OSHA stepping up inspections!

R

Ron Ketcham

Active member
The latest issue of Professional Car Washing and Detailing magazine has a lead article regarding OSHA's latest move to conduct more inspections of car care businesses.

Founded in 1970, OSHA is responsible for insuring work place safety.

The article may be read on line at carwash.com
 
If you read the article, it's three pages, an inspector can be driving down the street, potentially see a mobile operator and stop for an inspection.

Would it happen?

Stranger things have happened.

I doubt they would really bother a single person, but if you have a helper, etc, they would be more apt to do a quick check.

Make sure you "ALWAYS" have a three ring binder with you that contains up to date MSDS's for any product that is in your vehicle or being used.

If using electric cords, no "spliced" cords with tape of them, all products that are not in their original containers, must be clearly marked with the safety grid warnings, proper name, have safety glasses, chemical resistant or chemical proof gloves, etc.

These are the main thing they will start with when going to a shop, so they would probably do the same with a mobile.
 
Ron Ketcham said:
If you read the article, it's three pages, an inspector can be driving down the street, potentially see a mobile operator and stop for an inspection.

Would it happen?

Stranger things have happened.

I doubt they would really bother a single person, but if you have a helper, etc, they would be more apt to do a quick check.

Make sure you "ALWAYS" have a three ring binder with you that contains up to date MSDS's for any product that is in your vehicle or being used.

If using electric cords, no "spliced" cords with tape of them, all products that are not in their original containers, must be clearly marked with the safety grid warnings, proper name, have safety glasses, chemical resistant or chemical proof gloves, etc.

These are the main thing they will start with when going to a shop, so they would probably do the same with a mobile.
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I am fairly sure that you only need a MSDS if you're carrying over a specific amount of a chemical and even then it would be the NTSB that would enforce that only when you carried enough deemed to be hazardous. Using small quantities of chemicals approved for use in the US on automobiles, while not in a volume/shop setting, is not concern of theirs. While I get the nature of your advise, in this regard, I believe it would be a waste of time and effort to keep a binder full of MSDS's for every product in a detailer's work truck in case OSHA drove by and decided to forget the worth while shops for the sake of blowing time on some small timer.



OSHA is looking for hazardous work conditions for employees. IF they do happen to hassle a small time 2 man mobile operation, they will first give you a fix it ticket. They will not put you out of business.



My opinion is based on 10+ years with a family business with more than 2 employees in a warehouse and manufacturing setting along with being HAZMAT OPS certified. My family's business got a fix-it ticket a number of years ago and I know there was more they could have gone after. But the bottom line was they were reasonable because we did not keep hazardous chemicals on site beyond a few 5 gallon containers of flammable chems(read: much more hazardous than some bottles of polish, APC, ect.).



This is one of those, "it could happen" but really, it won't, kind of things for mobile detailers.
 
You are on track on the "traveling" with chemicals.

That is another issue, and has to do if one is involved in an accident and there is any spillage.

No one wants to pay a fine if there is an accident and they call in Hazmat and they don't have the MSDS's on hand.

Some people in the business in California can testify regarding just how bad that can turn out.
 
Ron Ketcham said:
You are on track on the "traveling" with chemicals.

That is another issue, and has to do if one is involved in an accident and there is any spillage.

No one wants to pay a fine if there is an accident and they call in Hazmat and they don't have the MSDS's on hand.

Some people in the business in California can testify regarding just how bad that can turn out.
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Years ago I was with a very busy fire department in Atlanta. That is where I received my hazmat training. It included protocol for spills on public roads as well as in water systems and a lot more. Unless you spill a substantial amount of harmful chemical, far more than 5 gallons, hazmat will not even be called out. I am speaking from memory that doesn't remember the exact amount, but I won't be far off.....NTSB does not require a MSDS unless you are carrying a lot, like 50+ gallons of a single chemical(with the exception being commercially carrying materials that are hazardous in even minute amounts). I do remember this though. If you are carrying enough chemical to merit requiring the driver to carry a MSDS in the shipping list, you must also have a placard on the outside of your vehicle. So if your truck doesn't have a placard like pictured, you're not needing MSDS.



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Each state has their regulations on the subject.

Better safe than sorry, I suggest that each check the state and local area regulations on the matter.

What is the law/regulations where you are located, may be entirely different in other states.

NSTB are Federal, that does not mean that the state or local enforcement regulation are the same.

