Pit Stops -health and safety

[TEAM78]

Over the next two weeks im undertaking a short study of formula One pit stops, to then produce a health and safety manual for a pit stop during a race.
The manual will identify risks and offer procedures as to how to reduce these risks, a method statement will be included along with a discussion about the conflicting objectives of winning races and the temptation to cut corners on safety.
Everyone is very knowledgeable on the sport here and hence I ask you guys for sources of information which can help me produce this report.

fancy that the F1 hater

I will post my findings here when complete as a thankyou for everyone who helps me .

[Adam43]

You should check out what rule exist in motorsport concerning safety. What does it say in the FIA technical and sporting regulations? Even though you seem to be considering F1 pit stops only you can check out the general international and national motorsport rules.

Off the top of my head then there here are some to consider. Moving parts, brake dust, flammable liquid (petrol compared to Methonal perhaps?), long working hours.

In addition perhaps a statistical analysis of how many accidents have occured?

Good luck, I look forward to reading your findings. What is this for?

[Raglanparade]

It must be reminded that a pit lane is also a workplace.

Thus the same Occupational Health and Safety laws could apply should anything severe happen.

[Marbot]

Not wishing to run over too much old ground,surely the absense of any cars in the pit lane during a race will significantly make "pit stops" safer.

I suppose then the drivers won't be too happy about all that fuel behind their backs and will no doubt have something to say about it.

Motor racing is a dangerous sport,but who should it be dangerous for?

[TEAM78]

thanks for your input guys,

[QUOTE]
What does it say in the FIA technical and sporting regulations? Even though you seem to be considering F1 pit stops only you can check out the general international and national motorsport rules. [QUOTE]

where can I source this information?
Any links or sources of info will be of great help

[QUOTE]
In addition perhaps a statistical analysis of how many accidents have occured?[QUOTE]

This to me is a good idea, how can I go about collecting the data though?

[Piglet]

I'd start with the FIA web site for rules you can find both the technical and sporting regs on there. I'm pretty sure there is an associated foundation that contains safety data. Other than that you need to just hit the internet and use the search engines.

As for F1 pit stops, consider the speed limit in an F1 pit lane which is faster than you would find for other car racing disciplines. Also add in that a F1 pit lane is very secure so you have little danger from "punters" which is very different to a normal endurance pit lane where "punters" cause a significant added risk. Ditto for media - a F1 pit lane very rarely has photographers in it unlike a normal endurance pit lane. Also team personnel are restricted from being in the pit lane unless they are part of the pit stop crew or are on the wall. They are also discouraged from crossing the pit lane during a race which helps with general safety. Marshals are also pretty well forbidden from crossing the lane unless it is necessary. All these things actually make a F1 pit lane safer than an endurance pit lane IMO.

[ss_collins]

send me pm please 78 - I may be able to help (possibly partially fund) this research

[TEAM78]

I have found so far three pit stop fires to of occurred in F1, these were once in 94 and twice in 95 with Pacific and some one else.
I would also like to count the number of near misses, I havent yet come accross any accidents in the last 15 years of changing tyres.
can any one help here please

[Kicking-back]

Pit stop fires -

1994, Benetton, German GP
1995, Jordan, Belgian GP
1996, Ligier, Argentine GP
2003, Ferrari, Austrian GP
2004, Minardi, Italian GP
2005, Toyota, Spanish GP; Minardi, Japanese GP

[Marbot]

Add to that,pit crew injured by incoming or outgoing car.

[TEAM78]

Thank you for all your help so far guys, im now after a bit more information, this being all accidents to occur during a pit stop, these being things like people run over, I need the race it occured at and year, and as far back as 1990. thanks

So far my research shows there are 23 people working on the car during a pit stop, this number could be reduced hence reducing numbers at risk plus the biggest issues is with regards to refueling being so close to the hot exhaust.
my report needs to be completed by week on friday.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

Add to that,pit crew injured by incoming or outgoing car.

Nigel Stepney can testify to that!

[Piglet]

Umm Team78 you need to be getting this data from official sources not from a bunch of people on a web site. We could no doubt quote you the incidents that are seen on the TV but there are more incidents that occur that either aren't picked up by the cameras or are just not shown on the TV. These incidents are likely to be the smaller ones but they should form part of the statistics that you are quoting otherwise the conclusions that you come to will be flawed.

Have you tried the FIA I'm pretty sure they collate all this data - it is certainly collected at race circuits.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

Not wishing to run over too much old ground,surely the absense of any cars in the pit lane during a race will significantly make "pit stops" safer.

I suppose then the drivers won't be too happy about all that fuel behind their backs and will no doubt have something to say about it.

