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Most mechanics won't survive retirement. industry plagued with health problems
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2024
- Most mechanics are in bad shape by retirement. most won't get to enjoy it. why is this industry so forgotten when it comes to health. if you want a better picture. watch the entire video and read the comments. mostly mechanic perspectives
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#cars #automobile #automechanic #mechanic #health #retirement #death #cancer #stress #mentalhealth #fatigue #breathing #technician #laborer #workers #health
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Yeah my mental health went out the window with code PO300.
Yeah I didn't touch on mental health. That should of been number one really
Mine too. Gm spider injection will make your hair fall out from stress.
HAHAHA
@@darrellteague8629 I used to always say that my hair won't fall out because I will tear it out before then.
Them random misfires are gnarly lol
I'm just a DIY guy and clicked on this. I worked in Sales at a car & motorcycle dealerships. This should be played on the first day of orientation for service departments
Working class people are considered disposable.
Well thanks man! means alot. seems its already changed the way a few people have worked so its helping :)
Sales
My good friend started his own motorcycle shop in the early 2000s. Made a good life with it and made a plan to close it in 2025 and sell his house and retire in south carolina from California. He got diagnosed with cancer in 2023 and was gone in 4 months. Started in his lungs and went everywhere. He was only 53 years old. Watched him many times work on carburetors without gloves, hands covered in gas. If you have life plans, plan for your plans.
@@tonyd7164 We used to literally bathe in leaded gas and diesel, sprayed the black diesel oil off our arms with mineral spirits (real mineral spirits) and compressed air. How I'm still here, I have no idea. There is a laundry list of supplements that supposedly prevent cancer cells from proliferating, Nigella Sativa, Oleuropein, Artemisinin, etc, and there is Fenbendazole for humans on the big store that starts with an A. Find Dr. Tom Rogers videos on it, also check out the Ivermectin videos from the Brio Cancer Center in Scottsdale Arizona.
tonyd7164 Did he smoke?
@@POOKIE5592 Probably.
There's a shop run by an "old man" near me, he can barely talk and the floor is covered with cigarette butts. I don't know his age precisely, but he looks at least 80 years old, even though he's probably 60 years old. It's so sad to see how bad habits many mechanics have.
It's easy to die due to the treatment against cancer which the low iq doctors sell the common people
You can never plan for cancer idgaf if you have been using no gloves if this was truly the issue we would have been dead from when oil first was discovered to today. If it was that huge of an issue why didn’t mechanics get cancer back when things were more crude???? I don’t remember anyone getting cancer as much as people are getting it today. Maybe that has to do with the plastics in everything you eat than some gas on your hand.
I’m an amateur hobby mechanic and this video has been a real eye opener. Even watching TH-cam tutorials there’s a real romanticism about not wearing PPE, the few videos that tell you to wear it normally do so in a “I’m not wearing PPE but YOU should”. It just gives the impression that REAL mechanics don’t wear PPE. Keep up the good work, hearing this from a young professional makes a world of difference.
that's true, real mechanics don't use PPE. also real mechanics don't live a long comfortable life. coincidence?
@MrDoboz most mechanics smoke too, if you're still smoking PPE don't matter.
@@underthetrees4780 you can bet your ass PPE does matter even if smoking. most of the harm by chemicals is cumulative. and gloves matter especially if you are smoking, given you take them off before smoking and not eat the grease, oil, and solvents from your hand with the cigarette filter
At 44 I am done, I have my own shop now and this industry has made me into a person I never wanted to be. The physical and mental strains are not worth it.
hope getting your own shop has been a positive improvement.! hopefully can can get into retirement earlier and improve your health.
You do this long enough and deal with enough What can only be called unruly customers? It can turn an optimist into a pessimist.
Sorry
the grass is always greener bud,i own my own shop for 25 + years now & let me tell ya about being worn out mentally , dealing with the public can be very challanging, especially since covid,people changed.
@scottgingrich3666 covid was a absolute turning point for customers and front counter/owner/mechanics. It's like it was an excuse to walk all over us and mentality hadn't improved. That being said it happened in all industries.
I’m 61 and just diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Doctors seem to focus on all of the chemicals that were used, especially Brake cleaner and all the leaded fuel that I handled in aviation. Gloves are the best place to start.
Leaded gas often has ethylene dibromide as a stabilizer. Very nasty stuff!
Well. I hope the treatment can minimize the effects of your condition. best wishes man! Hope younger generations see what can be the result of not trying.
take vit b1. extemely good for your condition. there are cases it even stopped the progress and slowed it down very much.
25 years as a mechanic here in Australia with 20 being self employed. Can't stand it for the last 5 years. I've been wearing gloves for 20 years of it though as the chemicals in everything we use including oil is dangerous
My father and his associate both worked service for MB. Both ended up getting a rare type of leukemia. This particular dea!ership received multiple MBNA "cleanest and efficient" awards. Could have been benzene ... no one knows. Wear gloves for everything, including lawn treatments at home. Many of us oxidize chemicals differently.
Grandad was a tank mechanic in the army and became a diesel mechanic after. Diagnosed with arthritis and lung cancer at 55 due to his stubborness to refuse to wear masks and gloves. Died at 57. Wear your PPE
sorry to hear man! lost to many mechanics to cancer. :(
I was an engine mechanic for 44 years just retired and I'm good , exposed to a lot of shit but tried real hard
to avoid brake dust nasty chems and old oil on hands , always lifted the vehicles up a little so as not to hurt my back .
I used to yell at those idiots blowing dust off brakes , using that stupid AIR broom , washed my hands 30 times a day .
use those dam ear plugs too. my dad was exposed to a lot more but when he died he had lots of issues but lived to be 89
The way it should be done. Thinking long term!
Older mechanics might have less impact, paradoxically, because they didn't have 100 bottles of chemicals in their shop. I am not a mechanic, but even I have like a dozen bottles of toxic chemicals (rust proofing, rust cleaning, air intake cleaner, electric contacts cleaner, etc.) Moreover, I might be wrong, but even modern motor oil is more toxic now due to the addition of heavy metals.
@@solderbuff the modern motor oils contain way less metals, Zinc, Lead, Boron etc clog modern catalytic converters
@@earlscheib7754 , good to know. Did manufacturers reduce the amount of metal additives? Or does mineral oil contain metals "naturally"?
@@earlscheib7754 Modern oils probably have more additives, though.
When I became a mechanic in the 80's I was told straight out that if I became a mechanic my life would be about 25 years less just because of the work. I quit in the 90's I still hurt.
Got out before more damage. But it's incredible how quick it happens
@@Lancemechanics Physical strain? Or other health issues?
What sort of hurt?
I’ve seen old men that were mechanics with no obvious issues. I knew one that retired from a dealer then did it in the shop in his backyard for years after. He died from suicide probably late 70’s/early 80’s because he was diabetic and had crippling arthritis or gout. I’d say that wasn’t related to mechanic work. Try to eat healthy at least sometimes and don’t smoke, keep alcohol occasional.
