|
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
Raise your hand if you haven't read a magazine or newspaper article, or seen a news feature on television in the last 60 days about "GREEN." If your observations are anything like mine, you'll agree that GREEN seems to be everywhere! We think "everywhere" should include the S/P2 Newsletter, so we'd like to hear from you: What are you doing to promote the "green" concept at your business or school? What approaches have been successful for you - both in terms of "being green" and in communicating your "greenness" to your community? Send your best practices, suggestions, etc., to us at newsletter@ccar-greenlink.org. And look for a collection of GREEN ideas in upcoming issues of the S/P2 Newsletter.Thanks, and have a great month.
Regards,
ROBERT G. STEWART
CCAR President
|
|
 EPA "Crash Course" Workshops
Set for D.C., Baltimore in June
The U.S. EPA has announced free upcoming "Crash Course" workshops that will cover the new paint stripping and miscellaneous surface coating operations (including auto refinishing) regulation and DfE (Design for the Environment) best practices training. The workshops are scheduled for June 4 at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) Training Center in Washington, D.C., and June 5 at the Maryland Department of the Environment in Baltimore. Each workshop includes:
- A painter's perspective on best practices
- Key chemicals of concern and exposure
- Tips and techniques for high-volume low-pressure guns
- Breathing easy in the paint mixing room
- A written respiratory program for collision repair
- The right protective equipment for the job
- Managing health and safety
- Overview of new environmental regulations
Click here for more details about the workshops, including locations and registration information.
|
 CCAR's "S/P2" is Featured in SkillsUSA Competition for
Third Straight Year
The Coordinating Committee
For Automotive Repair's "S/P2" e-learning program for Safety
and Pollution Prevention will have a role in the SkillsUSA National Championships
for the third consecutive year. Students participating in the Automotive Service
Technology (AST) competition will be tested in their knowledge of safety and
environmental issues. "S/P2 is an invaluable training tool that is a must for anyone working in an automotive service facility," said Roger Creason, co-chairman of the SkillsUSA Automotive Service Technology Committee. "Completion of this easy-to-use, onsite training program creates a safe work environment and a 'win-win' situation for everyone in the service facility." Creason is National Field Training Manager for Hunter Engineering Company. New this year, CCAR will
award six one-year subscriptions to its online training programs, one to each
of the top three schools in both the high school and college levels of the AST competition.
The automotive industry has again stepped forward with generous
donations that will allow CCAR to present special "S/P2 Safety Kits"
to all of the 2008 student competitors. CCAR thanks the following companies and organizations for
their contributions to both the Safety Kits and the S/P2 testing area of the
Automotive Service Technology Championship:
- SAS Safety Corp.
- 3M
- Lab Safety Supply-LSS
- Mechanix Wear®
- CARQUEST
- Kansas Emergency
Management
Members of
the SkillsUSA Automotive Service Technology Committee, seen at a recent meeting,
are (left to right, front) Brian Moore, America Honda Motor Sales, Inc; Natalie Schoonover, CCAR; R. Scott Norman, Pittsburg
State University; Robert Slovey, General Motors ASEP; Dee Ann Riegle Torres,
CCAR; Stephen Pulcheon, Snap-on Industrial; Roger Creason, Hunter Engineering;
Bill Tuttle, AYES; (back) Cecil Williams, Chrysler Training Center; Richard
Todd, MAC Tools; Ron Downing, Pittsburg State University; E.J. Brock, Snap-on
Industrial; James Merryman, Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc; and Vince Williams,
General Motors ASEP.
Read more...
|
Department of Labor's "elaws" Tool
Helps Employers Comply with Recordkeeping, Reporting & Notice Rules
The U.S. Department of Labor has introduced an "elaws"
advisor to helps employers determine which of the department's recordkeeping,
reporting and notice requirements apply to them.
The new "FirstStep Recordkeeping, Reporting and Notices
elaws Advisor" has been integrated into a suite of advisors that also includes
the revised and expanded "FirstStep Poster Advisor" and "FirstStep Employment
Law Overview Advisor."
"These Internet tools will make it easier for small
business employers to learn about and comply with the federal laws that apply
to them," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.
The elaws advisors are free, Web-based tools designed to
help employers and workers understand the department's major employment laws.
By asking a series of questions, the advisors simulate a conversation with a
Department of Labor expert and guide users to customized information explaining
the requirements of each law.
By asking questions such as size of business, location and
type of industry through multiple choice or yes and no questions, the FirstStep
Employment Law Overview Advisor determines which federal employment laws apply
to each user. The advisor then provides information from the Labor Department's
Employment Law Guide on the basic provisions of these laws.
The new FirstStep Recordkeeping, Reporting and Notices
Advisor summarizes the paperwork requirements for each law. The FirstStep
Poster Advisor,which can be used to download and print off Labor
Department posters for free, was revised to include information on where the
posters must be displayed in the workplace, and what size and language
requirements apply to each.