And of course, NSTB is an entirely different Federal organization than OSHA.
 
Here's the article:



OSHA: Regulations, enforcement and citations



What car care operators need to know in preparation for today’s frequent inspections.



By Phillip Lawless





January 25, 2013



Safety is imperative for all businesses, and especially for carwashes and detail shops. While decades of safe and clean operations will rarely yield a mention in local news reports, a serious accident will undoubtedly gain a car care business attention in multiple newspapers and on numerous television stations. Still, more than marketing and publicity, it is vitally important for operators to keep employees and customers out of harm’s way.



The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 was enacted by the United States Congress, and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA) website (OSHA.gov) said the act was created to:

• Assure safe and healthful conditions for working men and women;

• Authorize enforcement of the standards developed under the act;

• Assist and encourage the states in their efforts to assure safe and healthful working conditions; and

• Provide for research, information, education and training in the field of occupational safety and health.



Though the list above seems to include common sense goals, one visit to OSHA’s exhaustive and exhausting website shows compliance is not that cut and dried. Even a cursory visit reveals that the website is made up of hundreds of separate pages, and all are packed with different regulations, requirements and safety information. This online information overload can definitely lead a carwash owner to wonder what specifically applies to this industry.



What is the most important OSHA information for carwash owners and operators? Further, as we move into 2013, what are the most important OSHA considerations business owners must make to protect both employees and their operations?



Enforcement



Today, the federal government is intently focused on the enforcement of OSHA legislation. In fact, enforcement has proven to be a “watchword” for the Obama administration, according to Edwin G. Foulke Jr., co-chair of the Workplace Safety and Catastrophe Management Practice Group with Fisher & Phillips LLP. Foulke has been involved with OSHA legislation since 1980, and he was named by President George W. Bush to head OSHA, where he served from April 2006 to November 2008.



Foulke stated that the current OSHA enforcement push includes various performance metrics for area directors and regional administrators. These metrics include the number of inspections that are performed and the number of citations that are issued. Here, as the number of required citations has increased, OSHA employees have had to figure out how to find more violations. To that end, OSHA inspections now frequently focus on the “low-hanging fruit.”



There are a number of a ways a business can end up on an inspection list. First, hospitals, EMTs and the media will contact OSHA if a serious accident or fatality occurs at a business, Foulke noted. Also, if an employee files a formal complaint with OSHA, the agency will come in and inspect a location.



In addition, OSHA performs site specific targeting. Foulke explained that companies with high injuries, noise or DART (days away, restricted and transferred) rates will be targeted for more frequent inspections. Thus, businesses with a DART rate of eight or nine are more likely to be inspected.



Finally, OSHA also has special emphasis programs meant to target companies within certain industries. Here, an enforcement office will identify all the businesses that operate in a specific industry within their jurisdiction, Foulke stated. As part of the emphasis program, the agency will do a certain amount of inspections on the different local businesses that operate within the recognized industry.



Inspections



“An OSHA inspection can occur at any time, including busy days,” said Gina Houser, safety and health coordinator for Autobell Car Wash Inc. According to Houser, OSHA performed 130 inspections in 2012, including both planned and partial inspections.



For 10 years, Houser has worked for the North Carolina-based Autobell Car Wash chain, and she has served as safety and health coordinator for over two years. Today, Autobell uses a safety program at its 65 locations made up of different initiatives and policies developed over the life of the chain. As coordinator, Houser helped pull the pieces together so that, when OSHA initiates an inspection, the company can show a record of taking employee and customer safety seriously. For Autobell, each inspection has proven to be a learning experience that helped the company find ways to improve or add to their current safety program.



“We have a monthly meeting at which our management team receives training on topics such as hazard communication, lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment, blood-borne pathogens and hot and cold weather safety,” Houser stated. “Employees receive training from our management team on the same topics. We also require management courses including safety to our potential store managers.”



Who is actually performing all of these OSHA inspections? Foulke revealed that when the act was passed in 1970 it gave the federal government control over OSHA. Even so, states can petition to operate their own plans. A state must adopt standards and run a program that is as effective as the federal program. If a state petitions to become a State Plan State, it becomes responsible for handling all OSHA inspections. Currently, more than 20 states are State Plan States, and they are paid by the federal government to operate.



“As a general rule, they say the state plans are more favorable to business than the feds are,” Foulke noted. “I don’t know if that’s necessarily true. I mean, maybe the penalty amounts have always been lower in the state plans. But state plans have always conducted more inspections than the feds. So it’s kind of a two-edged sword.”