*met a guy at bojangles that’s there every morning that worked at a shop I did in my early 20’s and a guy that I thought would’ve died by now is still alive and well, one that was in his 60’s back in 2003 died, and one older guy died from lupus 10 years after he told me he had it.
49yrs old, been professional tech for 30 yrs now, carpeltunner surgery, hernia surgery, bad back, bad hip, bad knee, bad neck, hearing loss, shortness of breath, and last year got an infection after blowing off a engine of a mouse nest ending up with sever sinus and inner ear Infection causing full on facial paralysis on the left side of me face... 4 months to clear up... this line of work will kick your ass physically, mentally and financially!
Oof. Wouldn't have thought about putting ppe on for that before. Now I will.
I used to think it was odd that any time I saw a Brit mechanic on tv they were wearing gloves. Then we recently had a family member who just sold his garage and retired after 42 years found out within a year of retiring he has a terminal blood cancer caused by long term benzene exposure. WEAR THE GLOVES.
Damn that's sad. :(
My old hs chemistry teacher's dad had this exact thing happen to him, except he was a chemist, it was very common back in the day to clean glassware with benzene. It was too far advanced when they found out what was wrong. Eventually labs stopped cleaning glassware with benzene.
Cannot feel with gloves they get torn, hands dang sweaty. No thanks.
@@michaelholden6096 Enjoy your early grave.
@@michaelholden6096 get powdered gloves or put powder in them yourself to help with breathability to not sweat. i found some sort of chalk powder thats intended for some sort of construction projects, for example.
This is unbelievable and tremendously informative for someone who works an office job. My back starts to hurt after 15 minutes of bending over my car’s engine bay. Massive respect to all mechanics!
Thank you one of the few
Thank you, yeah I'll have to see a doctor eventually to get my back checked out.. I can feel it it's not good but hey. Some of us doing it out of passion to some degree. :) You are a few who respects us (the customer I'd give a little discount to ;) )
Mid 20s mechanic here , I’ve been pretty lazy the past few years with gloves. I’ve started bad getting skin irritation on my fingers. Since start of this year I have been religiously wearing gloves and it’s starting to heal.
No one really drilled into me how dangerous the fluids are. (It’s common sense obviously but you don’t think about it/ignore it) I’ve been really looking into this stuff recently.
There needs to be more awareness in the industry of the dangers.
Yeah it's not talked about enough. But you've made positive changes. Keep it up.
@@Lancemechanics loving these videos mate!
On the back side of engine oil containers, they write that it causes skin cancer.
The worst part about that is then you have these older guys that are barely able to stand upright whose hands look like they're 90 when they're 50 giving you all kinds of crap about wearing gloves and eye protection.
@@LivingTheDream77 in the state of California everything causes cancer
My grandpa was a mechanic all his life. Nobody in that profession took the proper precautions back then, and he paid for it in his later years. The last few years of his life were brutal and he was unable to continue doing the work he loved because he didn't take care of his body. I took up his passion for automotive work and learned a lot of what I know from him, and he even left me his shop with all his tools. The most important thing he ever told me was to take care of my body so that I wouldn't end up like him. Even though I don't do it as a profession, I always make sure to wear gloves, safety glasses, respirator when appropriate, and take care of my back when lifting things. I promise you it will save yourself a lot of misery later in life.
Great video, thanks for posting. To anyone reading: YOU DO NOT GET PAID MORE FOR SACRIFICING YOUR HEALTH
Few months ago a gluepot at work caught on fire (a little bit). After dealing with that, another one was snatched off another machine, but it wasn't compatible, took a while to be sure if this (didn't want to blow up a perfectly good gluepot). It was hot, was getting frustrated, wasn't drinking enough water. Found another pot that would work, but I have enough tools with me, so had to walk around and get more.
I turned off the machine the gluepot was attached to, and assumed the gluepot was unpowered, forgetting that many are wired above the machine disconnects to not have to wait for the glue to heat back up after repairs. After unhooking to power leads and pulling them out, I brushed a finger against the leads and probably got hit with 230 V ac, and got a nice little burn on the end of one of my fingers. Was pretty pissed at myself for being stupid and not verifying the power was removed (I'm a plant "electrician", or at least I play one at work).
Im 17 and going into this industry, this video was more of a wake up call than I expected. I have the time to prevent damage to myself in every way possible, best to start before the damage happens.
See also: global warming denial
@@DefundTheFringes what
Become a service writer. Or shop manager if you can. I wouldn't let any of my children get into this industry.
To be honest man, you will still be exposed to it. There's no getting around it 100% of the time. You're just decreasing your chances of complications later on. Consider choosing something else altogether if you want to be sure.
@@abnormaalz well honestly if doing something I like takes a few years off me I think its a fair trade.
The money is broken, which incentives cheating in all industries.
profits over health.
It’s everywhere too, man. I’ve spent 30 years as a railroad carman. Profits are the highest ever while work conditions are the worst in a century.
@@lightningphoenix69As someone who briefly considered this career, that's insane to hear.
it's the same in any industrial work... hell, pretty much all workplaces
even paper pushing office workers get fucked up backs after a couple years
food industry is even worse, since then you get to fuck up the health of not just the workers but sometimes also the consumers (and before someone asks, no I don't mean some sort of conspiracy tier gay frog shit, just barely enforced food safety stuff)
@@lightningphoenix69do something about it then. Strike, quit, civil disobedience anything but complaining on TH-cam if you actually care about others
25yo mechanic here. Been at it since highschool. This guy is bringing lot of hard truths out. The older generation will taunt you for wearing gloves, or any other PPE. Just expect it. Do what’s best for you. My back already hurts, shoulders shot, and beard is turning grey. This industry is a bitch but we keep the world turning, we just need to adjust our ways in how we do so. Thanks for the video man.
Ty for response. Never to late to get into better habits as I say! Take it easy out there
Good luck young man. Stay positive and look out for your boss, co-workers and yourself and not necessarily in that order. Get paid, but be sure you are providing the value you are esteeming yourself at.
I’ve been doing Tile setting been a helper for 2 1/2 years now and I’m constantly swarmed by cancer causing silica dust and I I get made fun of and called a pussy for wearing a respirator to protect my lungs 🫁 it’s so annoying
@@wattsnottaken1 Don't listen too much. Take it under advisement, but do what you think is right. You'll have to live with it. Good luck!
@wattsnottaken1 hell with them. Wear the respirator. Those guys will be long gone before you. I'm underground and they take dust seriously. Shits just as damaging here as surface
I'm 70, think I'm healthy, but I was doing this before asbestos was a bad thing. Wish me luck.
Good luck dudley
i'll pray for u dudley 🙏
My pastor at 70 was diagnosed with Asbestos lung cancer, the only person I know to die with a large smile on his face, saying "Lord I am Coming" these were his last words. Go in faith Dudley. May it be a while before you meet GOD.
Asbestos is bad when it chirps and it's old. I know plenty of people who worked with this on roofs and no-one had lung cancer.
