S/P2 Newsletter - December 2010

S/P2® Newsletter

December 2010

In This Issue

New Jersey Facilities Join "GreenLink Shop" Roster

Solar-Powered Repair Shop

Identifying Safety & Health Hazards: Part 7

Ask CCAR-GreenLink: New Regulations Putting Shops Out of Business?

State Spotlight: California DTSC

S/P2 Meeting Topic: Wet Cell Batteries

Greetings!

As we welcome the holidays and prepare for the New Year, the CCAR Team thanks you for your continued support in 2010.

Throughout this past year, CCAR has refocused our organization on delivering the "extraordinary customer service experience" for our users, as well as expanding awareness of environmental and safety best practices in the workplace. Setting new records in tests administered this year, CCAR is positioned to be even more efficient and effective in 2011.

This edition contains an announcement of our newest members of the GreenLink Shop program, an insightful article on a "Solar-Powered Repair Shop," the last installment in our eight-part series on "Identifying Safety & Health Hazards: Self Inspection," timely "Ask CCAR-GreenLink" information on new regulations in the body shop, and a "State Spotlight" feature on the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.

Thank you again for your feedback and support this year. We wish you the best of success in 2011!

Regards,

DAREN FRISTOE

CCAR President & Chief Operating Officer

CCAR's "GreenLink Shop" Roster Adds New Jersey Facilities

The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) has announced recognition for two facilities in December as GreenLink Shops.

The GreenLink Shop status, an extension of CCAR's CCAR-GreenLink Environmental Compliance Assistance Center and S/P2 Safety and Pollution Prevention E-learning Program, is designed to promote consumer confidence in local automotive repair facilities' environmental/safety awareness and stewardship.

The new GreenLink Shops are:

Branning Auto Body, Freehold, N.J.
Branning's Brunswick Auto Body, East Brunswick, N.J.

"Along with being the first to receive GreenLink Shop status in the State of New Jersey, these businesses are the 90th and 91st shops to be accepted since CCAR introduced the program in January of this year," said Daren Fristoe, CCAR President and Chief Operating Officer. "We salute all 91 of these businesses for their collective commitment to workplace safety and environmental best practices."

A complete listing of GreenLink Shop participants may be found at www.ccar-greenlink.org/glsdirectory.html.

Repair facilities seeking the GreenLink Shop recognition must maintain high standards of excellence in environmental, health and safety (EHS) practices in four categories: business operations, employee training, safety compliance and environmental management. The CCAR initiative recognizes both auto service facilities and collision repair shops, with separate criteria established for each type of business.

For more information on the CCAR GreenLink Shop program, go to www.ccar-greenlink.org/gls or call toll-free to 1-888-476-5465.

Solar-Powered Repair Shop

by Lee Anne Millinger

Barry Burkholder founded Barry's Paint Shop in 1976 in Ephrata, Pa., as a single-employee business when he was 20 years old. Since that time, Barry's Paint Shop has grown to over $2.8 million in sales last year with 18 employees and a second location in the Lancaster/Neffsville area.

When thinking about how to solidify his company's long-term existence, Barry hit on the idea of "going solar."

Barry believed that solar power could be a better way of doing business, reducing the company's emissions and cutting its energy costs as well. He began researching solar energy systems, reading various articles and checking into government tax rebates and other incentives.

This series of articles has been adapted by CCAR from information contained in the "Small Business Handbook," published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

To view or download copy of the complete handbook, click here.

SELF-INSPECTION

Conducting safety and health inspections at a business is the most widely accepted method to identify hazards. Why? The only way to be certain of an actual situation is to look at it directly from time to time.

Begin a program of self-inspection in your own workplace. Self-inspection is essential if you are to know where probable hazards exist and whether they are under control.

This month's article focuses on the following areas:

Electrical
Noise
Fueling
Control of Harmful Substances by Ventilation
Sanitizing Equipment and Clothing
Tire Inflation

Read more...

Ask CCAR-GreenLink

I've seen claims on the Internet that new regulations are putting small body shops out of business. Is this true?

Thanks to Sue Schauls, CCAR Technical Advisor, for providing the answer below:

In a nutshell: NO.

The new regulations are not that different from what reputable body shops are already practicing. The one change that has everyone in an uproar is that all painters must be trained every five years. For the most part, the paint suppliers are giving that away for free. So if anything, it may have made paint training more available and less expensive. The other requirements include:

Complete all requirements by January 10, 2011

Implementation

Paint booth exhaust systems must use 98% efficient spray booth filters
Spray booths/prep stations must be used
Spray guns must be efficient types such as HVLP
Spray gun cleaning does not allow atomization of thinner through gun for cleaning and

recommends an automated enclosed gun wash and/or hand cleaning of paint guns

Training

Painter training requires:

Review of the Paint Rule
Information on routine booth maintenance practices at the facility
Discussion and hands-on practice of gun set-up
Hands-on practice and discussion of spray techniques

Final Notification of compliance due by March 11, 2011

There is no fee for making the mandatory reporting to the EPA or the state agency (if applicable in your state). In my opinion, the only body shops going out of business by complying with the law are the ones that were not in compliance with the existing rules, such as air quality permits that require spraying in a booth or legally disposing of hazardous waste.

Have a compliance question - environmental or safety - in need of an answer? Ask CCAR-GreenLink by sending your question to ccarinfo@ccar-greenlink.org.

State Spotlight: California Department of Toxic Substances Control

Vehicle Service and Repair Program: More than 31,000 vehicle service and repair shops exist in California. Individually, these businesses do not generate a lot of hazardous waste, but collectively they represent a significant source of pollution. If you operate an auto repair shop or fleet maintenance facility, there are opportunities to save money, conserve resources, reduce emissions, possibly reduce permitting fees, and help meet compliance with environmental rules by making simple changes in your shop practices.

Read more...

Auto Body & Paint Shops Project: Auto body and paint shops have the potential to release pollutants to the environment and adversely effect workplace health and safety. If you are a shop operator, you can significantly reduce environmental impacts, improve shop efficiency and reduce operating costs, and improve work place health and safety by making simple changes in your shop practices.

Read more...

For additional state-specific information, click here or contact:

Ombudsman Contacts -
La Ronda Bowen
California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street, 24th Floor
P.O. Box 2815
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-327-5762
916-322-4737 (F)
800-272-4572 (state)
lbowen@arb.ca.gov

Phil Loder
California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street
P.O. Box 2815
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-323-6791
916-322-4737 (F)
916-272-4572 (state)
ploder@arb.ca.gov

Diana Simeroth
Government Analyst
Office of the Ombudsman
California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-323-6791
916-322-4737 (F)
djsimero@arb.ca.gov

S/P2 Meeting Topic: Wet Cell Batteries

courtesy of Zurich North America