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Greetings!
This has been a very busy year for CCAR. How busy? For one thing, we administered over 430,000 S/P2 tests in September alone!
In addition, you'll read about our latest involvement in an industry competition - the TMCSuperTech event - and the new "S/P2 for Heavy-Duty Fleets" training that has been introduced.
The last three months of 2008 promise more of the same. Expect to hear about new training initiatives that include additional S/P2 modules on timely subject matter for today's auto repair professionals.
As we pursue increased awareness on environmental and safety matters for the auto repair industry, feedback from you is always important. We welcome your ideas on how we can do better - call us toll-free at 888-772-3535 or e-mail to info@sp2.org.
Best wishes,
DAREN FRISTOE
CCAR President
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CCAR Honors Top Technicians
at 2008 TMCSuperTech Competition
The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) honored the top three performers last month at the Environmental & Safety workstation that was part of the 2008 TMCSuperTech competition, sponsored by the Technology & Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Associations.
David Phillips (FedEx), Carl Drumheller (Wal-Mart), and Doug Skelly (First Vehicle) earned the top scores of all technicians at the Environmental & Safety workstation administered by CCAR. All three received one year of complimentary access to CCAR's suite of environmental, safety and health e-learning programs. In addition, Phillips - who earned the high score - received a special prize pack donated by New PIG Corporation.
CCAR also introduced its "S/P2 for Heavy-Duty Fleets" training at the TMCSuperTech event. The new program is designed to promote awareness of environmental and safety issues among professionals who maintain the nation's fleets of heavy-duty vehicles.
"With this new version of our proven S/P2 e-learning program, we offer fleet maintenance operations an easy-to-use, cost-effective method to get this important information to front-line technicians," said Daren Fristoe, CCAR President and Chief Operating Officer. "We know that these three outstanding performers will help us to refine and improve the product during the coming year."
"Environmental and safety awareness training is more important than ever for today's fleet maintenance operations," said George Arrants, SuperTech competition chairman. "With more than 500,000 users since 2002, CCAR's S/P2 e-learning program has set the standard for this training in automotive repair, and the heavy-duty industry will benefit greatly from the new 'Heavy-Duty Fleet' version of S/P2 that CCAR has developed. I encourage all fleet managers to take advantage of S/P2."
The Technology & Maintenance Council of American Trucking Associations hosts the SuperTech competition annually during its fall meeting. Organized by TMC's Professional Technician Development Committee, SuperTech determines the industry's top technician through a qualifying written test and multiple hands-on workstations. The competition results reflect an assessment of technical skills and knowledge, accuracy and quality of workmanship.
Seen left to right above following the 2008 TMCSuperTech awards ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., are: Dee Riegle Torres, CCAR Vice President; Carl Drumheller, Wal-Mart; David Phillips, FedEx; Doug Skelly, First Vehicle; and Natalie Schoonover, CCAR Director of Environmental/Safety Initiatives.
Read more about the new S/P2 program
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 OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs: A Proven Way to Reduce Injuries, Illnesses and Costs
OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) have proven over the years to be an effective means of reducing injuries, illnesses, fatalities, and costs; all while fostering a more productive workforce and increasing employee morale. OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs were developed and implemented in 1982 to encourage cooperative relationships between labor, management, unions, and government in an effort to improve safety and health in the workplace. Approval into VPP is OSHA's official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health. VPP sets performance-based criteria for a managed safety and health system, invites sites to apply, and then assesses applicants against these criteria. OSHA's verification includes an application review and a rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of OSHA safety and health experts.
Beyond being a role model for safety and health, VPP companies generally experience many other positive benefits such as 60 to 80 percent fewer lost workday injuries, an injury and illness rate that is 52 percent below average (for industries that fall within the same classification), and reduced workers' compensation costs. These sites typically do not start out with such low rates. Reductions in injuries and illnesses begin when the site commits to the VPP approach to safety and health management and the challenging VPP application process. Bill Greehy, Chairman of Valero Energy Corporation, says of VPP "It is our goal to have all of our refineries designated as Star Sites...It's a great program with proven results, and we're thankful to OSHA for their support because they truly treat you like a partner."
VPP provides opportunities to a wide array of industries ranging from construction and agriculture to food manufacturing. Currently, companies from over 270 industries participate in the program. Over the years, VPP has grown to be flexible enough to meet the demand of the workforce. Through several new initiatives; VPP Corporate, OSHA Challenge, and Mobile Workforce Demonstration, VPP has expanded its presence and adapted programs to meet the needs of different industries and companies of varying sizes.
Read more about OSHA's VPP
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 S/P2 Monthly Meeting Topic: Shops Warned About Engine Fires Sparked by Ethanol Use
(courtesy of Automotive Body Repair News)
Repairers are being urged to prepare themselves for a heightened risk of engine fires stoked by motorists filling up with ethanol-laced gasoline when their vehicle is not properly outfitted to safely burn this type of fuel. An added hazard associated with ethanol's rising popularity as an environmentally correct alternative stems from a molecular makeup that differs from traditional gas. The grain-based additive is water-soluble while petroleum is not - oil and water don't mix - and many local fire departments still do not stock the special type of foam needed to extinguish an ethanol blaze.
Just as gas and ethanol don't behave the same when set afire, E-85 and other ethanol blends can seriously damage a car's key engine components unless the vehicle is specifically designed to be ethanol-friendly. Yet people with older, non-ethanol vehicles are nonetheless pulling up to E-85 pumps in an ill-advised attempt to abate airborne fuel pollutants.
While ecologically concerned drivers may feel they are doing the right thing, in reality this strategy is fraught with potential dangers - especially when these now-faulty engines are fired-up within the confines of a repair facility filled with other vehicles.
Read more
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EPA Region 7 Meeting to Discuss
Air Regulations for Auto Body Shops
The fall 2008 EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Region 7 Pollution Prevention Roundtable will meet Oct 27-28 in Olathe, Kansas. Shop owners, managers and other industry representatives are invited to come and learn the latest in environmental compliance issues and pollution prevention strategies.
Compliance presentations will include the HHHHHH ("6H") NESHAP (national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants). The "6H" NESHAP is titled, Paint Stripping and Miscellaneous Surface Coating Operations at Area Sources. Most auto body shops will be affected by this NESHAP. Body shops using paints (unless waterborne) with compounds of chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) will be subject to certain regulations. If these target hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) are not used, then an auto body shop will need to file a petition for exemption from this rule.
Pollution prevention topics at the roundtable will feature energy efficiency for businesses. Click here for more information, including meeting registration details.
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| Environmental, Safety and Industry News
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