Asbestos hasn't been in brakes for a long time. In reality, the most dangerous time is dust from when a building is being demolished.
Cancer seems to take a lot of us who were exposed to the "real" chemicals early on when PPE was not even thought of.
Yes. Think it's still the same. Difference is there telling us this new stuff is environmentally friendly but not to humans :/
@@Lancemechanics No chemicals are really human friendly. They're all participles that are going in your lungs
@@IncognitoSpraxWater is a chemical. Almost everything you will ever intersct with is a chemical. Some are good, some are benign, some are terrible.
My mother used to say don’t trade your health for a paycheck! Retired from this profession, in my late 60s . Toxins, wear and tear on your body. My body is older then it is . Broken bones,cancer. Find something else to do .
Smart lady . Hope you're at least on the road to recovery@ hang in there
Sure just find something else to do. Like what be homeless?
@@rolandthethompsongunner64 so many trades welcome mechanics. dont expect to be at the top of the food chain. start out as an apprentice again but quickly work your way up
@@rolandthethompsongunner64 industrial mechanics that specialize in automation is a great place to go. If you can troubleshoot simple electrical circuits, you are likely able to work with PLCs. Distribution centers all need quality mechanics. It gets you away from most hazardous chemicals. Commercial AC/Refrigeration is another route. If you understand the fundamentals of AC, there are plenty of good jobs.
Retired at age 51 as a licensed millwright in a tire factory.
30 years service and out.
Lots of chemicals and solvents.
I pounded and tugged on a lot things with my hands.
Suffered a hernia from lifting.
Now at age 70 my carpal tunnel syndrome prevents me from riding my motorcycle.
My advice: dont get old.
Aging is a horrible thing.
Mechanic for 7 and 1/2 years, 15 years in a foundry/working with metal's 12 hrs plus a day 60 hr weeks. Unable to work and not near 50. Wish that's all I had was carpal tunnel. Eventually I'll be totally paralyzed but Hey, the government says I can go back to work 🤦It doesn't pay to work hard. Don't be auto technician. The cost of tools reducing your pay checks, your back/knees will hate you. Mistakes can happen and now you are working for free, it happen to me once. Warranty work doesn't pay, not a lot of paid vacation time. Not worth it!
If you have any form of health insurance please go and get the surgery for your carpal tunnel, quick recovery time and could change your life around to enjoy your retirement
I’m 24, the shit I see my coworkers doing to themselves is insane. the automotive industry is undeniably one the most miserable health safety environment
Yep@ hoping people just go for it and ignore others. Even if being a little slower at end of dayA
Try working in a shipyard that’s even worse
Lots of plastics too. Even as engine parts.
I’m a 71 year old aviation ,heavy equipment mechanic and welder and machinist.I have a lot of nice tools and a big shop building that I can’t even use.I can rarely do what I want and generally only do what is absolutely necessary.. I’m determined to keep walking even though i don’t have to because as a disabled Veteran I have a power chair and other equipment for mobility . Tough guys never took this seriously . Like you said, it’s too late now. Nobody to blame when the devil calls your name, so the song goes….
All because of greed. They messed us up and took fat cheques.
I'm done with this industry
Find a kid who's not a POS and show him how to maintain his equipment, you'll have a buddy to help around the shop
@@noturfather1106
Yep, I’m looking . There are some good ones out there!
71 here too! I did quit smoking in 1988 as I was feeling it then, but I have had plenty of exposure to other contaminants including asbestos. Of course none of this is mentioned by employers. Most of this was that employers were also ignorant. I have a friend who was messed up by working long hours at Walmart for years. Plenty to think about in this video! 😮
100% true. The constant push for speed, to complete everything as quickly as possible, forces one to cut corners and take shortcuts. If you take time to protect yourself, there's always another guy who will not and he'll be championed for it. As an apprentice in the 80's, the 'old' guys in the shop, the beat-up, hurt, unhealthy ones were only in their early 40's. I realized, too late, that no one survives to retirement on the floor. It's virtually unheard of that any kind of disability insurance, worker's comp, etc., ever pays out for the chronic injuries caused either. It's a trade that takes some of the hardest working geniuses and leaves them broken and suffering.
Nothing to protect a mechanic in the end. Can't pin the industry for our health problems. It's bs
Let's not talk about brand new cars being stripped down three times and the average time of the three strips is the job time. Then they expect you to stick to that time when 15 years later everything is rusted and seized. Or you have never done that job before.
I am no mechanics, just a regular guy trying to do better. I work on my own cars since I have lost faith in auto shops (franchising, uhhhh...). After I have worked on my cars (Honda Accord and Toyota Corolla), I realized owning a car and responsibly owning a car are two different things. I have since cared for my cars religiously (my wife would be jealous, haha). Then I looked at my friends and families, saw how they treated their vehicles, then just dumped them into the shops expecting the car to be as good as new for the bare minimum price. I can imagine a mechanic going crazy over the years with all of these customers.
To all of you truthful, honest and kind-hearted mechanics out there, take care of yourself.
Worked for a dealership for 15 years. I thought after I stopped working there my body would stop hurting. I stopped working for them 3 years ago and my body is still hurting. I can’t sleep without my hands “falling asleep” and when they “wake up” that feeling is excruciatingly painful.
I had this and I was sleeping on my arms or my arms over my head I realized I pulled something in my shoulder when I had a arm injury but didn’t tell the dr bec I didn’t know it was also injured
@@nickt5546 I woke up with dead arms a few times in my 20’s and 30’s. It’s funny and scary at the same time. I would roll out of bed and stand up but my arms were completely cut off from my body at least that’s how they felt for about 5 minutes. I couldn’t even call anybody for help cause all I had was a rotary phone.
Hard to repair damaged nerves
I've got an issue with this too. Something that has helped a lot: adjusting my arm position when I sleep.
Instead of putting my arms up by my head, I try to keep them closer to the way they hang down while I'm standing.
It's awkward as fuck to get used to, but saves a lot of nerve impingement.
(Might not help everyone, but it's free and made a big difference for me.)
I was a mechanic from 1986-1995. I read an article about the dangers of brake cleaner and how it absorbs through the skin and accumulates in the organs. I started wearing latex gloves as some form of protection. Me and the mechanics in my shop agreed to keep brake dust to a minimum by flushing out brake drums in safety clean tank rather than blowing them out with compressed air.
I underwent orthoscopic surgery on my right knee in 1991 from simply leaning over car fenders all day. I tried the management route while in recovery but it's not my thing so I went back to twisting a wrench a year later. In 1995, I went to work for Hobart working on commercial food equipment and loved it. Still doing it today as well as welding and fabrication for myself now. I couldn't imagine being an auto mechanic today with the sophisticated technology and bs.
Congrats on getting out early enough@ yeah brake cleans become a real problem
I always used a water spray bottle to hold down brake dust
I was an apprentice for a couple summers for a buddy and bending over fenders was definitely screwing my knees.
