Is It Safe In There? Protecting Your Shop From Hidden Dangers -

Is It Safe In There? Protecting Your Shop From Hidden Dangers

Have you ever noticed that extension cord stretched across the floor? How about that air hose? A couple of parts here, or there? What about your lifts? No big deal, right? Well, these things can be a big deal, if you're not careful.

By Frank Scandura
Owner
Frank’s Mercedes Service

Have you ever noticed that extension cord stretched across the floor? How about that air hose? A couple of parts here, or there? What about your lifts? No big deal, right? Well, these things can be a big deal, if you’re not careful.

Take several pictures of your shop, restroom and waiting area. After work, take the time to look them over, outside the heat of the battle, so to speak. Does your shop have the ­appearance of a clean and safe place of business, or is there room for improvement?

Start at the front door and ask yourself some questions. Are the windows clean? If your customer grabs the door handle, is it clean and not hard to operate? Is the entry area clear of parts and pieces? Do you have a doormat that has seen better days? Are there any landscape areas that need attention? How about the sidewalk? It should be free of stains and spills, and don’t forget to clean up the gum. (Where does all that gum come from anyway?)

Now, turn to the reception area, where customers get their first impression when they enter your place of business.  Are there any magazines around? Are they trade publications or something the customer would like to see? Are they current? If you provide seating, which you should, is it clean and comfortable, or is it the old stuff from home that should have been donated to the local landfill?

What about the restroom? Would your customers comment about how clean it is, or would they prefer to stop at the gas station on the way home? Do you provide seat covers in the restroom? What about an easy-to-use soap dispenser and towel dispenser? You would be surprised how important this is to your customer. You want them to realize that if you’ve taken care of your business with such details in mind, you’re likely to take care of everything else with equal ­attention to detail, including their car.

Back to the Shop
Carefully look over the pictures you took. It’s amazing what we miss every day at work, but will see clearly in pictures. Are there posters or calendars hanging on the walls that convey a message other than what you want to provide — one of outstanding ­service?

Are your parts neat and tidy, or are they a little on the “I know it’s here somewhere” side? The oil tanks should be clean and orderly and not a place for oil to collect on and around. The waste oil tank should be as clean as the fresh oil tank. ­Customers don’t know what it is; they only know how it appears.

Where are the soiled rags kept? They require a separate self-closing container. There also shouldn’t be any gasoline or other fuels stored inside the shop.

Now move on to the lifts. Look around the base of each above-ground lift and the post of in-ground lifts; is there any evidence of oil leaking? It’s not uncommon to have a slow leak that gets cleaned up when other cleaning occurs. How long before the system is too low on oil to operate correctly? Do the safety locks work as per the design, or did someone decide they could bypass the safety feature so the employees could “do other tasks” while the car was being lowered? Do you have an independent company ­inspect your lifts every year for proper operation and to check the torque of the mounting bolts?

Did you know that OSHA might be doing random inspections at independent repair shops and dealer service shops in the coming years? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2005, there were 1.5 ­injury and illness lift-related incidents for every 10,000 full-time automotive repair and maintenance employees. In that same year, eight fatal occupational injuries involving lifts occurred. In 2006, the rate for lift-related injury and illness incidents increased to 4.6 per 10,000, while the number of fatal occupational injuries involving lifts rose to 13. Do you know what an OSHA 300 Log is? Do you need one? If yes, do you have one?

Let’s talk about your other equipment. Are all safety items in place? Are they operating correctly and safely? Take a look at all the hoses, from air hoses to those associated with your A/C equipment, to make sure they’re not starting to crack. If they’re on wheels, do they roll smoothly or are they about to tip over when going across the shop. Is your shop one of the few still using PCV piping for the air lines? If so, ­replace them before there is a failure; they’re not permitted any more.

You also need to know the requirements for MSD (material safety data) sheets. You need nothing more than a place where anyone in the shop can go to look up the information on the products they’re asked to work with.

Are your electric service panels, where the circuit breakers are located, within easy reach in case of an emergency? Do you know how much clearance is required?

“I did not know” will not reduce any fines issued to shop owners. Visit the OSHA recordkeeping website if you want to try to decipher the mound of ­information (www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/handbook/index.html), or seek the help of an outside company.   

Take some time and make sure you’re prepared for an inspection, because it’s coming. It will be time well spent. Your customers will know if you put safety first or not, so it’s up to you.

Customers want value and they also want to know you care about their safety, as well as yours and that of your ­employees.

Frank Scandura is owner of Frank’s Mercedes Service with locations in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV. The 33-year industry veteran boasts the shop’s Golden Wrench Service Commitment – providing customers with the safest and most reliable auto maintenance and repair services possible. His shop specializes in M-B, BMW, Jaguar, Audi and VW, with an emphasis on driveability.

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