Common citations



A look at the most commonly cited standards from last year reveals a number of concerns that are directly relatable to carwashes. According to OSHA.gov, the top 10 most frequently cited standards from October 2011 through September 2012 were:

• Fall protection;

• Hazard communication;

• Scaffolding;

• Respiratory protection;

• Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout);

• Powered industrial trucks;

• Ladders;

• Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment;

• Machines; and

• Electrical systems design.



Houser pointed out that car care companies across the country are frequently seeing citations from this list. Some of the most common carwash issues include hazard communication, lockout/tagout, electrical, personal protective equipment and even housekeeping.



Personal protection equipment: As far as specific problems in the carwash environment, Foulke pointed out a few areas that OSHA inspectors are concentrating on today. “They seem to be focusing on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in carwashes and truck washes,” he said. This has been particularly true in truck washes, and Foulke said his firm has dealt with this subject frequently.



OSHA is looking at the use of PPE mostly with respect to safety glasses and other safety equipment. Here, OSHA claims that the cleaning chemicals used are corrosive, but Foulke disagreed with the agency’s assumption. While many of the chemicals are considered corrosive in the barrel, most washes are diluting one part chemical to 30 parts water. “Even if it’s an irritant, it’s clearly not a corrosive at this point,” Foulke stated.



Hazard assessments: Under the current PPE standards, OSHA has frequently found that many companies are not following through with certain on-site responsibilities. First, businesses are supposed to perform a hazard assessment at their site to determine safety hazards that might require PPE, Foulke noted. Based on this assessment, a business is supposed to create a written certification that shows they performed the assessment.



“So you don’t even have to have a written hazard assessment, but you’ve got to have a written certification that you did the hazard assessment,” Foulke explained. “And OSHA is finding between 60 and 70 percent of the employers in the country aren’t doing that.”



Once PPE hazards are found in a business, OSHA then requires a business to train employees using the agency’s PPE standard. Again, a business is responsible for a certification that shows each employee was specifically trained using the PPE standard. While most companies may use a general checklist, they may not have any of the required certifications on file.



Blood-borne pathogens: Another subject that OSHA has focused on and issued many citations for is blood-borne pathogens. This issue ties in with the PPE emphasis, and the number of blood-borne pathogens citations was high enough that it became a site-specific targeting issue for carwashes nationwide.



“If it’s blood or potentially contains blood and you’re cleaning it up, you have occupational exposure, so that kicks the blood-borne pathogens standard in,” Foulke said. “That means you’ve got to do training and you have to offer the hepatitis B vaccinations.”



In the car care industry, OSHA’s focus on blood-borne pathogens may be due to the recent unionization push in California. Foulke stated that, as far as he can tell, when the push began in California carwashes, the unions’ organization tactics included filing complaints with OSHA. The groups regularly turned in reports about employee blood-borne pathogen exposure that resulted from cleaning cars. The number of citations here increased, and the national focus on this issue was one result.



Teen workers: OSHA currently has a focus on teen workers as well, Houser added. According to OSHA.gov, in 2010, 328 young workers were killed on the job and 110,000 were injured. This has been an area that Autobell has paid attention to because they have youth workers at most of their locations.



Resources



Shows and expositions can be valuable to owners when it comes to learning about OSHA regulations. Last year, Foulke gave a presentation at the Southeast Car Wash Association’s Trade Show and Exposition. As part of the presentation, Fisher & Phillips LLP produced an inspection checklist as well as a list of strategies that every employer should implement (see sidebar).



When an owner is doing solo research, Houser first recommended that operators get a copy of the OSHA General Industry Regulations (Part 1910). Using this information, owners can figure out which regulations apply to their carwashes. In addition, most states have their own OSHA-related websites, and these can be great places to find sample programs, slideshows and other useful training tools.



“Our insurance company is another great resource. Many times insurance companies will act as a consultant with no more out-of-pocket expense than the current premium,” Houser said. “We are also members of the National Safety Council. I attend training classes through the council that have given me a tremendous amount of knowledge.”



Houser has also called upon other websites and her networking contacts, and she says these are her most valuable resources. Websites such as OSHA.gov, ansi.org and cdc.gov/niosh have proven indispensable in her research. “However, nothing can surpass the knowledge of seasoned veterans in the field of safety,” she explained. “Networking with other safety professionals in and out of the carwash arena has provided me with a working knowledge of how to apply the rules and regulations set forth in the OSHA standards.”



