The Hazards of Dismantling a Car

• Recyclingy your car Is environmentally friendly but not without hazards. Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images

  Some of your car's switches, sensors and displays contain mercury---an extremely dangerous chemical. Gasoline is toxic; direct contact will damage your skin. Though most dangerous when it turns to vapor, gas has the potential to ignite; remove the empty gas tank before using any cutting tools near it. Cars are full of other mildly dangerous chemicals, thought they might present obscure danger. While draining coolant, for example, consider children and pets who might try to consume the colored, sweet liquid. Think about what removing oil might do to your working environment, making the floor, jack stands or your grip on tools slippery.

Air Bags

• An air bag might save your life in an accident, but an undeployed air bag presents a potential hazard when you dismantle your car. Air bags can deploy inadvertently, and working on a car could put you right in the way. Remove and recycle air bags; do not deploy them.

Battery

• As long as you have a charged battery in the vehicle, the potential exists for electrical shock. While the possibility of shocking yourself with a car battery remains extremely low under normal circumstances, you can easily cut wires or inadvertently create an unintended circuit when dismantling a car. Remove the battery before beginning work to recycle your car.

Gravity

• Once you've removed dangerous chemicals, vapors, air bag and battery, you must set about physically dismantling the car. Regardless of your technique and sequence, gravity presents a significant hazard. Consider what would happen if the jack failed, or the tire popped, or the part you think is firmly affixed suddenly came loose. Familiarity with a car that is usually safe may give you a false sense of security when new dangers arise from taking it apart piece by piece.

Cutting

• You'll find some stages of dismantling easier if you cut metal away. You might use might a plasma cutter, cutting wheel or oxy-acetylene torch. Each of these tools presents its own hazard. While plasma cutters may look dangerous, they're probably the safest of the three; they're less likely to injure you directly. They also cut more easily than the others. If you cut through something heavy, keep in mind what will happen when it comes loose: Anticipate gravity. Cutting wheels pose a number of hazards. For one, they can send sparks for 25 feet. Also, they have a tendency to bind; when they do, the wheel may jerk your hand in a direction you don't anticipate. Wear heavy leather gloves, watch out for sharp edges and mind the direction the tool wants to pull you. Torches present the same danger as plasma cutters with the additional danger that if you touch your flesh with a torch or fall on it, it will definitely hurt you, whereas a plasma cutter needs metal (not flesh) to cut. Establish good footing and wear protective clothing. Wear a leather welding jacket, and always wear eye protection.