I use brake cleaner as breath freshener spray at this point🤷♂️
I'll rather work on some chips and leds than with cancer lol
I will always remember the welder at the first mine I ever worked. He would never wear ear plugs even air hammering wear plates under a scissor lift. When his wife would phone him, He could not hear his ringtone and she would get really mad because he would never answer his phone.
damn! stubborn bunch they can be. imagine grinding those drifts. be like a microphone :O
I retired from 45 years as a truck mechanic. Worn out muscles. Have Worksafe hearing aids. White flesh disease in my fingers. Back in the 70's 80's there was no hearing , eye , breathing protection. I got to a point where I could not wear gloves. I had white flesh so bad when wearing gloves I could not feel anything with my fingers. Do not forget about having to lift heavy by yourself. I have a destroyed lower back. Lucky I do not have lung cancer from the old asbestos days.
You are allergic to rubber and derivatives. Use nitrel instead.
Back ?? Snap
train your butt (glute medius) since this works alonng with your lower back... it supports the lower back muscles
Goooood comment MrD.F.2275-i was just going to make my own reply but you completely nailed what i was going to say.all of it.
Not matter which company you worked for, you didn't complain for fear of being a pussie!- Big problem with machismo back then, Lol!
'Gloves?, are you a pussie?
Masks?, we dont have time for those-this has to out the door!
Hearing protection - ha!
Welding mask, turn away , its only a blob.
Etc.
'Here, hold this bar whilst I swing this sledge!-tight shackle pin!
I cant believe how i was to blow out huge truck drums when replacing drum brakes- no mask ever!-8 wheeler, 10 wheeler or whatever.
FOr decades!
1980 I started as an apprentice-1st day I got my balls greased - then put inside of 22 inch 'Super singe tyre and rolled down the hill into the (semi)trailer park.
'its tradition -Man up!'
- i dont know how im still alive when all my mates are dead from back then.
You see my channel jumping bikes and f__+g around at 60!-Its full of Sh1t !
after those videos i cant get out of bed for 3 days, is because i earned a living as a truck mechanic to ride mx bikes on the weekend, lots of broken bones it zero protection for a generation. The job did far more damage than the bikes.
- stlil love he satisacfion of riding and still earning as a mechanic, now on vans- but i dont give myself 5 yrs.
Pension! no!- Survival now.
White flesh disease as in vitiligo, or having to do with built up moisture from wearing gloves for a long time?
I was an aviation mechanic and i got out of the industry because i saw all the older mechanics with back problems their hands were swollen from all the chemicals and their lungs were bad. I did not want to end up like them.
good on you for getting out!
The aircraft industry at least pays the mechanics a decent wage and supplies the tools . The car and truck industry pay crap and you buy your own tools. That's the UK is America the same?
@@kevinjones3900 The wages are all over the place, some places pay better than other but to me the health issues and pain is not worth any money. Most bigger companies do supply the special manufacturer tools but regular stuff the mech buys his own.
@@kevinjones3900 Yeah same here.
@@kevinjones3900tools arent supplied in canada. Youre expected to bring your own
I just turned 45 today. I had 20 years in the Collision Repair industry. I left the shops and now teach it at my local Voc Tech High School. I cannot stress enough the importance of PPE to my students and all the newcomers. I have hearing loss, heart issues, knee and back issues. Not to mention mental health too. Our students think we're just giving them a hard time when we get on them for their PPE usage..
great video man.. more people need to see it!
Bodyman 100% got it the worst. Tu for the response. Seemed to get through to a few people!
First off, love your channel, glad I found it, I was a tech at the same mazda dealer for 30 years, I was so beat up that I had to make a change, so I moved to the parts dept and run the counter for the guys in the shop, best move I have made, I am 51, not that old but man I feel old, my hands are toast, but I harp on the young guys in the shop all the time about ppe, but it just falls on deaf ears. Keep up the good work with the channel, I enjoy the content because I can relate
ty and yeah. the deaf ears thing will never get old. You just can't beat it into younger guys. cliche but so true!
If you are tall that certainly doesn’t help. Your body wasn’t designed for you to be working under cars on vehicle hoists. You risk head injuries, neck, back and leg strain before you even start a task.
6ft tall. I feel this comment. Hoists never go high enough for me. I'm hunched over all the time
I'm 5.8 being short didn't help limit my injuries. Just saying 😊
What job are tall guys meant to do? Picking apples? Lol
I don’t work as a mechanic but im a DIY guy and I’m a blue collar worker and have been all my life (42 now) and all these comments are spot on. Unfortunately there will still be some people who will choose to ignore these warnings and I still do too from time to time but it really is true….if you don’t take the steps to take care of your body, especially things like your lungs, back and repetitive stress injuries, you WILL pay the price. Technology has come a long way and can really help, but unfortunately employers, especially small business owners, won’t want to invest in your long-term health. You have to push them to care, find another employer if they don’t or take matters into your own hands if you want to stay there. This ain’t a practice run, you only get one life and one body.
I'm an engineer and do dyi work on my cars. Im still baffled by my coworkers not wearing gloves. Safety aside, I just hate having to wash grease, grime and oil off my hands. It's just so much easier just to wear gloves.
I tend to be slightly careless with safety eyewear in my garage though. Every pair just hands up fogging up, but if it's easy enough I'll go overkill with my face shield. I've had potassium hydroxide fall in my eye at work and thanks to coworkers and eyewash, I had no permanent damage. I've had small pieces random junk fall in my eye working in my garage. Because my work accident and knowing I have no one around to help if something goes wrong, I tend to be a lot more cautious now.
I also had to stop working on my car during the pandemic since I needed to cut fiberglass and I couldn't find any reasonably priced PPE.
Thanks for the video. I put lotion on my hands (cuts down on absorption through the skin) and wear gloves after my mechanic friend told me the same thing you just did. Don't soak your hands in this stuff. 1 drop won't kill you but years and gallons add up over time.
I work in a diesel shop that has a machine shop inside of it. Welding gas, metal grinder dust and diesel exhaust is a daily thing..big fans at either end of the shop doesn't do the job. Wearing a mask and having eye pro trying to work under a dash with 100 degree plus air in the shop..I usually have to ditch the protection lol great video man
its absolutely a herculean task to keep ppe on in those environments. I do it underground and sweat buckets and can't see. but I've learned to keep those gloves on. took a few years!
Yeah I work on semis if your lot is stone that’s just another problem. Concrete dust has silica dust in it and is very bad for your lungs and health
@@iankerr1549or fine sand I worked in Florida for 13 years on fire trucks on a large compound big trucks making large sand storms all day long I worked in an open air shop inhaled that dust till I went out on disability with a blown back
I noticed the guys retiring were dying a few years after. I call it the "65 Rule". It's not just auto. It's any industrial environment. Factories, refineries, mines, basically anywhere we use chemicals and lubricants; machinery.
Read the MSDS of the materials you come into contact with at work. Leaving it on your skin is not safe. It might not be an immediate injury, but you'll be sick from it later.
