by Natalie Schoonover
CCAR Environmental/Safety Specialist

Eye injuries are one of the most common and preventable type of work-related injuries in the automotive industry. Proper eye protection can help prevent most incidents; however, even with the proper use of safety glasses, goggles and face shields, an unforeseen accident can still occur.

A technician handles several chemicals and corrosives on a daily basis. Batteries are a good example of a corrosive agent that, if exploded, could send battery acid into the technician's eyes - leaving only a matter of critical seconds to drench or flush out the eyes.

With only seconds to act, it's imperative that emergency eyewash stations are
strategically positioned in a shop to meet the applicable American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) standard, which generally requires that emergency
equipment be positioned within 10 seconds walking time from the location of a
hazard.

A $37,700 fine has been levied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency against a California car dealership this month dealership for alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act.

Sunnyvale Ford Inc. failed to comply with federal requirements - specifically, Section 609 of the Clean Air Act - for mechanics who service and repair automobile air conditioning systems. Mechanics at the facility lacked the EPA-approved training.

"We know certain refrigerants deplete the ozone layer. It is important to prevent them from escaping into the atmosphere," said Deborah Jordan, director of the Air Division in the EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "Mechanics who service these systems play a key role in preventing releases, and they must be properly trained."

While there was no direct evidence of release of Freon into the atmosphere in this case, the Clean Air Act requires that air conditioning mechanics pass an EPA-certified training and testing course. The EPA training is required regardless of any other training or certification mechanics may have. The facility must also maintain adequate records to demonstrate EPA certification of their mechanics and refrigerant recovery and recycling equipment.

The training regulations help ensure the proper handling of ozone-depleting and global warming substances that go into a car's air conditioner, thereby minimizing the release of these chemicals into the atmosphere. The adverse effects of ultra-violet radiation from a thinning ozone layer include skin cancers, cataracts and immune system suppression.

There have been four other such cases settled by the EPA's Pacific Southwest office in the past 13 months, with total fines in excess of $50,000. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/609/justfax.html.

What if there was a program that could help you, as an employer, find out about potential hazards at your worksites, improve your occupational safety and health management systems, and possibly qualify for a one-year exemption from routine OSHA inspections? Oh, and what if the program was free? If you're interested, you need to learn more about OSHA's Consultation Program.

This service, largely funded by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), is provided by state governments utilizing qualified safety and health professionals who receive additional training from OSHA. Consultation projects are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories.

This service is targeted for smaller businesses, and it is completely separate from the OSHA inspection effort. In addition, no citations are issued or penalties proposed.

Want to find out more? Click here to find your state's Consultation Office.

(courtesy of Zurich North America)

Automotive lifts are critical to the operation and profitability of your business. The safe usage of lifts is critical in preventing employee injuries and damage to customers' vehicles. By operating lifts safely, you can insure that your shop is profitable, productive and safe.

Safe operation of automotive lifts requires that only trained employees should be allowed to use the lift. If you have several types or manufacturers of lifts, employees must be trained on each type of lift before they use it. Training should include:

• Proper spotting of the vehicle
• Use of the operating controls
• Understanding the lift capacity
• Proper use of jack stands
• Proper use of safety devices
• Reviewing the safety rules
• Proper housekeeping procedures (lift area should be free of grease, oil, tools, equipment, trash, and other debris)

Read more

On October 1, U.S. EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson signed a proposed rule to amend the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule at 40 CFR part 112. With these proposed changes, the EPA intends to provide clarity, tailor, and streamline requirements as appropriate in order to encourage greater compliance with the SPCC regulations.

Click here for more information about the Oil Spill program, including the text of the proposed rule. The EPA is asking for comments on this proposed rule by December 14, 2007.

Shops and schools using S/P2 to train technicians and students are encouraged to display the graphic seen at left on your company or school web site, as well as on printed materials. To find out more, contact Jennifer Penland at 1-888-772-3535.

 

U.S. EPA Fines Washington State Repair Facility $7,000 for PCB Violations
Source: U.S. EPA, Region 10

NIOSH Offers High School Curriculum in Workplace Safety, Health
Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health

U.S. EPA and Navajo Nation Inspect Underground Storage Tanks on Tribal Lands
Source: U.S. EPA, Region 9

Failure to Immediate Report Fuel Spill to MassDEP Results in $8,000 Penalty
Source: Massachusetts DEP

All 50 States Now Have Auto Mercury-Recovery Programs in Place
Source: U.S. EPA

Pennsylvania DEP Approves Waste Tires as Fuel for Co-Generation Power Plant
Source: Pennsylvania DEP

Toxic Chemical Reporting Violations Result in $24,910 Settlement with U.S. EPA for Truck Lining Company
Source: U.S. EPA, Region 9

Oregon DEQ Seeks Comments on Proposed UST Compliance Rule Changes
Source: Oregon DEQ