During a recent trip to the grocery store, I ran into a neighbor whose face was battered as if he had been in the vicinity of an exploding hand grenade. I expressed my concern and he explained that he was injured while attempting to jump start his truck when the connection sparked and the battery exploded. In addition to his facial scars, he will suffer diminished vision in his left for life. How unfortunate, I thought, but I didn't think it was the time and place to discuss with him the safe method for jump starting a vehicle. This is the time and place to discuss it. With a battery draining weather on the way, how about reviewing the following jump starting procedures with your crews. It just might prevent someone else from suffering a fate similar to that of my neighbor.
Before Attaching the Cables
Extinguish all flames (this includes cigarettes) and make sure the vehicles are not touching.
Set the parking brakes and put the cars in park. Turn ignition OFF.
Add water to the dead battery if needed, replace the caps and cover with a damp cloth. Do not jump start if the fluid is frozen.
When Attaching the Cables
Make sure both batteries are negatively grounded and have the same voltage. Check the owner's manual if you're not sure.
Wear safety glasses, preferably safety goggles, while jump starting the vehicle.
Clamp one jumper cable to the positive pole of the dead battery and the opposite end to the positive pole of the good battery.
Clamp one end of the second cable to the negative pole of the good battery and the other end to the engine block of the dead car on a side away from the battery.
Start the car with the good battery, then the dead vehicle.
Remove the cable from
the engine block and the negative pole before removing the cable from the
positive poles.
To show that you have received and understand this safety information,
please sign and return one copy to the foreman at your
Monday morning safety meeting. Keep the other copy for your reference.
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