MSDS is important, we all need whmis training here in Canada, but they ignore this stuff. too inconvenient at the end of the day
I worked for the county, fire department can't tell you how many of my coworkers died a few years after retirement
There are lots of exceptions. My dad is 81, my uncle lived to be 92 and both worked in the heating oil business top loading. My ex boss( mechanic) now 81 never wore PPE plus although he quit smoking since…..smoked two packs per day. I worked in a repair shop in the 80’s to 1990. Back then I wore safety glasses, ear protection ( for air impact gun) and face mask taking off wheels with air impact gun.
@@johnmitchell8925 that's sad :(
@@FraaaaaankRizzo yeah some get out perfectly fine!
If i did not wear safety glass, i would have been blind
Been a mechanic for 40+ years. I'm now 60. Still enjoy every day I work, but my hearing is quite bad. My painful feet will probably bring my career to an end though. I'm going to keep going as long as I can.
Yep! I worked at dealerships for over 18 yrs and your tech talk here is all right…. I have done and seen it all. I don’t work in that industry now. I found a better job working now at a school. My body is in pain all the time. Knees, that one knee still hurts thanks for that talk. Guys this guy is telling the truth!
Congrats on getting out. Yeah hopefully slowly healing. Talked to young guys who's hands don't hurt at end of day anymore. It's a process if possible to heal. Ty for response
In 50 year old instruction manuals it already stated that working with oil , new and old, to wear rubber gloves. Oil, gas it penetrates the skin, gets into the blood, and it is all nasty stuff. Brake fluid and transmission fluid being the worst. I knew a couple of cases of guys that did not mind and at a certain point got ill and were soon gone. Automotive industry that was. My father worked in marine industry and never got any of that but has (had) many issues due to a life of alcohol and smoking, which seems to be standard in that industry.
You can't blame the industry for smoking and drinking. That's a personal choice, just is the job, you can leave at any time.
I am in Australia. I lasted 50 years in the heavy truck and machinery game. It wasn’t until after I got lung cancer at age 65 that I started to notice all the people that I knew who had wierd cancers and auto immune diseases. Now that you mentioned it mental issues as well. I have hearing loss and joint issues as well. Wear your PPE.
I should of mentioned the stress/mental problems that go with this industry. Hope your and your friends are recovering!
**Weird**
I think two things are needed. I get it, we're all tough guys but take your breaks. They don't pay you more or promote you for not taking them. Wear your ppe. Refuse to do the work without it. I'm pretty sure if the job requires it, they are supposed to supply it.
That's the other thing, grow a pair. Stand up & remember you want to be able to hear, see, move without pain when you're chasing your grandchildren around the backyard. Or you want to retire some day- do you really want to physically not be able to enjoy that?
In a flat rate shop they do pay you more for not taking your breaks. Pay is based on production. The quicker you can finish a job, the more you make, and the quicker you can get to the next batch of jobs and get the best job waiting. I’ve worked in shops where the young guys worked nonstop for 10+ hours, ate a couple of sandwiches while on a job, just trying to turn more hours.
"Tough Guyism" is really bad in trades and industry jobs. If you are the guy that says "hold up I need to get my ppe" it will be nothing but "oh hes gotta go get his purse!" and other clown shit, or worse actually getting yelled at for wasting time. Toxic stuff like that is what keeps a lot of people out of those fields
I tried to become a mechanic back in 04-05 with ford. The old guys I actually listen to and told me to get out and pick a different career unless you work for Ferrari or etc. you won’t make $, I later on learned the value of leverage and worked in construction. When a machine beaks down it’s not “ how much is it to fix it” it’s “ how fast can you fix it”? I then started to move to engineering and designing electrical systems since I didn’t want my body to break down. That’s my advice for anyone who wants to be a mechanic, you have to be a specialist to make $ and have leverage
I finished one year of tech school for auto. I’ve been fighting with myself about continuing my education in the field endlessly. There’s so much pressure from my family to become a “real mechanic” and move on from the tire shop i work at.
Anyways, this video was a reality check for me. I’m not willing to destroy my body to make my parents proud. I’ll find something different and less destructive. Thank you for making me and many others aware of these dangers..
As much as I hate to see another apprentice leave you probably just saved your long term health! Take it easy out there man
64 year old truck driver owner here. I’ve messed up my back both shoulders, knees and neck working on equipment. Both lungs are about 1/2 from brake dust, welding fumes, and painting with a substandard respirator. I ended up in the hospital one night after spraying du Pont imron. That was back in the early 80’s. My lungs never recovered from that. I still run a truck and do most all my own work on them but now it takes me all day to do what I used to do all day. I preach at young guys about picking up heavy stuff or jumping off truck and trailers, they all laugh just like most of us here did back in the day.
I'm 57 I've had 32 operations. All orthopedic, knees replaced, back fusions, who's watching out for us? Nobody I haven't gotten one dime for any of my injuries. I've been a wrench 40 yrs.
Holy moly. Well hope your healing. Keep hoping younger guys see this and rethink what there doing and this trade
I’m a retired tech from a major dealer group in Ontario, Started as a kid pulling brake drums at a Uniroyal Tire Centre, in those days the practice was to blow the brake shoes off with shop air, leaving a huge brown cloud. No proper footwear, hearing protection and on
Later years I had a couple dozen apprentices i did everything in my power to talk them out of this horrible trade
So here I am 66. Both hips replaced, bad back, arthritis in the whole body and yes constant ringing in my ears. And oh yea No pension !! Other than $1366/mon from the government.
Great video, sadly just the tip of the iceberg
Like, Subscribe and Share with every tech and appreciate in my orbit
Yeah, the pension thing hurts too. Well, hey, if you changed one apprenticed course in your career, you did more than they'll ever realise later in life!
Great video man and I agree 100%. People laugh about safety for some reason in the industrial maintenance field for factories. Thinks it makes them look cool until a grinder disc explodes and sticks in them lol. Biggest problem I know I’ll have when I get older is arthritis from constantly using your hands. That’s probably the only thing I think I would have added but great video!
Same thing working on the production line in factories. So many guys don’t care about the safety of themselves or anyone else.
i got carpal tunnel in my right hand in my 30's and had a surgery to fix it . I kept on with maintenance and now at 47 its back this time in both hands. sometimes you don't have to be "old" for your hands to give out
@@williambrennan5701Very true good point man!
Glad someone made this video im apprenticing with a 63 year old and all he tells me about is his regrets when he was my age when it comes to safety.
Sounds like he's going to try and look out for you. Start now! :)
Starting working on cars at 11 now 60, by time I was 40 had knee surgery, double hernia, elbow surgery and hand surgery. Then in 2009 was was out in my garage blew out L4 and L5 discs, what a living hell. Finally had surgery in 2016 after trying everything, took 2 years to recover. Then in 2021 had sepsis from the titanium in my back, they removed most but the rest is to life threatening to remove. Live daily with severe back pain shooting pain down my legs and numbness in my feet. I’ll be on pain meds for the rest of my life.
