Safety & Regulatory
Workers in autobody shops are potentially exposed to a variety of chemical and physical hazards. Chemical hazards may include volatile organics from paints, fillers and solvents; diisocyanates, polyisocyanates, and hexavalent chromium from spray painting operations; silica from sandblasting operations; dusts from sanding; and metal fumes from welding and cutting. Physical hazards include repetitive stress and other ergonomic injuries, noise, lifts, cutting tools, and oil and grease on walking surfaces. At first glance this sounds daunting, but it isn't there are several simple steps to managing shop safety.
Q: What can I do to start a safety
program in my shop?
A: One quick and easy step is to have regular "Tailgate"
safety
meetings. These are relatively short (15-20 minutes) topics. Our Lean
Management team can provide you with over a years worth of meetings,
with hand-outs sign-in sheets.
Q: What OSHA regulations are body shops
subject to?
A: It would be impossible to list every regulation (Federal, State
and Local)
Here is a listing of the most frequently cited standards by Federal
OSHA for Automotive Repair Shops Industry Group (SIC
code 753) is available.
General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
- 1910 Subpart H, Hazardous materials
-
1910 Subpart I, Personal
protective equipment
- 1910.132, General requirements (Personal protective equipment) [related topic page]
- 1910.134, Respiratory protection [related topic page]
-
1910 Subpart J, General
environmental controls
- 1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tag out) [related topic page]
-
1910 Subpart L, Fire
protection [related
topic page]
- 1910.157, Portable fire extinguishers
-
1910 Subpart O, Machinery
and machine guarding [related
topic page]
- 1910.215, Abrasive wheel machinery
-
1910 Subpart S, Electrical
- 1910.303, General requirements (Electrical) [related topic page]
- 1910.305, Wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use
-
1910 Subpart Z, Toxic and
hazardous substances [related
topic page]
- 1910.1200, Hazard communication [related topic page]
Q: I am concerned about Isocyanates in
my shop, what do I need to know?
A:
Isocyanates while very hazardous can be easily
mitigated in the body shop environment. You MUST train your employees
on proper handling and safety measures, including but not limited to
respirator selection, fit testing and maintenance.
Again OSHA has some great information available (click here).
Q: If I use Isocyanates in my shop do I
need Fresh Air Supplied Respirators?
A: Maybe. The use of isocyanates in and of it self does not require
the use of fresh air respirators. Air purifying respirators may be
perfectly safe and acceptable. The issue is really one of
concentration and an employees exposure. The type of respirator and
the change out schedule (if applicable) of cartridges can
be determined after tests have been run and analyzed by an qualified
laboratory. Your local jobber should be able to help with
this.
Q: Why doesn't the EPA reach out and
inform business of regulations?
A: The EPA has some good information available on their web site,
their Designed For the Environment partnership program publications
are available at:
http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/index.htm#auto
Q: What is an OSHA 300 form? My Worker
Comp insurance carrier has asked for a copy.
A: All businesses are required to fill out an OSHA300 Log listing
all work related injuries with any loss of work time regardless of
if there was any loss of work time (yes you still need to fill
it out even if it is all zeros). Businesses are required to
post the summary form from February 1st through April 30th
during the following year. Not to worry the form is very easy
and OSHA has provided an MS Excel form and instruction. You can
download them here (300
Forms,
Instructions) or visit the OSHA we site:
http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/RKforms.html
Q: How do we provide safety gloves and
still control costs, it seems like we are spending more every month
for latex gloves.
A: Buying the right Glove for the job is the best way to insure you
are both proving good safety products and maintaining costs.
The cheapest gloves are not always the best way to save money. For
example Nitrile is generally considered a "heavier duty" glove when
compared to Latex, but in compliant areas where the main clean up
solvent is Acetone a Latex glove (usually cheaper) provides better
safety and lasts longer. For more information see our
glove usage chart.
Q: What hazards should I be concerned
with in my shop?
A: While every shop or business is unique and will likely have
multiple potential hazards. Here is our quick suggestion:
Do a safety walk through of your shop or business, we have a simple
easy to use
hazard awareness check list you can use. Also consider
contacting your worker compensation insurer, they most always have
resources and can provide a consultant, often at no additional cost.
Q: What is Occupational Lead Poisoning
and Prevention Fee (OLPPF) (California)
A: Even though the use of lead in vehicle manufacturing as well as
refinish and repair materials has been virtually completely
eliminated for years, the same can't be said for all industries.
California among other states have determined that Lead Poisoning
Regulations can be applied to body shops. Since it is nearly
impossible to "prove" that you have no or only "De minimus amounts",
most shops have found that it is easier and more economical to pay
the fee (another hidden tax on business).
Q: I have heard there are new OSHA
labeling requirements, how does this effect my body shop operations?