For carwash owners and operators that want to schedule mock inspections, there are a few options. First, some carwashes have decided to hire independent consultants. These consultants can to come in and give mock OSHA inspections at carwash locations, Houser stated.



In addition, Consultative Services from OSHA are available in every state. This is a free service offered to small and medium-sized businesses that can be beneficial because an owner receives advice from OSHA directly. Also, as long asa location is part of the Consultative Service program, there will not be any OSHA inspections unless there is a complaint, serious reportable injury or fatality. “This can give an organization time to identify and abate all hazards identified by OSHA, which is a requirement of the program,” Houser said.



13 strategies every employer should implement



Follow these steps to improve safety, reduce penalty exposure and improve company profits.



Courtesy of Fisher & Phillips LLP



1. Determine your vulnerability under OSHA’s new priorities. First, determine which OSHA safety and health standards are applicable to your operation. Then, find your SIC classification to help determine which of OSHA’s 140-plus emphasis efforts affect you and comply with the requirements of those national and local emphasis programs. Finally, ensure that your facility is prepared to handle an OSHA inspection and that your managers know their legal rights during and after an inspection.



2. Audit your company’s OSHA recordkeeping, especially Form 300 Injury and Illness Logs. Recordkeeping is one of the cornerstones of your safety program and a driver of OSHA’s new enforcement efforts. In addition to its National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Recordkeeping Audits, OSHA has instructed its compliance officers to more fully review every Company’s OSHA 300 Logs when conducting any inspection. An employer can expect a full-blown OSHA safety or recordkeeping audit if there are deficiencies in the logs. Audit and correct your last five years of logs, looking at insurance, first aid and other records, as OSHA might do, and look for “patterns” of injuries, which OSHA will also do.



3. Audit your workplace for routine violations. OSHA is looking for the “low-hanging fruit” or more-common safety and health violations, such as: Blocked exits and electric panels; improper materials handling and racks; personal protective equipment violations; recordkeeping errors; housekeeping problems, etc. These routine violations are challenging to prevent. In the case of an employer with many locations, past violations will result in repeat citations. OSHA’s focus on such routine items, as well as use of its “egregious” policy, is generating six- and seven-figure penalties. OSHA’s proposed penalty calculation guidance is intended to raise the average penalty approximately 300 percent. Multi-location employers are especially at risk, and only improved and consistently enforced safety rules, self-audits and supervisor accountability will reduce exposure.



4. Review abatement of all past OSHA citations. Prepare for OSHA’s proposed change to consider past citations for the last five years — not the current three years — in issuing “repeat” citations. Also, OSHA may cite for “failure-to-abate” if you cannot document past abatements of items again out of compliance.



5. Prepare for OSHA’s revised approach to ergonomics enforcement. OSHA will require an additional column to 300 Logs specifically for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD’s), which as broadly defined may include 75 percent of your workplace injuries. OSHA is currently utilizing the General Duty clause to issue ergonomic citations and has announced its intention to more widely use these General Duty citations. The addition of a new column for musculoskeletal disorders may be used by OSHA to develop data to move forward with a possible ergonomics standard as well as additional ergonomic enforcement efforts and to highlight your facility’s ergonomic problem areas.



6. Use Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and related efforts to focus your overall workplace safety and health strategy. OSHA has proposed development of a standard requiring a comprehensive safety management program. This standard would require employers to determine all hazards, and (even if there is not an applicable OSHA standard) to develop procedures and training — and OSHA would cite employers for failure to do so. Use JSA development to increase focus on your training, supervisor involvement and safety oversight.



7. Turning good intentions into a workable plan to make safety the #1 goal from the work floor to the “C” suite. By developing a comprehensive safety and health management system which includes management commitment and all employee involvement, a company can genuinely change its safety and health culture. However, this effort requires more than a written plan.



8. In lean times utilize safety as a profit center for your company. Beyond reducing workers’ comp claims, a comprehensive safety and health management programs can become a “profit center” for a company, allowing it to be more competitive in the local, national or global marketplace. Connect safety to productivity and quality; use it along with “green” and similar efforts as a marketing tool and as a way to increase employee involvement and satisfaction.