Ty for replying. If more young people can get into better habits by reading everyone's stories hopefully they can do better or get away from this industry
@@Lancemechanics what are less debilitating industries we can go into?
Man I'm sure glad I have some company 🥶🤣. In the pain department
@@first_last01 honestly I’d get into the parts end of this industry, that way your still in it but without tearing up your body.
I work as a generator tech. Basically work outside all day. Still needed to watch this video . Thank you for posting this. Videos like this need to be played as a safety video . Not some bullshit about how to drive safe and how to wear a reflective vest
ty that means alot :)
I'm only a couple months into cars working in a garage at 19, the very little I experienced is the immediate effects of brake fluid on my hands, that oil makes the skin on my fingers peel. Gonna get gloves soon, then I'll try to introduce all the other stuff into workdays. This video did help reminding me of things I never even thought about lol thanks
Glad I could help man! Take care now and protect your self. Also gl I your careerA
Thank you for making this call out. I'm a graduated mechanic but I don't work this profession on a regular basis. I got laughed at by my colleagues for using nitril gloves, I told them about the chemical dangers of the substances we were touching and some of them listened; some of them told me "I have to die of something"
I’m actually extremely glad to hear someone talk about this because you’re making me think about things that no one‘s ever taught me or mentioned. I’m 27 hopefully I can still be saved.
Glad to hear. Get those habits going
This is the first TH-cam video I've seen that's even covered this. Everthing you said is true and all the people who have worked in a repair shop know it. I worked for over 25 years on industrial equipment with all the welding and cutting torch smoke, the fumes from brake cleaner, paint, equipment being blown out with an air hose. So I would say definitely use your ppe, but really I would advise anybody in this business to get out while you can. If you make it to retirement you'll be so glad you did.
Thanks for putting out these videos.
its mind boggling how no one brings any thing up. its known but i don't know! I used to crusade for apprentices in the industry. now i fight for them to avoid it and choose better options. I love automotive but not blindly enough to ruin peoples lives. Continue to put out more videos. I enjoy this. going to split it up when i have more free time to get back into the teaching aspect of it.
I am so glad to be a mechanic for the State. They harp on PPE and safety constantly. Tons of mechanics make it all the way to 65 and have long happy retirements. I wear gloves all the time. We have a fully ventilated shop. I always wear safety glasses. I wear ear pro whenever I fire up a grinder. We take our time and do things safely and correctly.
That is awesome! The way it should be everywhere. congrats on finding a good gig!
Your one of the smarter one's like me after 20 years I finally got in with the county working on fire trucks but there is no escaping all the exhaust fumes and noise. But at least I had a steady paycheck, benefits, job security, and retirement 😊
Great Video!! Started at my dealer a week after graduating highschool and now I’m about to turn 21. Upper back, neck, intermittent wrist and feet all hurt on a daily along with the ringing in my ears if I try to fall asleep without a fan on or the constant muscle soreness/fatigue. It’s rough on your body being an auto mechanic. I wish I wore hearing protection when I started. I miss when my ears would hurt whenever using an impact but now it sounds normal. This video really knocked some sense into me and made me reflect on how I treat myself at work. I’m going to start wearing hearing protection when needed, using a pad when having to kneel and I really want to start doing yoga/stretches(I know sounds super masculine lmao). I just want my body to feel normal again 🥲
Yeah do yoga. It will save you man@
I’m an industrial engineer, and this video was amazing and applicable. Great video!
Ty. Hoping to save a few young guys or anyone from a world of hurt and seeing lots of people from other industries with same issues
I'm just about to fall into being a mechanic apprentice after simply being a receptionist. I've worked at the shop for just a couple of months and I've basically already heard and seen everything you've touched upon in the video. Hell, even being in a room next to the shop itself for 12hrs ends up in having a weird smell all over your clothes, hair, skin and whatnot. Grease is just everywhere. And that's JUST being in the next room.
I'm a bit torn on whether or not I should make such a switch. Maybe it's better to ditch the whole industry all together.
Man, this life thing is kinda complicated.
Thanks so much for filming and posting this, it should be seen by millions of people. One day, hopefully.
If it looks bad. It's bad then. Check out hvac, plumbing. Electrical, lab equipment repair. Tones of industries where yes you get worn out. But nothing like mechanics
@@Lancemechanics yeah. And what bums me out is that I genuinely like the idea of working on cars, it's just sad how that idea gets shattered by the grim reality of the conditions you have to put up with to do that.
It's possible to enjoy it and be safe just work on classics and use proper PPE new cars and their problems are a headache and sometimes you just end up screwing someone with expensive emissions equipment that they can't afford if you live in a smog state
Great video. I'm 43 and already have hearing loss and constant tinnitus.. In addition to everything you spoke about, I worked with so many guys who were also heavy smokers and drinkers, myself included... I'm trying now to save what ive got left.
Thanks for reply. Never to late to start :)
Thanks for making this video! I started paying attention to hearing protection after my shop (I'm a machinist) got a particularly noisy machine in, and that's been a big help in protecting the hearing I have left. But better still would have been starting when I was younger - hope some of the kids watching really listen to what you're saying!
I’m a Trim/Electrical tech at Ford and Lincoln. I’m 26 and I just started working in the industry last October. I always stretched my interest past trim/electrical and to also do line work, but one of the vets told me to stay in Trim/Electrical “trims guys last longer”. I wear gloves during every single job I do. I will occasionally do flexible brake hoses, but I make sure to wear my safety glasses and gloves. Thanks for the informative video!
67 here. Mechanic for 25 years, then got a "soft" job for another 20 years. No problems here except my knees, which just started recently. Still work on my old junky project cars all summer. No PPE ever. I must be extremely lucky. I had back pain while a mechanic for 13 years and beat it with physical therapy and doing the proper exercises daily for about a year.
Congrats on making it man!
Can you share what your exercises are? Appreciate your story, thank you
@@sultanofswingdrift3021 My pain was between my shoulder blades. To much hanging over engine bays I think. I used surgical tubing held out in front of me, then moved my arms straight out from my sides. Started with latex sheet, moved up slowly to surgical tubing, then double surgical tubing. About three minutes every morning. Did some straight up instead of to the side as well, but mostly straight out like making a cross. Good luck.
Omg dude what a great video for bringing awareness to this! I was a mechanic and luckily I suffered from an early back injury. Yes, luckily because i had to re event my self to protect my lower back. I’m glad that i found a job as a parts advisor. Now i can walk, sit or stand when i want and that’s just perfect for me.
Hey congrats on finding something that works for you and ty for response!
this was a very well-put-together video that covered tons of crucial points. i really wish the industry stressed these points to the youth, and i really wish a lot of us would listen to the old heads. this physical strain that i am experiencing at 23 is absurd, it has me rethinking my entire career path.
Ty for the response. I'm sure a few people have changed there habits. It's never talked about. Be safe man!
Get out now if you value your life.