A: Part of OSHAs Hazard Communication Standard
1910.1200 says that: "This
transmittal of information is to be accomplished by means of
comprehensive hazard communication programs, which are to include
container labeling
and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets and employee
training." At first glance it looks like this is
something for the manufacturers to comply with. It does apply
very specifically to body shops as well. In the shop environment we
often transfer materials into smaller working containers (squirt
bottles, spray bottles, cans etc.) Even when putting compound
into a squirt bottle we need to be sure the new container must have
the proper labeling to alert everyone of the potential hazards.
Most distributors/Jobbers can help provide labels for the most
common materials.
1910.1200(b)(4)(i)
Employers shall ensure that labels on incoming containers of
hazardous chemicals are not removed or defaced;
Q: They have just announced VOC
regulations in my area. We have been told that this will include
reporting that needs to be maintained at the shop for all products
used and that we need to keep these reports for two years. How do we
do this all reporting and still keep the paint shop moving?
A: Almost painlessly with very little additional time! Most of
the major paint manufacturers paint mixing systems include some form
of VOC tracking and reporting. (This may not be included in the
"free" versions of their software). (If your not using the
paint mixing system for ALL your mixing "on the scale" recording
their usage, you are missing some great management tools.)
Barring this most distributors have either subscribed to a service
or are otherwise able to help provide forms or tools for the
required VOC reporting.
Or
contact us for a sample of one of our forms!
Q: What are all these terms on these MSD
sheets?
A: Below you will find an alphabetical listing of various
terms used in Material Safety Data Sheets. Print it out, pass it
around the shop and put a copy in your MSDS index book for future
reference. Remember, you can't learn too much about this subject.
An Introduction to Various Terms Used in MSDS
ACGIH: Abbreviation for the
American Conference
of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, a private organization of
occupational safety and health professionals. The ACGIH recommends
occupational exposure limits for numerous toxic substances, and it
updates and revises its recommendations as more information becomes
available. ACGIH limits are not legally enforceable.
Air Contaminant: Means solid or liquid
particulate matter, dust, fumes, gas, and mist, smoke or vapor.
BAAQMD:
Bay Area Air
Quality Management District. An agency created by California
state law to be responsible for management of air quality in the San
Francisco metropolitan area.
Carcinogenic: Capable of causing
cancer.
Ceiling Limit: The maximum amount of a
toxic substance allowed to be in workroom air at any time during the
day.
CERCLA:
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
(the original Superfund law). Certain releases of over 700 chemicals
covered by this law require reporting to state emergency response
commission, local emergency planning committee, and the National
Response Center.
CFR:
Code of Federal Regulations.
CHEMTREC:
Chemical Transportation Emergency Center. A public service
created by the Chemical Manufacturers Association to provide 24 hour
information to persons responding to emergencies involving
chemicals.
Chemical Referral Center: A part of the
Chemical
Manufacturers Association which provides general, non-emergency
information about chemicals through an 800 toll-free telephone
number.
Combustible: Able to catch fire and
burn. Materials with flash point above 100°F (Closed Cup Method)
(D.O.T. regulation)
Concentration: The amount of one substance in
another substance.
Decomposition: Breakdown of a chemical.
Density: The mass of a substance per
unit volume. The density of a substance is usually compared to
water, which has a density of 1. Substances which float on water
have densities less than 1; substances which sink have densities
greater than l.
Dermal: By or through the skin.
DOT:
U.S. Department of
Transportation.
EPA:
Environmental
Protection Agency
EPCRA:
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. A
free-standing law enacted to encourage and support emergency
planning efforts at the state and local level, and to provide
citizens and local governments with information concerning potential
chemical hazards present in their communities.
Explosive Limits: The amounts of vapor
which form explosive mixtures. Explosive limits are expressed as
LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMITS and UPPER EXPLOSIVE LIMITS; these give the
range of vapor concentrations in air which will explode if heat is
added. Explosive limits are expressed as percentage of vapor in air.
Flammable: Catches on fire easily and
burns rapidly. Materials with flash point below 100°F.
Flammable Limits: Same as EXPLOSIVE
LMITS.
Flash Off Area: Space between the
application area and source of application.
Flash Point: The lowest temperature at
which the vapor of a substance will catch on fire, even momentarily,
if heat is applied. Provides an indication of how flammable a
substance is.
Fluid Ounce: Volumetric unit. 128 Fluid
ounces = one American gallon.
Gram: The unit of mass in the metric
system.
Health Hazard: Anything which can have
a harmful effect on health under the conditions in which it is used
or produced.
HMIS:
Hazardous Materials Identification System
Hydrocarbon: Any organic compound
consisting predominantly of carbon and hydrogen.
Ignition Temperature: The lowest
temperature at which a substance will catch on fire and continue to
burn. The lower the ignition temperature, the more likely the
substance is going to be a fire hazard.
