Week: 1 Safety and Tools

Safety

Week one in the diesel program we are covering many different types of tools and also safety rules and regulations. One thing I have found very interesting is just how almost every part on a mechanical diesel engine is very heavy and the potential for a crushing injury is very high. With proper lift techniques and regular equipment inspections, the risk of injury is cut down. Many things we have learned about safety in the classroom(below) I have applied at my work shop and feel much safer and prepared. I also found that the amount of accidents that are preventable is astonishing. many lives could be saved with small amounts of safety knowledge. Being aware of the rules and what's going on around you is absolute necessary when working in any environment even the easiest of jobs can turn into a dangerous situation if handled carelessly.

Tools
We have also been going over many different tools and styles that work best in the industry and what to expect to need in my future career. I have been curious every since I decided on my career path on what to buy when it comes to tools and equipment there are so many different options it can be slightly overwhelming but Lester has made very clear opinions on what is best for beginning mechanics and what he has used in his work experience. We also learned how to use some precision measuring tools like calipers and micrometers which I have used in the past to measure rotor and drum thickness at my work but it was nice to learn a little more about the best styles and how they are used in the diesel mechanics field. Below is a micrometer we used to measure various diameters and lengths of round objects like bearings and various types of piping. it was very informative and I learned a lot on how to use analog micrometers I have only used digital ones in the past but the analog style and the math behind it was very fun.