The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) is recognizing the "Top 10" users of its S/P2 e-learning program among schools active in the Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES).

 

The ten schools have been selected based on usage of CCAR's S/P2 (Safety and Pollution Prevention) courses during the 2010-2011 school year, according to Daren Fristoe, CCAR President and Chief Operating Officer. In alphabetical order, the schools are:

• Bolton High School, Arlington, Tenn.
• Cypress Ridge High School, Houston, Texas
• Cypress Springs High School, Cypress, Texas
• El Campo High School, El Campo, Texas
• Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee, Muskogee, Okla.
• New Mexico Junior College, Hobbs, N.M.
• South Side High School, Jackson, Tenn.
• Spotsylvania Career & Technical Center, Spotsylvania, Va.
• S.P. Waltrip High School, Houston, Texas
• Watauga High School, Boone, N.C.

"CCAR seeks to enhance the public image of automotive dealerships by their demonstrating an increased level of awareness of key environmental and safety issues in repair operations," said Fristoe. "Working with AYES schools and instructors, we are instilling this awareness in young people as they embark on their dealership careers."

 

by Sue Schauls

CCAR Environmental & Safety Consultant

 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can help complement other measures taken by employers and employees to minimize hazards and unsafe conditions. Recent OSHA revisions require the employer to complete a written hazard evaluation of the workplace to determine employee hazards and the PPE necessary to protect them.

 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is specialized clothing or equipment worn by employees for protection against health and safety hazards. Personal protective equipment is designed to protect many parts of the body, including; eyes, head, face, hands, feet, and ears.

 

Complete Written Hazard Evaluation

Automotive shops conduct activities that require employees to don personal protection equipment (PPE). Check all that apply and retain a copy in the MSDS Binder.

 

Repair & dismantle operation:

• Hoist or lift is used.
• Requires safety goggles and foot protection.
• Fluid evacuation of fuel, oils, antifreeze and wiper fluid is conducted.
• Requires safety goggles.
• Solvent parts washer is used.
• Requires safety goggles and chemical resistant gloves.

Parts handling including removal, shipping and transporting:

• Bolt cutters, saws and other tools are used.
• Requires safety goggles and foot protection.

• Cutting torch is used.
• Requires foot protection, safety goggles/shield and heat/flame resistant gloves. (Operational training is also recommended for employees using a cutting torch.)

Collision Repair Paint Shop:

• Paint booth is used.
• Requires respiratory protection.
• Paint mixing and spray gun cleaning is conducted.
• Requires safety goggles and chemical resistant gloves. 

Crusher activity:

• Vehicles are crushed and/or loaded for transport.
• Requires foot protection. 

Why PPE is Important in the Workplace

Employees at automotive shops are required to have and wear personal protective equipment such as safety goggles, foot protection, hard hats, gloves and other gear that will reasonably protect them from on the job hazards. Protecting employee's feet, hands, and eyes are an important yet routine part of auto salvage work.

 

Employers routinely make items such as safety goggles and gloves available to employees. Fitted gear such as footwear, clothing and rain gear must be maintained by the employee as a condition of employment.

 

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The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) announces the addition of two facilities to the organization's GreenLink Shop program:

• Deacon's Collision Center, Mayfield Heights, Ohio
• Image Collision Repair, Spartanburg, S.C.

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.

 

Repair facilities pursuing 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 to1-888-476-5465.

by Sue Schauls

CCAR Environmental & Safety Consultant

FAQ: Do community colleges and vocational schools need to comply with the EPA's Paint Rule?

 

YES. The new Paint Rule or the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) 6H that applies to auto body shop means that school training programs need to be complaint with the rule too. Actually, any commercial entity that surface coats metal with paints that contain any one of the target Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) must comply.

 

FAQ: Is compliance difficult to achieve for schools?

 

NO. Most schools already operate in a compliant manner. In most cases, the school simply needs to make sure that the paperwork gets filed with the appropriate agency. Specifically the NOTIFICATION FORM must be filed with the EPA Regional Office or the state air quality agency that has taken delegation of the responsibility. A State Delegation list is maintained by EPA.

 

FAQS: Is this the only paint permit the school will need?

 

NO. Every shop/school must ensure compliance with the state air quality division. Many states do NOT require small-volume users to hold an actual air permit issued from the state; however, to maintain the permit exemption the school (auto body shop) must keep documentation on the volume of sprayables used each day.

 

Logging spray activity does not mean logging mixed paint volume.

 

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