This suite of FirstStep elaws advisors is available at www.dol.gov/elaws/firststep.
The department offers more than 25 other elaws advisors
covering a wide range of employment law topics, such as minimum wage and
overtime, child labor, veterans' workplace rights, health and retirement
benefits, and workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.dol.gov/elaws.
|
 EPA Conducts "National Dialogue" on Access to Environmental Information
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites you to participate in the National Dialogue on Access to Environmental Information and share your thoughts on how to improve access to their environmental information. EPA will use your feedback to make its environmental information more valuable to its environmental customers. Easy access to high quality environmental information is critical for support sound decisions made by EPA and its many environmental customers and partners in federal, state and local governments, business, communities, academia and the news media.
To participate in the dialogue, simply visit the National Dialogue website and let EPA know:
- What information you're looking for
- How you use the information you find
- The words you use when you search for environmental information
- How you like to get your information (formats, styles, etc., as well as email vs. text vs. maps, etc.)
- Who you are (categories, not necessarily your name)
The National Dialogue website will be open through the end of this month.
|
 S/P2 Monthly Meeting Topic:
Ladder Safety
Source: Toolbox Talk
All
ladders must be inspected for defects and/or damage periodically by a
competent person, and after any occurrence that could affect their safe use.
Ladder
users must inspect ladders before each use, and defective and/or damaged
ladders must either be immediately marked in a manner that readily
identifies them as defective/damaged, or be tagged with a "Do Not
Use" tag or tag containing similar language. Defective and/or damaged
ladders mustnot be used and mustbe removed from service until
repaired.
- Rungs
- Side Rails
- Cracks
- Excessive Bends
- Hardware
- Feet
- Coatings or Paint
- Oil, Grease and Other Slipping Hazards
- Capacity
Read more...
This Toolbox Talk was developed through the Construction Roundtable of OSHA's
Alliance Program. Click here to learn more about the OSHA Alliance Program.
|
CCAR to Provide Online Training to
Automotive Recyclers Educational Foundation
The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair
(CCAR) has been named to provide online training programs to the Automotive
Recyclers Association (ARA) Educational Foundation. The ARA Educational Foundation is a non-profit
organization that was formed to provide the most up-to-date training and
educational resources available for the automotive recycling industry. "CCAR is pleased to enter into
this new relationship with the ARA Educational Foundation to serve the training
needs of the automotive recycler community," said Guy Bargnes, CCAR Chairman.
"We look forward to this partnership as a means of expanding the message of
environmental, safety and health awareness to another facet of the industry, in
keeping with CCAR's mission." Bargnes is National Sales Director, BASF
Automotive Refinishes, Southfield, Mich.
"The ARA Educational Foundation welcomes the introduction of the
advanced e-training of CCAR to the ARA
University," said
Virginia Whelan, President of the Foundation's Board. "The ARA University
in its continuous quest for solution e-training is excited to be participating
with CCAR to offer the additional quality training of HazmatU and S/P2."
CCAR online programs that will be offered through
the ARA Educational Foundation are "HazmatU," which trains automobile dealers
and parts distribution facilities on the transportation of hazardous materials,
as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and "S/P2," addressing
environmental and safety issues for automotive facilities. Read more...
|
June is National Safety Month
The National Safety Council (NSC) is marking the 12th anniversary of "National Safety Month". This year's National Safety Council's theme is 'Make a Difference' to educate Americans about an alarming increase in accidental deaths, and promote safe and healthy behaviors in all aspects of our lives.
The NSC will feature a weekly focus on the most significant reasons for unintentional injuries and deaths in the American workplace, on the road and in the home and community. For planning purposes, the NSC offers this schedule of 2008 National Safety Month weekly topics:
- Week 1: June 2-6 Emergency Preparedness
- Week 2: June 9-13 Distracted Driving
- Week 3: June 16-20 Poison Prevention
- Week 4: June 23-27 Falls Prevention
Visit the NSC link below and make the weekly topics provided the focus of discussion at your June employee meetings. In addition, make a request for other materials such as posters that are available at no charge on the council's 2008 National Safety Month Planner's page. Learn more about National Safety Month... |
 This Month's Survey
How do you promote "GREEN" or
environmentally sound practices with your staff, colleagues and/or
consumers?
Click here to take our May survey!
Participate in this month's survey
and be automatically entered in a drawing to receive a free "S/P2 Safety Kit," shipped
directly to your door!
Results from last month's survey:
What are your procedures for handling used antifreeze?
I recycle all used antifreeze. - 33.3%
I dispose of used antifreeze as a hazardous waste. - 55.5%
Other - 11.1%
Mose is recycled, some disposed of as hazardous waste.
Total responses - 9
|
| Environmental, Safety and Industry News
|
|
|
|
|