I’m 39 and been on trucks since 12 years old, I grew up working on my dad’s trucks all my holidays etc. I have spondylitis in my back, my left knee is due to be replaced January next year. But I’ve made a lot of money but my family has suffered with me always at work. I wish I’d never seen a truck as a kid now.
Ty for response. Yeah we give up alot to be in these industries. At the end all we want is time not money
My dad loved the job, lasted longer than many, made it to 72, lung cancer was diagnosed and he was gone in one year, he had so much more life left to live. This was after twenty years of physical suffering. Now I literally am working his job in his shop and Im only 33, I wear masks and gloves, ears and eyes, still feel like I'm not going to make it long. If somebody asks why a job costs a lot tell them because the mechanic doing it will probably be dead soon doing their dirty work.
Brother is an electrician. Plenty of carcinogens in his job too. I tell him same thing..
I think something else that should be emphasized in blue-collar fields is stretching before you start your day. Im talking full-body, static stretches, on the clock, before you start. It feels kinda dumb, yes, but you will feel much better after hitting a brake rotor or wheel hub off with a sledgehammer if you stretch, both before you start and at the end of the day. You'll be less sore, less likely to injure yourself, and by taking care of your body you wont feel like youre 80 in your 50's. Athletes stretch before workouts and competitions, and if your job requires manual labor all day, you should too.
I work in a beverage factory, a lot of (older) Philippino ladies there. After an hour or so sitting or standing, some of them do a little stretch/movement routine together, probably would be a good idea to join them sometime.
My dad is 63, he worked in Auto Body until he was 58 (40 years). Everyone at the shop told him he was the oldest mechanic they had ever seen in a shop.
He has osteo-arthritis, bad knees, shoulders, a torn rotator cuff. Fused several spine vertebra, he had pneumonia twice and now they found a mass on his good lung. He has memory and focus issues. I remember him using brakleen by the can and he only wore PPE when he was using an orbital sander.
Wear your PPE.
I was two-thirds through my Army career before I heard leaders pushing PPE. I was in helicopter maintenance for over 25 years, and the damage is hard to imagine. I joined in 1981, and back then safety was joke. All talk, but hurry up and get it fixed! The first people we observed complying with protective equipment were our contracted civilians. Why were they all using nitrile gloves? I'm 61 now, and the damage has definitely taken its toll. Thanks for a great video. Young guy, Listen up!
Your right about everything it's a bad industry when it comes to human health all the chemicals we use like brake cleaner carburetor cleaner it's bad stuff great video men.
ty :)
I always worked without gloves until I developed a diesel allergy. Just filling up the car without gloves makes my skin fall off now. Now I always work with these gloves and I really don't understand why I didn't do that before. You get used to it so quickly. And it makes such a huge difference for your hands 🤯
beginning heavy duty diesel tech here, I'm honestly glad I stumbled on this video now instead of later when I've already developed bad habits and 5 different types of cancer. I know I can be very stubborn about stuff lol so its a good thing I've been made aware of this stuff now rather than later. hopefully I'm able to find a place to work at that doesn't treat me like shit and actually respects me as a human being, but from what I've seen of the industry thus far it seems a lot rarer than it should be. thanks for the insightful video man
Take care out there! Glad it was helpful
I was a mechanic in the '80's and '90's. Almost no health protections were followed where I worked at. The newish brake shoes, pads, and the clutch disks no longer had asbestos, but I questioned the safety of the new materials. Nobody in the shop had an answer (This was pre-Internet). It was ASSumbed to be safe. I also wondered if the brand new synthetic fluids and other new chemicals might cause health issues in the future. Those concerns + the lying book rate times and the crappy mechanics who earned more money than me by taking shortcuts in repairs which short-changed the customers is why I left the profession! I sure am glad that I left! You guys be safe out there!!!!
Holy crap, I remember a VW garage from my childhood, they were running old vws engines all day long inside that warehouse, no air filters of any kind, long before the days of unleaded petrol. The amount of exhaust fumes they inhaled defies human imagination...
wonder how many of them are doing at older ages :(
The part about shop air quality is REALLY important. It first occurred to me when I was working at a large dealership and they moved us techs around the shop. This shop had built in workstations so we would take our desktop computers with us to our new workstation and it was during disassembling those computers that I noticed the tops of the cabinets and toolboxes were coated in a thick, oily, dusty, sludge like substance. I'm thinking "damn. We are breathing in this crap all day long!" 🤔
I am pretty good at wearing safety glasses but I still got a small piece of metal in my eye late one afternoon. I was using my air gun to blow the bottom of an engine clean that I had just worked on when something got in my eye. It must have blown in my eye around or behind my safety glasses. I tried several times to rinse my eye but could not get it. Since it was nearly shut down time, I did not report it and decided to try and rinse it out in my shower at home. Then I tried to sleep it off. The next day, by about lunch time it was still bothering me so I told management I needed to go have it looked at. It turns out in those 12-14 hours or so, my eye had grown over that piece of metal and they had to cut it out at the hospital. It wasn't as big a deal as it might sound but if I had reported the incident promptly and went to deal with it that evening instead of waiting, I think it would have been a much easier process.
that's always a hard one. even ive done it. proper reporting of injuries at the time will save you in the long run! tell young guys all the time! report it.
I was removing a bodykit and while drilling the rivets a metal splint went in my eye, I wasn't wearing any goggles which I now do for pretty much anything, I couldn't remove it myself so went straight to the hospital. They put something in my eye to numb it and brushed it out with a cotton bud or something similar. Definitely a wake up call and for the time sat in the waiting room let alone the damage it can cause always worth taking the time to wear the correct PPE.
I been a mechamic for 48 yrs. Back in the 70's, we use to blow off the brakes with an air hose. I had asbestos powder in my nose , my mouth, all over me. We didnt know it caused cancer.
Sure, same situation with stuff we're using now. We don't know until we know :( safety is written in blood, unfortunately. Hoppe, you're doing well currently
@@Lancemechanics we dont know what were playing with. I got asthma at age 45 due to exposre of diesel exhaust, but im ok thanks
Video every youngster and oldster should watch. Protect yourself at all time. Money can't buy you health.
I'm just about forty and am still in pretty damn good condition. I do a lot of the same protection you do and the worst injuries I've had are a broken knuckle, a very badly bruised shin from slamming it into a step stool, a very badly sprained wrist, and tennis elbow and rotator cuff repetitive stress injuries. Those last two were the absolute worst, they took years to heal.
But working out, stretching, regular massages, and a good diet will dramatically help prevent injury and illness.
