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Jack Stand Safety

Using portable jack stands allows for safe vehicle repairs and maintenance. Working under any vehicle supported by only a floor or scissor jack is unsafe and could result in serious injury or death. Following a few basic safety measures will help ensure the completion of accident-free vehicle maintenance.

  1. Capacity

    • Jack stands are available with capacity ratings from 1 to more than 12 tons. Knowing the total vehicle weight and to ensuring the jack stand capacity is at least twice the vehicle weight reduces the risk of injury.

    Lifting

    • Placing the vehicle on jack stands requires positioning the stands under factory-approved lifting points to minimize the risk of the vehicle falling. Using two jack stands when lifting either end or side is recommended.

    Work Surface

    • Positioning jack stands on a level, hard surface reduces the risk of the stands being forced into the ground. Using jack stands on uneven or soft ground could cause the stands to shift, resulting in serious injury.

    Wheels

    • Chocking the wheels that are not being lifted helps reduce the risk of the vehicle rolling off the stands. If lifting the front or rear, chock the opposite wheels; if lifting one side, chock the other side's wheels.

    Redundancy

    • Using secondary supports in the form of additional jack stands, wood blocks, or similar materials is recommended. This further minimizes the risk of the stands failing and causing serious injury and damage.

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