# Safety Equipment & Clothing Part of the Automotive Maintenance Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/automotive-maintenance/guide/index.md) *1. Safety & Registration* > **1b.** Discuss with your counselor the safety equipment, tools, and clothing used while checking or repairing a motor vehicle. Use this equipment, tools, and/or clothing (when needed or called for) in meeting the requirements for this merit badge. Before you touch a single bolt, you need the right gear. Just like a firefighter would never enter a burning building without protective equipment, you should never work on a vehicle without the proper safety gear, tools, and clothing. The right equipment protects you from the hazards we discussed in Requirement 1a and makes every job easier and safer. ### Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) PPE is gear you wear to protect your body from injury. In an automotive shop, the most important items are: **Essential PPE for Automotive Work** — Wear these every time you work on a vehicle - [ ] Safety glasses or goggles: Protect your eyes from flying debris, chemical splashes, and brake dust. Regular eyeglasses are not a substitute — they do not have side shields. - [ ] Nitrile or mechanic's gloves: Shield your hands from chemicals like brake fluid, coolant, and used oil. Nitrile gloves are chemical-resistant and disposable. Heavier mechanic's gloves add cut and abrasion protection. - [ ] Closed-toe shoes or boots: Protect your feet from dropped tools and heavy parts. Steel-toe boots are ideal. Never wear sandals or sneakers in the shop. - [ ] Hearing protection: Power tools like impact wrenches and grinders can damage your hearing over time. Foam earplugs or earmuffs are inexpensive insurance. > **Safety First!** > > Remove all jewelry — rings, watches, bracelets, and necklaces — before working on a vehicle. A ring caught on a moving part or touching a battery terminal can cause a severe injury or burn in an instant. Tie back long hair for the same reason. ### Clothing What you wear matters more than you might think. - **Fitted clothing** — Loose shirts, dangling sleeves, and untucked shirttails can get caught in belts, pulleys, and fans. Wear fitted clothes or roll up your sleeves. - **Long pants** — Protect your legs from hot surfaces, sharp edges, and chemical splashes. Jeans or heavy work pants are ideal. - **No synthetic fabrics near sparks** — If you are grinding or welding, polyester and nylon can melt onto your skin. Wear cotton or flame-resistant fabrics for those tasks. > **Tip** > > Keep a dedicated set of "shop clothes" that you don't mind getting stained. Old jeans and a fitted cotton t-shirt are perfect. Change out of them when you are done so you don't track grease and chemicals into your home. ![Safety equipment laid out neatly on a workbench: safety glasses, nitrile gloves, mechanic's gloves, ear plugs, and steel-toe boots](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/automotive-maintenance/guide/ppe-lineup?v=423962a1) ### Essential Hand Tools A good set of hand tools is the foundation of automotive work. You do not need a professional-grade collection to get started — a basic set will cover most of the tasks in this merit badge. **Starter Tool Kit** — The basics every Scout mechanic needs - [ ] Socket set (metric and SAE): The most-used tools in automotive work. Sockets fit over bolt heads and nuts for fast, secure turning. - [ ] Combination wrenches (metric and SAE): Open-end and box-end wrenches for bolts in tight spaces where a socket cannot reach. - [ ] Screwdriver set: Phillips and flat-head in multiple sizes. - [ ] Pliers: Needle-nose for small items, slip-joint for general use, and locking pliers (like Vise-Grips) for stubborn fasteners. - [ ] Torque wrench: Measures how tightly a bolt is tightened. Critical for lug nuts, drain plugs, and many engine components. - [ ] Oil filter wrench: Designed to grip and remove oil filters without crushing them. - [ ] Funnel set: For adding fluids without spilling. A small funnel for oil and a larger one for coolant. - [ ] Drain pan: Catches used oil and other fluids during changes. > **Did You Know?** > > Most American-made vehicles before the 1980s used SAE (inch-based) fasteners, while most imports used metric. Today, nearly all new vehicles — including American brands — use metric fasteners exclusively. However, you may still encounter SAE bolts on older vehicles, so having both sets is smart. ### Shop Safety Equipment Beyond personal gear, a properly equipped shop has safety features built into the workspace. **Shop Safety Essentials** — Every workspace should have these - [ ] Fire extinguisher: ABC-rated (handles ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, and electrical fires). Mount it near the exit so you can grab it on your way out — or on your way to the fire. - [ ] First-aid kit: Stocked with bandages, antiseptic, burn cream, and eye wash. - [ ] Jack stands: Heavy-duty stands rated for the vehicle's weight. The jack lifts the car; jack stands hold it. - [ ] Wheel chocks: Blocks placed against the tires that stay on the ground to prevent the vehicle from rolling. - [ ] Adequate lighting: A drop light or LED work light lets you see what you are doing. Working in the dark leads to mistakes and injuries. - [ ] Ventilation: An open garage door, exhaust fan, or tailpipe hose. Essential whenever the engine is running. ![A car properly supported on jack stands on a flat concrete surface, with wheel chocks visible on the rear tires and a hydraulic floor jack set to the side](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/automotive-maintenance/guide/jack-stands-safety?v=de6949a1) ### Keeping Your Workspace Clean A clean shop is a safe shop. Oil on the floor is a slip hazard. Tools left on the ground are tripping hazards. Rags soaked with oil or solvents can spontaneously combust if left in a pile. - Clean up spills immediately with absorbent material. - Put tools back in their place when you are done using them. - Dispose of oily rags in a sealed metal container — never toss them in a regular trash can. - Keep walkways clear so you can move quickly in an emergency. > **Be Prepared! Chemical Splash in Your Eyes** > > If brake fluid, coolant, or battery acid splashes in your eyes: > > - **Do not rub your eyes.** This can push the chemical deeper. > - **Flush immediately** with clean water for at least 15 minutes. Use an eyewash station if one is available, or hold your eye open under a gentle stream of cool water. > - **Seek medical attention** after flushing, even if the pain subsides. > > This is why wearing safety glasses is so important — they prevent the splash from happening in the first place. Video: [Garage and Shop Safety Basics](https://youtu.be/lT_42grmnUk?si=9Ov1c-5CUwWuXg5m) [AAA — Car Maintenance Basics](https://www.aaa.com/autorepair/articles/car-maintenance-basics): Overview of basic car maintenance tasks and the tools you need to do them safely. --- - Previous: [Shop Safety Hazards](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/automotive-maintenance/guide/req1a/index.md) - Next: [Vehicle Power Types](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/automotive-maintenance/guide/req1c/index.md)