Safety, Tools, and Shop Practice
Safety, Tools, and Shop Practice tests hazard recognition, protective equipment, tool condition, lifting, and shop discipline. Expect questions on chemical exposure, high-voltage vehicles, airbags, and powered tools.
Hazard control
- Read the SDS before opening a product; use the specified gloves, eye protection, and respirator cartridge.
- Keep flammable liquids away from ignition sources; bond and ground metal containers when dispensing.
- EV/high-voltage: identify orange cables, follow the OEM service disconnect procedure, wait the specified time, and use insulated tools. Never cut or weld near an energized pack.
- SRS: disconnect the battery and wait the OEM interval before working near airbags; deploy only in a designated area.
- Use jack stands, not a jack alone, to support a raised vehicle; chock wheels and observe lift capacity and center of gravity.
Tools and shop practice
- Calibrate torque wrenches; follow the specified torque sequence and thread lubricant.
- Inspect cords, guards, and discs; match disc RPM to the tool.
- Control dust and fumes at the source; dry sweeping or compressed air spreads contamination.
Worked example
A technician grinds a galvanized rocker panel indoors wearing only a dust mask. Reasoning: galvanized coating produces metal-fume and zinc-oxide exposure, and a dust mask is not adequate protection. The correct response is local exhaust, a P100 particulate filter with fume protection as specified, eye and hearing protection, and separation from paint operations.
Traps
- Treating a little dust as harmless.
- Wearing gloves or loose sleeves near a rotating tool.
- Assuming a jack alone is support.
- Using compressed air to clean brake dust or sanding residue.