I still remember going with my mom in the early 60's to the brake and tire shop. There was a glass window where customers could watch mechanics working. Drum brakes back then would accumulate brake dust inside and cause brake squealing. So the easy fix was to lift the car on the hoist and blow compressed air into the drums. I remember seeing mechanics in a cloud of asbestos laden brake dust. They didn't even wear masks (not that those even existed back then). I've often wondered since then how many of those young mechanics never made it out of their 30's. 😢
That or they're hurting atm
Good video and a topic rarely discussed. I'm an "old guy" and luckily don't work in the industry anymore but have worked in every aspect of the auto industry as well as others. When I was an apprentice /young mechanic, there was no safety, PPE, OHS, etc. I was the only one who wore gloves! I started in the heavy vehicle industry but moved into many areas. There were no catalytic converters, DPFs, Scrubbers, etc. When a bus/truck started up in the morning, the whole site filled up with toxic smoke until they warmed up. We breathed this. How no one died is beyond me. Everything contained asbestos, especially brake shoes. People used to blow brake dust everywhere. Parts would be hand washed with kerosene or other petroleum product. Even the hand cleaner was toxic. Vehicles were noisy compared to today. Not to mention the wear and stress on the body. These days you have the added mental stress of poorly designed, highly technical and almost non repairable vehicles, workshop and economic pressures. I'm in good health because I moved around across various jobs, businesses and industries. I took care of myself. Safety first! I was always body aware and did all sorts of activities and training to counterbalance the effects of the negative work environment. No one mentions diet. What apprentices eat and drink is not food! Cans of red bull, monster and other shit as well as big macs and drugs. Wake up! The dealership will not care if you're not there tomorrow. Will these guys make it to thirty?
The open insulation on the shop walls is making me itch and sneeze. Excellent content and lots of great comments.
Glad you enjoyed it
I’m 70, mechanicing since 72. Did a lot of fabrication and welding 89 to 03. Retired in 03. Bile duct cancer 2015. Still plugging away waking up everyday. Quality of life not great. Neighbor was a mechanic since 69. Died of prostate cancer in 2014. Neighbor on the other side body man then heavy equipment mechanic. Fighting prostate cancer right now. My Snap On man, in shops all day. Alzheimer’s. Old mechanic I used to see getting takeout food. Huge ugly melanomas on his head. Dead now.
Hope you and all the other old timers pull through! this trade takes everything and gives so little at the end
@@Lancemechanics Thanks.
This a great wake-up vid, makes you think. Not just automotive but any things we have constant repeated interaction with. We have to look at things we do day-in & day-out with a new pair of eyes thank you for this 👌🏽
Going to concerts, listening to music loudly, the list goes on
Thankyou for addressing this.
Before I left my career as an automotive mechanic. I was regularly ridiculed for wearing gloves while working.
I hope one day that mentality dissapears for ever. Good on you for continuing to wear ppe despite it
Im 37, been a millwright for 16 years and i wish i didnt see this but glad i did at the same time. Much love to the men thaf sacrifice for their family, i would love to go a different route but the money keeps me here.
Thanks for posting about this. I'm not a professional mechanic, but I'm fully aware of PPE. When I was younger, working as a facility maintenance technician, I did a lot of stupid stuff without proper PPE. I just did not know better. Know that I know, I always use PPE, gloves, masks, etc. I also run an air purifier in my garage. I'm not sure how much it helps but its better than nothing.
Good video!
I think this needs a lot more publicity. No one talks abt this. Or this is not talked abt enough. I have lived my whole life in the automotive industry, since I was little. I have never seen a tech who is over 60 years of age. Or have never heard of one.
they're rare and its wild how other techs talk about it in person but not publicly. The heavy equipment/mining industry is all about safety and its opened my eyes. hopefully change can happen in the auto industry
I made it to 68. Not many jobs that are as rewarding as an automotive tech. I have been rewarded with a broken body.
Here in the UK never seen a mechanic wearing gloves sadly they all have hands covered in oil and also WD-40 which causing bone cancer , my late dad used to be a Mig welder for the MOD fabricating Aircraft and weaponry dead by 59 from bone cancer and it is not a nice way to go 7 years of hell so yeah wear gloves people ! don't risk your life.
Damn. Sorry for your loss. Everywhere needs to improve
@@Lancemechanics Cheers from the UK and yeah health and safety needs improvement to save lives and educate the next generation.
My mom said "you work on your own truck all the time, why dont you become a mechanic?" This is why. Was doing my fuel injectors and didnt realize i had tiny cuts all over my hands and then they get covered in all the soot/oil/grease, who knows how many carcinogens ive ingested. I love it when my truck runs, hate doing the work on it myself. If theyre not gonna provide proper PPE and make efforts to keep the shop safe yall should at least get hazard pay
A guy I knew worked at a machine shop that manufactured nuts and bolts and small things like that. They used huge lathes with six spindles going at once and everything was bathed in cutting oils. The entire shop had oil misted all over and smelled terrible. The workers always seemed to have this rash and pimples on their hands and wrists. The called it "The Jones Clap" after the company name. Many of those guys died of cancers in their 50's and some even earlier.
Ahh. :( pretty sad other people in other industries are getting it rough too. It's like all this has gone under the radar for too long
I can apply these tips to a diy mechanic like myself. Thanks for sharing.
Glad to help
Excellent advice about protecting your body in this demanding occupation. Should be part of the orientation process for new technicians and mechanics. I’m so grateful to be able to take my vehicle to a shop for maintenance and repairs they I’m hopelessly inept st doing myself. You keep us moving!
Ty for response. It will take some time but industry will change
Very true stuff, i got out of the industry after being a mechanic for 25 years. Feel so much better but one thing you could have mentioned is people blowing out brakes/clutches, even air filters etc. Great video mate
Congrats on getting out. Yeah who knows what's in that stuff too
After a couple of days to process your video, I agree completely! But you should talk about more about health related problems. As a mastertech of 35+ years, I see poor stress management, eating habits, and poor money management leading to older techs demise. Not to mention alcohol and other drug problems. Most simply do not have a plan to retirement, the employers do not provide a path!
I've been thinking more and more about that. I'd really have to put some serious effort to make it right. Even if it goes under the radar. Your 100% right. They are some big issues
I don't care, life is boring without work now. Everything is expensive, everyone is rude to each other. Unfortunately and fortunately, working in my shop or hanging out after hours with my employees that I see as family and friends brings me more fulfillment in life than the general public could ever come close to. The dating pool for my generation is so out of control that I don't want to deal with getting married and having kids to end up like the majority of modern relationships. I have done everything for myself for long enough that it has brought me to the conclusion that I don't want to die in a nursing home where all I can do is sit in a recliner and watch tv - if I can't take care of myself or be active, I want my life to be over. It might sound dark, but my shop has given me a life that makes me happy, and when my time comes, I am happy with how my life has turned out.
Make the environment work for you. It's true. We spend more time with our coworkers then our own family@
A well-said comment.
I'm 63 I hurt every hr because of two spinal fusions not sure if it's from being a tech for 30 years or all the crazy stuff I did in my younger days but I couldn't agree with you more. I'm sure I would do all of it again 🎉😂
Loved this video. I can relate to all this. I worked for years bad air quality. I totally agree with everything you said. Health issues now I should have taken more care of my health. Thanks for a great video.
Thank you :)
This hits too close to home. Thank you for making this.
Thanks for listening