You’ve probably seen the “Jaws of Life” in action while driving past a roadside accident. If not, you’ve likely heard about the famous tool in one way or another that’s typically used to rip open all sorts of mangled metal. But if you’ve ever wondered how it works, it’s a fairly simple machine despite its intimidating looks.

The “Jaws of Life” is used indeterminately for pretty much any type of heavy-duty tool that acts like a pair of scissors, cutter, spreader, or ram-device aimed at slicing and dicing through most automotive metals. In reality, the term “Jaws of Life” is actually trademarked by Hurst—a company known for its manufacturing of heavy-duty hydraulic equipment—but as mentioned, it’s applied colloquially to any sort of similar device or tool used specifically in this practice.

If you’ve ever wondered how crews set up the tool for use on the scene, or how they work, the video below of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District rescuing an injured driver trapped in a Foxbody Ford Mustang provides a solid glimpse. At first, it looks like a daunting piece of machinery that’s capable of some pretty gnarly things, but in reality, it’s not that harrowing to operate.

Read more: Watch the ‘Jaws of Life’ In Action Save an Injured Motorist From a Wreck