate of mine skin his finger to the bone whilst cutting a plastic trim he slipped and the Stanley blade went through his skin like butter, lots of blood and tissue on the floor, he is all ok now I think.
A local bus mechanic died last year when a bus fell on him, wasn't found for a day or two, very sad
A local bus mechanic died last year when a bus fell on him, wasn't found for a day or two, very sad
Nothing happened to me but being ex-Army VM I've seen a few things that would make you wince.
The power plant (pack) for the Challenger comes out in one contained unit for ease of replacement - all you have to do is attach the fuel lines and off you trot - they spin the cooling fans up so fast that they become invisible and when you're in the 'pack room' with three or four running the noise is deafening even with ear defenders on - you certainly can't talk.
One bloke was working on a pack and pointed something out to someone and put his hand straight through a running fan - it was almost cartoonish in the way it shredded his fingers down to the palm - made a right old mess as well.
The power plant (pack) for the Challenger comes out in one contained unit for ease of replacement - all you have to do is attach the fuel lines and off you trot - they spin the cooling fans up so fast that they become invisible and when you're in the 'pack room' with three or four running the noise is deafening even with ear defenders on - you certainly can't talk.
One bloke was working on a pack and pointed something out to someone and put his hand straight through a running fan - it was almost cartoonish in the way it shredded his fingers down to the palm - made a right old mess as well.
When I was in that game there was a case of a guy who was crushed to death by a range rover while doing an mot. He had the customer in the car assisting. Didn't put it in park and you can guess what happened next.
Luckily I only ever fractured a knuckle.
Dangerous game fixing cars.
So now I hang off buildings for a living.
Much safer.
Luckily I only ever fractured a knuckle.
Dangerous game fixing cars.
So now I hang off buildings for a living.
Much safer.
Any industry has it's own dangers, blowing tyres up is one that is well documented for killing people and why it is the law to blow up tyres on commercial vehicles in cages, but many fitters are too lazy as it is rare anything happens. There is a famous picture I was shown at tech where a swedish guy was sat on a tyre that exploded, the imprint in the roof was where his upward flight stopped, he was dead of course. I have seen ties drop into fans, vehicles knocked off stands fall of ramps and cars set on fire all in workshops. The old adage is s
t happens so be careful always.
t happens so be careful always.Have seen & heard of a few in my years in the trade, scariest was when an auto was left in reverse & decided to take itself for a trip across the workshop collecting another tech in the process he was squashed between the car & a motorhome which luckily for him was fairly soft so he was not badly hurt could have been a lot worse!!
One thing that does seem fairly common is the tendons in the hand / arm being damaged causing loss of use of a hand
One thing that does seem fairly common is the tendons in the hand / arm being damaged causing loss of use of a hand
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