Mechanic leaning over engine area with lit cigarette. Is this somewhat safe? How would you tell him not to do it?

[Deactivated] on 23/02/2019 - 10:45
Last edited 23/02/2019 - 10:51

Just took van in to auto electrician /mechanics shop.
Mechanic wasn't there, but auto electrics guy was.
He helped me out before cheap ($20 to come out to my vehicle, sus out why it wouldn't start, got it started, did some checks/tests once back at shop).
Today he was nice enough to say "it's not hard to do yourself" then proceeded to explain, in detail, step by step, exactly how to change air con belt. Explained my air con isn't stock, so finding correct belt will be difficult. Also checked to see if there was gas in air con, all without charge .

There was something that bothered me though. He had flipped up seat in van to reveal engine bay (and air con belt)

Hovering over engine bay with a lit cigarette

Now firstly, I'm wondering How dangerous is this? or is it reasonably safe perhaps, and this is acceptable?
For those that do mechanical work at home, or have mates that do their own car work, would you or mates have lit cigarette while your working, and think nothing of it ?

Secondly; How would you say it to him, tell him not to do it, without having him take offense and likely ruining a good relationship there?
Like with how nice he has been, I don't want to be rude. Also I don't know if it's safe or not, he's obviously been doing this a long time, who am I to tell a tradie how to do his job.

I did step back abit when he was showing me how to change air con belt myself, when I spotted the lit cigarette right there hovering over everything.

Automotive

Comments

  • OldBugger on 25/02/2019 - 20:30

    In short… not really unless the conditions are absolutely perfect.

    The auto electrician sounds like a good bloke. Hope the job went well.

  • itsdougie on 25/02/2019 - 20:50

    It was not long ago (ok maybe 2 decades) when grandpa used to go to his fave service station to get filled up by the big titted cigarette smoking lady. The only thing that blew up were grandpas pants.

  • peterept on 25/02/2019 - 22:51
    +1

    Quroa: Can a burning cigarette really ignite a trail of gasoline like Hollywood depicts?

    https://www.quora.com/Can-a-burning-cigarette-really-ignite-…

    • tik tok on 26/02/2019 - 10:01

      Exactly right ! I remember seeing people happily lighting up a cigarette while fuelling their cars up in the US - just like every other person in the gas station (servo).

  • watts on 26/02/2019 - 00:19

    I once saw guy fuel up a go kart with a lit cig in his mouth. I was in the kart.

    no need to stress

  • Shmooley on 26/02/2019 - 08:23
    +1

    You're worried that a lit cigarette would be dangerous in a compartment housing a combustion engine? Which houses electrical components that can actively create sparks (fans, electric motors, batteries, alternator) no normal car is intrinsically safe. The only concern would be him handling oils and chemicals and then touching the cigarette and putting it in his mouth ingesting small amounts. It is his life and he is a mechanic so let him be an adult and make his own mistakes. it's like having someone complain to you about stomach cancer because youre not a vegan.

  • tik tok on 26/02/2019 - 10:00

    Just tell him to get into vaping. Smoking is so dead.

  • JimB on 26/02/2019 - 11:24
    +3

    If you're in Melbourne, give me his details.

    Sounds like a top auto electrician.

    I'll give him a pack of Ciggies and will even light it up for him (and I'm a non smoker).

  • myusername on 26/02/2019 - 13:01

    sounds like your first time going to an old skool mechanic.

    you know before the 80's you would go to the bank and the teller would be smoking there at the counter.

  • gimme on 26/02/2019 - 15:21

    he can smoke the hubbly buubly for all I care while standing on one foot as long as I'm not in the line of fire and he's doing a good job and not gouging me.

  • uzz30 on 26/02/2019 - 16:04

    If it were a NSW Transport bus then you should be concerned. Those things spontaneously combust at a rate of one every four days despite their diesel engines and strict no smoking policies.

    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/heat-grows-on-nsw-bus-ne…

  • computer barn find on 10/04/2019 - 15:45

    Why would he take offense, your just telling him his work is crap after doing you a favor. One of thing experienced tradies really hate is when others tell them how to do their job. For an expensive luxury car it would be unacceptable but for a work van no big deal.

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