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FROM TRUCK DRIVERS INJURED AT WORK

DRIVER BURNED OPENING RADIATOR CAP

Tim has 30 years under his belt as a professional driver. During that time he has known plenty of other

drivers who have been hurt on the job. However, Tim had never had a work-related injury of any

significance himself, at least until December 2nd of last year. On that day, Tim was on his way from

Washington State to Indianapolis, when his truck began to overheat. As soon as it was safe, Tim pulled

to the side of the road and turned off the truck engine. To help the engine cool-down quicker, he

attempted to loosen the radiator cap. Tim was well aware of the potential for boiling water and

antifreeze to spew from the radiator if he was not careful, so Tim grabbed a rag and began to loosen the

radiator cap. Unfortunately, the pressurized boiling radiator fluid shot out of the radiator as Tim

loosened the cap. The rag he was using did little to protect him and Tim sustained second and third-

degree burns over a significant portion of his hand and forearm, as well as multiple contusions when he

fell from the truck attempting to get away.

LIFE LESSON

Unfortunately, Tim received some fairly serious injuries from this incident. But it will never again

happen to Tim because the following life lesson will forever be embedded in his mind.

Never open the radiator cap when the engine is hot. Engine cooling systems are dangerous. Because a

radiator is a pressurized vessel the temperature of the radiator fluid even at normal operating

temperatures can be well above the boiling point of water. As Tim discovered first-hand, opening the

radiator cap of a hot system can result in a geyser of hot water and steam. It is extremely important to

wait for the system to cool before attempting to open or even loosen a radiator cap. At an absolute

minimum, you should wait 45 minutes after the engine has been turned off, and even with this wait the

system will still be hot and requires extreme caution.

After waiting with the engine turned off for at least 45 minutes, use a towel or large thick cloth to place

over the radiator cap, so if there is any gushing of hot fluid the towel will absorb and deflect the hot

coolant away from your hands and face. Consider carrying an old towel in your truck for this purpose.

Second, radiator caps normally have two positions for removal. Be careful to only turn the radiator cap

to its first position where fluid and steam can escape without forcing the cap off and spraying

everywhere. After a few seconds in that position, turn it the rest of the way off to remove the cap

completely. Only then is it safe to check the radiator fluid level and replace it in accordance with

guidelines in the truck’s operation manual.