The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) has announced that automotive students completed more than 1.6 million online exams in its S/P2 Safety and Pollution Prevention e-learning program during the 2010-2011 school year.

"The amount of testing completed by our school partners is a testimony to the importance of environmental and safety education in today's automotive curriculum," said CCAR's Chairman, Charlie Ayers, Franchise Business Manager, Midas International Corporation, Itasca, Ill. "CCAR remains committed to assuring that coming generations of entry-level employees will raise the level of awareness of 'green and safe' practices throughout the auto repair industry."

S/P2 (www.sp2.org) was developed to address key safety and pollution prevention issues for automotive repair professionals. The training is based on (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, which require personnel to be trained on safety and environmental regulations at the beginning of their employment, and at least annually thereafter.

"We are gearing up for what we expect to be another record year of school testing," said Daren Fristoe, CCAR President and Chief Operating Officer. "Automotive instructors who want to learn more about S/P2 are invited to contact us for assistance in getting ready for fall classes."

S/P2 Safety and Pollution Prevention training is an important part of maintaining a compliant and safe work environment. The SP2.org program tells us - and most shop owners/managers are aware - of the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) requirement. This OSHA rule requires that every shop have a book (or electronic file) of the MSDS for each chemical in the shop. What most shops don't know is, this rule is actually part of the Hazard Communication Standard.

Become Familiar with the Rule

The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is based on a simple concept - that employees have both a need and a right to know the hazards and identities of the chemicals they are exposed to when working. They also need to know what protective measures are available to prevent adverse effects from occurring. The HCS (29 CFR 1910.1200) is designed to provide employees with the information they need. Under the provisions of the Hazard Communication Standard, employers are responsible for informing employees of the hazards and the identities of workplace chemicals to which they are exposed.

Identify Responsible Staff

Simply stated, this is the Safety Supervisor. Hazard communication is an ongoing program in the facility. In order to have a successful program, it is necessary to assign responsibility for both the initial and ongoing activities that have to be undertaken to comply with the rule.

For any safety program, success depends on commitment and, possibly, a change in behavior. This will only occur if employers understand the program and are committed to its success, and if employees are motivated by the people presenting the information to them.

CCAR has announced recognition for three more repair facilities this month in the organization's GreenLink Shop program.

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

The new GreenLink Shops are:

• Car Crafters, Albuquerque, N.M.
• Darrell Allen Body Shop, Burlington, N.C.
• F. Lofrano & Son Collision Center-Harbor Street, San Rafael, Calif.

"With this month's additions, our roster of GreenLink Shops has expanded to 27 states," said Daren Fristoe, CCAR President and Chief Operating Officer. "We salute all of them for their commitment to the highest standards of safety and environmental practices in their operations."

The current roster of GreenLink Shop participants is posted at www.ccar-greenlink.org/glsdirectory.html.

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.

Tornados can occur with little or no warning. Taking precautions in advance of the storms, such as developing an emergency plan, learning the warning signs, and monitoring tornado watches and warnings, can help you stay safe if a tornado occurs in your area.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has introduced a web page to help businesses and their employees prepare for tornados, and to provide information about hazards that workers may face in the aftermath of a tornado.

To prepare for a tornado, businesses should develop an emergency plan. The plan should include details on suitable places to take shelter, policies to ensure all personnel are accounted for, and procedures for addressing any hazardous materials that are on-site. It is also recommended that individuals develop action plans for their families.