Jacking and blocking equipment safely prevents crushing injuries from sudden movement or a release of energy. Using the right equipment and never putting your body under a load are the core of doing it safely.
What Are the Rules for Jacking and Blocking?
Support the load fully and keep your body out from under it.
- Use only properly sized jacks and jack stands with adequate weight capacity for the job
- Ensure blocking material is competent, substantial, and adequate to support and stabilize the load
- Block equipment components against all possible movement from a sudden release of energy
- Always chock wheels with appropriately sized chocks to prevent rolling
- Never position your body or body parts under jacked-up equipment
- Never position your body or body parts between moveable parts that have not been properly blocked, since this creates a high risk of a pinch point
- Use the Take 5 method by stepping back and examining the situation once you are confident the unit and parts are properly supported, before beginning work
- Never crib more than three times the width of the base
