Your students don’t like reading about regulations, but that doesn’t mean they can ignore or forget about them. As an instructor, you already understand how important it is to follow safety rules and procedures in the shop, but it can be difficult to get your students interested in the less exciting parts of the job. 

With the increasing popularity and availability of hybrid and electric vehicles, it’s almost inevitable that your students will encounter them during their careers as automotive technicians. However, servicing these vehicles can come with its own challenges, especially regarding safety. 

From shop equipment to high-tech vehicle systems, learning how to safely work with electrical systems and equipment is a fundamental skill for today’s automotive students. As an instructor, you know electrical safety is no joke, since students could be injured or killed quickly from working unsafely. You also know that as your students learn, it’s likely they’ll forget a few things. But how do you ensure that the worst thing they forget is their homework, instead of important safety precautions? 

In the previous post on teaching students about shop safety, we discussed how to reinforce safety practices around vehicle lifts. But do your students know what to do in the event of an accident, injury, or emergency?

Safety.

It’s not the most exciting subject in the automotive classroom, but it’s certainly one of the most important. Even if your students aren’t eagerly awaiting your lesson on how to use eye protection or the importance of inspecting equipment, you know how necessary it is for students to absorb and follow safety guidelines. All it takes is one accident to ruin a person’s day, week, or even their entire life, which means skimping on teaching safety is not an option.