Student Centers’ Policies
University of Delaware Car Smash Safety Procedures
IF YOUR ORGANIZATION IS PLANNING A CAR SMASH ON CAMPUS THEN
YOU NEED TO MEET WITH AN ACTIVITIES & PROGRAMS PROFESSIONAL
STAFF MEMBER BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE FOLLOWING….
Departments to Notify and have Present at event:
1. Department
of Public Safety must be contacted two weeks before event is
scheduled to be held. A Public Safety Officer must be present
during the entire event until the vehicle is towed from campus. Contact
Public Safety at x2224 to make arrangements.
2. Department
of Occupational Health and Safety must be contacted two weeks
before event is scheduled to be held. A DOHS representative
must be present during the entire event until the vehicle is
towed from campus. Contact Robin Elliott, Director, at
x8476 to make arrangements.
Event Site Preparation:
- Site of the event must allow clear and free access to the
vehicle to be smashed. A minimum perimeter of 25 feet
must be maintained around the entire vehicle. No people
will be permitted within 25 feet of the car except the participant.
- The entire perimeter area must be cordoned off with barrier
tape except a 3 foot wide opening for participants to enter
through to gain access to the vehicle.
- The car must be placed on a single sheet of heavy duty polyethylene
sheeting (6-mil) to prevent any remaining vehicle fluid droppings
from hitting the ground.
- All 4 wheels of the vehicle must be chocked,
with automotive wheel chocks, to prevent unexpected movement. (See
for detail)
- The site of the event must be level and free of ruts and
other tripping hazards.
Vehicle Preparation for the Event:
- Prior to the vehicle being towed to the site, the vehicle
must be prepared. The Department of Occupational Health
and Safety will perform a final inspection of the vehicle when
it is brought onto campus and prior to the start of the event. Preparation
of the vehicle includes:
a. Removal
of all fluids. This includes but is not limited to: coolant,
gasoline, washer fluid and automatic / manual transmission fluid.
b. Removal
of all batteries.
c. Removal
of all glass and side view mirrors.
d. Removal
of all air bags, if so equipped.
e. Removal
of gasoline tank.
f. Removal
of engine block.
g. Removal
of refrigerant, if so equipped.
Personal Protection Equipment and Sledgehammer
All participants must wear the following personal protective
equipment (PPE). Failure to wear the personal protective
equipment will prevent them from participating. All PPE
will be inspected by the Department of Occupational Health and
Safety for condition prior to the event commencing. Web
Links and phone numbers are provided for approved PPE.
- Heavy duty leather work gloves.
- Safety goggles.
- Combination hard hat and face shield. Contact Lab Safety
Supply at (800) 356-0783 and request a complete set-up for
hard hat and faceshield combination kit.
- Closed toe footware must be worn (sneakers are acceptable). No
opened toe footware or barefeet are permitted.
Sledgehammer(s) to be used for the event must meet the following
requirements: (See
for details)
- The head of the sledge hammer must be flat on both ends. No
edged or axed ends are permitted.
- Handle of sledge hammer must be made of rubber, fiberglass
or composite material, no wooden handles are permitted due
to high potential for breakage.
- Sledge hammer must be in good physical shape and head must
be tight. Sledge hammer must be checked and inspected
by the DOHS representative after every 5 participants to check
for integrity. Damaged sledge hammers will be removed
from the event.
- Sledge hammer must not weigh more than 10 pounds.
- Participants are not allowed on any part of the vehicle at
any time. Both feet must remain on the ground at all
times.
Conclusion of Event
- Arrangements must be made to remove / tow the vehicle off
campus immediately following the event. Public Safety
must remain on-site until the vehicle is towed off campus.
- The ground area around and underneath the vehicle will be
surveyed for pieces that may have broken off during the event. Any
pieces will be placed back into the vehicle prior to it being
removed from campus.
- The plastic sheeting under the vehicle will be inspected
for automotive fluids. If free of automotive fluids,
the plastic sheeting may be disposed of into the normal trash. The
Department of Occupational Health and Safety will remove and
properly dispose of any plastic sheeting contaminated with
automotive fluids.
Developed by the Office of Occupational Health & Safety Feb
2007
|