Ingestion: Swallowing.
Kilogram: 1000 grams = 2.20 lb.
LC50: The concentration of a
substance in air that causes death in 50% of the animals exposed by
inhalation. A measure of acute toxicity.
LD50: The dose that causes
death in 50% of the animals exposed by swallowing a substance. A
measure of acute toxicity.
MG/KG: A way of expressing dose:
milligrams (mg) of a substance per kilogram (kg) of body weight.
Example: A 100 kg person given 10,000 mg of a substance would be
getting a dose of 100 mg/kg (10,000 mg/100 kg).
MG/M3: A way of expressing
the concentration of a substance in air: milligrams (mg) of
substance per cubic meter (m3) of air.
Milligram: One one-thousandth of a
gram.
NFPA:
National Fire
Protection Association
NIOSH: Abbreviation for the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
U. S. Department
of Health and Human Services. NIOSH does research on
occupational safety and health questions and makes recommendations
to OSHA.
N.O.S.: Not otherwise specified. Used
for shipping hazardous materials if the material is not specifically
listed in the DOT Hazardous Materials Table.
Occupational Exposure Limits: Maximum
allowable concentrations of toxic substances in workroom air to
protect workers who are exposed to toxic substances over a working
lifetime.
ORM: Other Regulated Material. A
material which poses a risk in transportation, but does not meet the
definitions of any other hazard classes.
OSHA: Abbreviation for the
Occupational Safety
and Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor. OSHA develops and enforces federal
standards for occupational safety and health.
Oxidizer: A material which may cause
the ignition of combustible materials without the aid of an external
source of ignition or which, when mixed with combustible materials,
increases the rate of burning of these materials when the mixtures
are ignited.
PEL: Permissible Exposure Limit.
Polymerization: A chemical reaction in
which individual molecules combine to form a single large chemical
molecule (a polymer). Usually involves the release of a lot of
energy.
PPM: Parts per million. Generally used
to express small concentrations of on substance in a mixture.
Prime Coat: First film of coating
applied in a multiple coat operation.
Proposition 65:
California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of
1986. Regulates certain chemicals known to the State to cause cancer
or reproductive toxicity.
RCRA:
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Act which regulates the
handling, storage, treatment, transportation and disposal of solid
waste.
Reactivity: The ability of a substance
to undergo change, usually by combining with another substance or by
breaking down. Certain conditions, such as heat and light, may cause
a substance to become more reactive. Highly reactive substances may
explode.
SARA:
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986. Title III
of SARA is known as the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to-Know Act of 1986. Calls for facilities that store hazardous
materials to provide officials and citizens with data on the types,
amounts on hand, and specific locations of these chemicals.
SCAQMD:
South Coast Air
Quality Management District. Agency created by California state
law to be responsible for management of air quality in Los Angeles
metropolitan area.
Sensitizer: A chemical that causes a
substantial proportion of exposed people or animals to develop an
allergic reaction in normal tissue after repeated exposure to the
chemical.
SIC:
Standard Industrial Classification.
Solubility: The amount of a substance
that can be dissolved in a solvent, usually water.
Solvent: Organic materials which are
liquid at standard conditions and which are used as dissolvers,
viscosity reducers or cleaning agents.
STEL: Short term exposure limit.
Suspect Carcinogen: A substance that
might cause cancer in humans or animals, but has not been proven to
do so.
TDG: Transportation of Dangerous Goods.
Teratogenic: Capable of causing birth
defects.
Thermal: Involving heat.
TLV: Abbreviation for Threshold Limit
Value. The average 8-hour occupational exposure limit. This means
that the actual exposure level may sometimes be higher, sometimes
lower, but the average must not exceed the TLV. TLVs are calculated
to be safe exposures for a working lifetime.
Top Coat: The final film of coating
applied in a multiple coat operation.
Toxic Substance: Any substance which
can cause acute or chronic injury to the human body, or which is
suspected of being able to cause disease or injury under some
conditions.
Vapor: The gas given off by a solid or
liquid substance at ordinary temperatures.
Vapor Density: The density of the gas
given off by a substance. It is usually compared with air, which has
a vapor density set a l. If the vapor is more dense than air
(greater than 1), it will sink to the ground; if it is less dense
than air (less than l), it will rise.
Viscosity: A relative measure of how
slowly a substance pours or flows. Very viscous substances, like
molasses, pour very slowly. Slightly viscous substances, like water,
pour and splash easily.
VOC: Volatile organic compound.
Volatile compounds of carbon.
Volatility: A measure of how quickly a
substance forms vapor at ordinary temperatures.
WHMIS:
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. Canadian
system for providing information to workers on the adverse effect of
hazardous materials through cautionary labeling. Material Safety
Data Sheets and employee training.
Q: Safety Question
A: [FAQ Answer]
Q: Safety Question
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