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Greetings!
Welcome to our November issue. As you will read, the past few weeks have been busy ones at CCAR, especially with the latest modules added to our S/P2 e-learning program.
We know you rely on S/P2 to meet your environmental and safety awareness training needs, and only by adapting to the latest regulations and technology can we continue to meet the challenge.
Thank you for your continued support of S/P2.
Regards,
DAREN FRISTOE
CCAR President
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CCAR Introduces New S/P2 Modules on Paint Rule, Hybrid-Electric Vehicles
 CCAR has introduced two new modules for its S/P2 e-learning program: a "Paint Rule" module for the S/P2 Collision Repair training, and a "Hybrid Electric Vehicle Safety" module for the S/P2 Pollution Prevention courses.
The new "Paint Rule" module is now available at no additional cost to users of the S/P2 Collision Repair training, in the "Pollution Prevention" course. The purpose of the module is to increase awareness of new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations applying to Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) in collision shop paint operations. Topics include proper spray gun and spray booth procedures, compliance, training and required recordkeeping for paint-stripping and surface-coating operations.
"It is so important that our auto refinish technicians understand the HAP rule as it applies to their jobs," said Rod Enlow, CCAR Vice President, Industry Relations. "With the introduction of this module at no additional charge to the S/P2 Collision Pollution Prevention course, all affected personnel have access to awareness training and can pursue compliance well in advance of any mandated completion dates."
The new "Hybrid Electric Vehicle Safety" module is designed to promote awareness of regulations and safety procedures for repairing hybrid electric vehicles, and is available at no additional cost to
users of three versions of the S/P2 "Safety" course: S/P2 for
Mechanical Service, S/P2 for Collision Repair, and S/P2 for Heavy-Duty
Fleets.
 The module covers Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations relating to hybrid vehicle safety, personal protection equipment and training. It also outlines proper safety procedures to minimize the risk of shock or electrocution to hybrid electric vehicle service technicians.
"Awareness of safety issues surrounding hybrid electric vehicles is vital as the population of these vehicles grows every month," said Daren Fristoe, CCAR President and Chief Operating Officer. "This latest module is another example of how S/P2 continues to evolve with the needs of our audience in the vehicle service community."
Read more on the "Paint Rule" module
Read more on the "Hybrid Electric Vehicles" module
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 Get Ready for
"America Recycles Day"
America Recycles Day (ARD), November 15, is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products.
Celebrating its 10th year, ARD has grown to include millions of Americans pledging to increase their recycling habits at home and work and to buy products made with recycled materials. Through America Recycles Day, the National Recycling Coalition supports local communities and raises awareness by educating citizens about the benefits of recycling. Volunteer America Recycles Day coordinators are positioned throughout the country and work to organize recycling awareness events in their schools and communities, and in conjunction with their local municipalities.
On November 15 each year, millions of people become better informed about the importance of daily recycling and buying recycled products. The purpose of America Recycles Day is to continue to promote the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling and encourage more people to join the movement toward creating a better natural environment.
Learn more about America Recycles Day
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 CCAR, Midas Mark Six-Year Partnership on S/P2 Training
CCAR recently began its sixth year of partnering with Midas International Corporation to provide CCAR's "S/P2" online training to Midas company-owned locations in the U.S.
Midas, with corporate offices in Itasca, Ill., is one of the world's largest providers of automotive service, including exhaust, brakes, tires, steering, suspension, and maintenance services. There are more than 1,700 franchised and company-owned Midas locations in the United States and Canada and more than 800 licensed and franchised stores in 15 other countries. Midas also owns the SpeeDee Oil Change business, which franchises 182 auto service centers in the United States and Mexico.
"CCAR is an excellent partner, providing the necessary training to ensure that employees in more than 90 company-owned Midas shops are knowledgeable on current safety and environmental standards," said Dave Fisher, vice president of Midas' company-owned shops. "The Internet-based training is easily accessible for our employees and provides them with a comprehensive understanding of safety principles."
Read more
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 S/P2 Monthly Meeting Topic: Ladder Safety
Source: Toolbox Talk
As simple as it may seem to use a ladder, many disabling injuries occur each year due to improper use of ladders. Knowing the "Do's" and "Don'ts" can help you avoid becoming another victim of falling from a ladder.
Do - look overhead before placing a ladder, with special attention to power lines and other electrical hazards.
Don't - assume the area above the ladder is clear of hazards.
Do - use ladders made of non-conductive material when working around power lines or other electrical hazards.
Don't - use aluminum ladders when working around electricity.
Do - set up the ladder on the ground, floor, or other level, stable surface.
Don't - place a ladder on slippery, cluttered, or unstable surfaces such as boxes, carts, tables, etc.
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.
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 EPA Pilot Project Allows Electronic Self-Disclosure of Environmental Violations
A pilot project of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows regulated facilities nationwide to self-disclose environmental violations in a secure environment on EPA's Website under the Agency's audit policy.
This electronic self-disclosure system, or eDisclosure, is intended to reduce transaction costs for companies by ensuring that each disclosure contains complete information.
Under the pilot, regulated facilities nationwide may use eDisclosure to disclose violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (for example, failure to submit toxic chemical release forms to EPA's Toxic Release Inventory). Regulated facilities located in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas may disclose violations of all environmental laws. Based on the results of the pilot, EPA will consider expanding eDisclosure to other states.
(Owners of small businesses - 100 or fewer employees - considering electronic disclosure of environmental violations should see the EPA's Small Business Compliance and Enforcement page for important information on the Small Business Compliance Policy.)
EPA's audit policy provides incentives to companies that voluntarily discover, promptly disclose and correct and prevent future environmental violations. EPA may reduce or waive penalties for violations if the facility meets the conditions of the policy. EPA will not waive or reduce penalties for repeat violations, or violations that resulted in serious actual harm.
Since 1995, more than 3,500 companies have disclosed and resolved violations at nearly 10,000 facilities under the audit policy.
Click here for more information on eDisclosure, or here for more information on EPA's audit policy.
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 CCAR-GreenLink Launches Improved Search Engine
The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR®) has announced the availability of an improved search function on its "CCAR-GreenLink®" web site.
CCAR-GreenLink is the National Environmental Compliance Assistance Center for Auto Repair, operated by CCAR in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and available free of charge at www.ccar-greenlink.org. The CCAR-GreenLink site is recognized globally as a leading source of environmental compliance and pollution prevention information for automotive operations.
"The new search engine features the Google™ Custom Search technology, which offers users more rapid access to a broad spectrum of web-based environmental compliance resources," said Robert G. Stewart, CCAR Executive Vice President. "In addition, it will allow for rapid customization of the search function based on the needs of our audience and the increasing utilization of Internet resources to communicate best practices for waste stream management."
The CCAR-GreenLink site also features:
- Virtual Repair Shops - These "virtual" shops [Service & Repair Shop, Open Bay Area, Mixing Room and Spray Booth] make it easy to find the compliance information needed. The images in each shop illustration identify the various functional areas of collision repair or mechanical service, and clicking on the image leads to an index page of available information.
- Environmental Checklist - The "Consolidated Screening Checklist for Automotive Repair Facilities Guidebook," developed by the EPA, may be used in conducting a self-audit. The checklist and guidebook highlight important compliance issues that can affect an automotive repair shop.
- State Contacts, Links and News - Up-to-date lists of state environmental contacts are an important resource of CCAR-GreenLink. A comprehensive list of environmental links - including Best Management Practices (BMPs) in pollution prevention - is also provided, along with compliance-related news from the EPA and other regulatory sources.
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| Environmental, Safety and Industry News
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