Motor racing is a dangerous sport,but who should it be dangerous for?

Even than you will keep pit stops. In a case of a damaged car for example.

[Kicking-back]

Originally Posted by Piglet

Umm Team78 you need to be getting this data from official sources not from a bunch of people on a web site

It's only a school project, I assume.

The teacher probably won't have the specialist knowledge to be rigourous.

[TEAM78]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

It's only a school project, I assume.

The teacher probably won't have the specialist knowledge to be rigourous.

Yep thats correct

[Piglet]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

It's only a school project, I assume.

The teacher probably won't have the specialist knowledge to be rigourous.

The trouble is with me, I'm a bit old fashioned, if I'm going to spend time doing something I'd rather do it properly. There doesn't seem much point wasting time on doing something badly... (I can't understand people who cheat at pub quizes either....)

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Your teacher will probably be looking for you to list some if not all of your sources of information.This will show that while you may not have every incident that has occured, those you have given detail of are genuine and checkable.

[TEAM78]

So far I have 19 incidents since 94 recorded and the last fatality in a pit stop back in 1981Belgian gp when a guy was run over.
6 are fires, 4 are cars pulling of too early, 4 are braking too late, 1 car collision.
can any one think of incidents in 98, 99, 01, 05
thanks

[Kicking-back]

Originally Posted by TEAM78

So far I have 19 incidents since 94 recorded and the last fatality in a pit stop back in 1981Belgian gp when a guy was run over.
6 are fires, 4 are cars pulling of too early, 4 are braking too late, 1 car collision.
can any one think of incidents in 98, 99, 01, 05
thanks

The Belgian death was in qualifying - a mechanic fell into the path of a car in the pitlane, it wasn't a pit stop.

[TEAM78]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

The Belgian death was in qualifying - a mechanic fell into the path of a car in the pitlane, it wasn't a pit stop.

Im covering this cuse the manual guidelines would have been used by the mechanic during this incident as the manual will cover that white line that they shouldnt cross during practice, qualifying and race.
Thanks for being more specific though as I had it down as occuring during a race

[Piglet]

Originally Posted by TEAM78

as the manual will cover that white line that they shouldnt cross during practice, qualifying and race.

??? What white line or is this something that you're suggesting?

[REALIST]

After this you might look at Bull Fighting?

I have to think this is a joke. Are we really teaching this c--p to our kids? If this is really necessary I have to wonder how the human race survived over recent decades before the nanny state evolved to its present anal level.

[FilW]

Originally Posted by REALIST

After this you might look at Bull Fighting?

I have to think this is a joke. Are we really teaching this c--p to our kids? If this is really necessary I have to wonder how the human race survived over recent decades before the nanny state evolved to its present anal level.

I think the point of the excercise isn't to make pit stops safer but to teach the student the theory of data collection and analysis. I think it's called learning!

[TEAM78]

No Incident Date Description TEAM Number injured desciption of injury

1 Belgian gp 1981 Mechanic driven over Arrows 1 fatal
after stepping backwards

2 San marino gp 1994 Wheel fell of moving car Minardi 4 x mechanics serious-hospital x4

3 Germany gp 1994 Large fire Benneton 2 Minor Burns

4 Belgian gp 1995 Fire Ferrari 0

5 Belgian gp 1995 Fire Jordan unknown

6 1995 Fire Pacific unknown

7 Argentine gp 1996 Fire Ligier unknown

8 European gp 1996 car pulls of to early Arrows 1 hospital

9 Luxemburg gp 1997 mechanic run over Ferrari & 1 Brusing to shoulder
Tyrell

10 Spanish gp 2000 driver signalled to leave Ferrari 1 Seriously injured
too early

11 US gp 2000 refueler run over by car Minardi 1 Brusing to ankle
braking to late

12 US gp 2000 Mechanic run over by car Minardi 1 Brusing to ankle
braking to late

13 Spanish gp 2002 Refuller run over after Williams 1 Minor injury
driver given signal to leave

14 French gp 2003 Driver signalled to leave Mclaren 0 no one hurt
too early

15 French gp 2003 Car collides with another Ferrari & 0
Jaguar

16 Spanish gp 2003 Driver overshoots pit box Jaguar 1 Minor cuts, bruises
(testing) & concussion

17 Austria gp 2003 small fire Ferrari 0

18 Spanish gp 2004 Over shoot pit box Williams 1 scale of injury
brake failure hit jack man unknown

19 Italian gp 2004 large fire Minardi 0 none

20 Canadian gp 2004 Driver runs over refuller Jordan 1 minor injury

21 Spanish gp 2005 Fire Toyota none none

22 Japan gp 2005 Fire Minardi none none