I agree it's potentially dangerous. The picture doesn't show the whole battery but I suppoose if you accidently dropped another tool on the ones already there it could be dislodged and complete a circuit. I always make sure I keep spanners etc well away from the battery.

I agree it's potentially dangerous. The picture doesn't show the whole battery but I suppoose if you accidently dropped another tool on the ones already there it could be dislodged and complete a circuit. I always make sure I keep spanners etc well away from the battery.

You could say that about any job you do on a car, there are potential hazards everywhere, question is, how many avoid them, I`ve seen many a technician with tools on the battery and risk the short- which if your carefull SHOULD not happen

some people do much worst things, like smoking over - around an open fuel tank and get away with it?

Though perhaps true factually, as an argument that makes no sense at all.

If some people played Russian Roulette and got away with it, by your logic, any other dangerous practice with less than a 1 in 6 chance of instant death would be OK. You also ignore the fact that this is allegedly an instructional website.

Long time ago I was in an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron clearing the proposed site of Londons proposed third airport. Civilian workers started industrial action, mostly for danger money. There was a meeting.

Army Spokesman: "This job is safer than crossing the road"

Bolshie Civvie: "I don't believe you, but even if it is, we have to cross the road as well"

The tactic of talking down risk by comparing it with another risk ignores this basic fact.

Risk is additive.

as an argument that makes no sense at all

I wonder how many times you have posted things on here that are- some would say questionable at best - not forgetting that some people come on here not knowing anything at all about cars.

then see your posts on what you have done, and may take them as being the right thing to do, though not instructional, sometimes people take what they see posted as ok to do themselves. see my point?!

I see your point, but I'm going to ignore it, because,( like your "argument" above, in fact, of which it is a special case) it has nothing to do with the topic at hand.

It does not make sense to dismiss one risky practice by referring to another (alleged) risky practice.

If that happened today there would be hell to pay under health and safety legislation. HSE doesn't care about punters having accidents at home, but at work all risks need to be assessed and measures put in place to prevent them turning into accidents. People moan about "elf and safety" and it can sometimes be tedious but it's there to make you THINK and it has saved countless lives.