S/P2 Newsletter - April 2011

S/P2® Newsletter

April 2011

In This Issue

S/P2 Surpasses 7 Million Online Tests

CCAR Adds Three "GreenLink Shops" in April

Take Our 2011 Instructor Survey

S/P2 Meeting Topic: Using Lockout and Tagout Procedures

State Spotlight: Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Greetings!

Thanks for taking a few minutes to access CCAR's April newsletter.

We're pleased to report the growing numbers of S/P2 online tests and GreenLink Shops in this issue, and we again thank everyone involved for their ongoing support of these initiatives.

We're also asking Automotive Instructors to help us (and yourselves) get a head-start on the next school year by completing our 2011 Instructor Survey, which you'll see linked below.

You'll also find our monthly compendium of information that includes a new NIOSH publication on "lockout/tagout," a "State Spotlight" featuring the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and news on the latest programs and enforcement actions impacting the industry.

We always welcome your feedback about this newsletter and CCAR services/programs. Thank you!

Regards,

DAREN FRISTOE

CCAR President & Chief Operating Officer

S/P2 Surpasses 7 Million Online Tests

The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) announces that the organization has now administered more than 7 million online tests in its S/P2 (Safety and Pollution Prevention) e-learning program.

S/P2 Registered "All of us at CCAR are extremely proud to see how the acceptance and usage of S/P2 has zoomed to new heights over the years," said CCAR's Board Chairman, Charles E. Ayers, Franchise Business Manager, Midas International Corporation, Itasca, Ill. "Whether it's businesses working to keep their operations safe and environmentally-friendly, or the schools across the country that rely upon S/P2 to educate thousands of automotive students on OSHA and EPA requirements and best practices, CCAR's goal is that the auto repair industry will continue to reap the benefits of this world-class information and resource."

S/P2 provides effective, affordable training on environmental and safety concerns to every employee and student in the automotive repair industry. Its courses target over three dozen specific issues for three industry segments - automotive service, collision repair, and heavy-duty fleet maintenance - and are designed to help reduce injury, illness and environmental impact.

CCAR also operates "CCAR-GreenLink," the National Environmental Compliance Assistance Center for Automotive Repair, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

For more information on S/P2, visit www.sp2.org or call toll-free to 1-888-772-3535.

CCAR Adds Three Facilities to "GreenLink Shop" Roster

The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) has recognized three more facilities as GreenLink Shops in April.

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:

Iowa Auto Rebuilders, Waterloo, Iowa

Mastercraft Auto Body, Inc., Manassas Park, Va.

Team Toyota Collision Center, Langhorne, Pa.

"We were please that 'Earth Day' was also a day to recognize these facilities, along with the more than 120 others already recognized as GreenLink Shops, for their commitment to the environment and to safe work practices," said Daren Fristoe, CCAR President and Chief Operating Officer. "These shops are demonstrating that being 'green and safe' is a year-round commitment to which consumers are responding positively."

A complete roster of GreenLink Shop participants is posted 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 auto service facilities and collision repair shops, with separate criteria established for each type of business.

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

Take Our 2011 Automotive Instructor Survey

CCAR wants to help assure your school is ready to access CCAR's e-learning programs for summer and fall classes. That's why we've put together a brief online survey for instructors regarding your school's computer systems.

Click here to take the Automotive Instructor Survey. Thank you!

S/P2 Meeting Topic:
Using Lockout and Tagout Procedures

Workers are at risk of severe injury and death during machine maintenance and servicing if proper lockout and tagout procedures are not followed. NIOSH (the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) recommends developing and implementing a hazardous energy control program including lockout and tagout procedures and worker training to prevent such incidents.

NIOSH recommends that employers comply with the OSHA regulations outlined in 29 CFR 1910.147, the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout). Results of NIOSH fatality investigations indicate that the following steps are particularly important:

Develop and implement a written hazardous energy control program, including lockout/tagout procedures, employee training, and inspections before any maintenance or service work is done [NIOSH 1999].
Be sure that workers have a clear understanding of when hazardous energy control procedures apply and training on how to properly apply the procedures.
Ensure that procedures on lockout/tagout are developed that are specific to each machine [NIOSH 2006; Michalscheck 2008].
Provide training to production workers in addition to maintenance workers in methods of energy isolation and control [see 29 CFR 1910.147(b)].
To effectively isolate each energy source, ensure that workers are provided with a sufficient number of lockouts and tagouts and other hardware that may be needed [See 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(i)].
Clearly label isolation devices, such as breaker panels and control valves [NIOSH 1999].
After removing the lockout or tagout devices but before starting the machine, be sure that all employees who operate or work with the machine, as well as those in the area where service or maintenance is performed, know that the devices have been removed and that the machine is capable of being re-energized [OSHA 2002; 29 CFR Part 1910.147 (e)(3)].
Ensure that no one under the age of 18 works on machinery declared hazardous in the Child Labor Rules [29 CFR 570.120].
Ensure that workers receive training in their primary language.

Preventing Pollution in the Vehicle Maintenance Industry: As environmental protection becomes more and more important across the nation, industries of every type are faced with some big questions:

· What environmental regulations apply to my facility?

· How do I comply with those regulations?

· Are there things I can do to reduce the regulations I must comply with?

· How can I protect myself from fines and liability?

· How do I protect myself and my workers from environmental hazards in the shop?

This publication was developed to help vehicle maintenance shops in Missouri answer some of those questions. The fact sheet provides basic information about regulatory requirements and suggestions for protecting yourself, your workers and the environment through pollution prevention.

Read more...

Preventing Pollution in Collision Repair: Collision repair shops deal with many things that can affect the environment. Materials such as paints and solvents can harm the environment and people if they are not properly managed. State and federal environmental regulations explain what legally can and cannot be done with these materials. The regulations describe how pollution or waste should be controlled, stored, treated or disposed of. A better solution is to prevent the waste or pollution.

What is Pollution Prevention?

Pollution prevention is simply not making the waste or pollutant in the first place. It means doing what we can to reduce the amount and toxicity of the pollution we generate.

Preventing pollution may be something as simple as using a catch-basin to prevent spills or something as complex as redesigning your operation to increase efficiency and reduce waste. Simple things like choosing nonhazardous solvents can protect the environment and reduce the number of environmental regulations you face. Pollution prevention means thinking about the environmental impact of your actions and trying to limit that impact.

Read more...

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

Ombudsman -
Lucy Thompson, CHMM
Missouri DNR
Air Pollution Control Program
P.O. Box 176
1659 E. Elm
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-526-2414
573-751-2706 (F)

lucy.thompson@dnr.mo.gov

Small Business Environmental Assistance Program -
Carlton Flowers
Missouri DNR
Air Pollution Control Program
P.O. Box 176
1659 E. Elm
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-526-1718 573-751-2706 (F)

carlton.flowers@dnr.mo.gov

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