9. Develop your company’s emergency action and related plans to deal with the inevitable. Companies must maintain emergency action or emergency response plans which focus on natural disasters, including pandemics and Katrina-like events, as well as man-made disasters. These plans should tie in with an enhanced emphasis on evacuation plans, exit and egress compliance, training and EAP/ERP and related plans. The 2009’s pandemic planning showed many gaps in employers’ planning. OSHA is especially inspecting exit and evacuation planning for citations. Your plans should consider “non-safety” issues, such as business continuation, management of leaves and benefits, remote work and wage-hour compliance, etc.



10. Improve your company’s wellness plan and protect it from potential liability. A Wellness Plan offering more than just smoking cessation benefits is essential for dealing with an increasingly older and heavier workforce. Although new employment regulations including GINA and the ADAAA have increased the pitfalls associated with wellness programs, they can be effectively and lawfully managed.



11. Understand the implications of OSHA’s multi-employer citation policy. Recognize and respond to how contractors, customers and vendors can expose you to OSHA violations or harm your employees, including employees working away from your site.



12. Avoid membership in OSHA’s Severe Violators Enforcement Program (SVEP) and similar efforts. Consider how to avoid “membership” in the current EEP, the new SVEP and other enforcement programs which may target all or some of a company’s facilities for increased inspections and scrutiny.



13. Solve other problems by solving safety problems. Showing employees you care, and involving them in safety management, can prevent a multitude of legal problems. As an example, surveys have shown that, if safety is the primary issue in union organizing drives, the union success rate in those drives is approximately 67 percent, the highest for any issue. Not surprisingly, safety may be a very public and embarrassing issue during labor disputes. Use increased safety efforts to create a workplace where employees do not experience the issues which often spawn lawsuits, union organizing or conflict in an already unionized setting. Use training and audits to correct a wide range of legal and HR vulnerability, including wage-hour and other problems. As an example, money has been budgeted to train OSHA compliance officers to determine if alleged independent contractors are, in fact, employees.



Fisher & Phillips LLP assists companies in implementing action plans to improve safety programs, increase productivity and quality, protect a company’s brand and reputation and assist owners in effectively dealing with an enforcement-focused OSHA.
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Being aware of such regulations, inspections, slap on the hands, followed by a huge fine, knowing such, is just as important in operating a profitable detail business as what product or tools to use.

You are aware of that, however, many may not be, just hope others will take it serious, for as the article mentioned, following the recommendations of keeping your employee's informed and knowledgeable about such things may actually improve production and quality.

I have worked with the AutoBell people, mentioned in the article, and then there is my long time relationship as a trainer and supplier to Delta Sonic, Driver's Mart, auction operations, etc.

This subject is serious and not one to be subjected to the "I don't need to know or worry about this, I am just a little guy who knows how to clean and polish a car" folks.
 
Greg, who "really" knows.

If you take the time to read the article, you may find that the inspectors have been directed to seek out violations, anywhere there is work being performed.

Will they be driving down the street, haven't issued any violations for a few hours and an easy target is setting in front of them?

There is much more to be considered anyway, your own safety, any workers safety, the "traveling with chemicals", a kid at a home where you are doing work, picks up a pretty colored chemical and since it is the same color as his favorite juice, takes a drink of it?

You better have your MSDS's with you!!!!

If for no other reason than so the EMT's know what to do to help the kid.

Lot's of things to consider other than "it's an inconvience, I do things right, etc".

The last time I checked it is 2013, not 1963, and we have become a ligitation happy society.

Cover you butt as much as possible.
 
Here's an article that Mel Craig created several years ago that may assist:



"Detail shops and OSHA"



There are many requirements to be a good businessman, marketing , finance and people management to name but a few. One of the most critical, and often the most overlooked , is Health and Safety. Health and Safety is not a revenue generating area, its a cost, a lot of people don't like to spend time on matters that don�t generate revenue. However, it also has the ability to turn , in a matter of a few seconds, in to your biggest single cost, and one that can put you out of business.



The agency that enforces Health and Safety in the work place is OSHA. There inspectors have the right to enter and inspect your premises at any time. You have to co-operate with them in the same way that you have to co-operate with any federal entity. They have the authority to fine you, or in severe cases, order you to shut down until the necessary improvements are made. According to the research I did , nearly 90% of all OSHA inspections in the detail industry are as a result of a complaint being filed by a member of staff. 5% are as a result of accidents, and the remainder are "planned visits".



Lets take a look at a few examples of how much impact a visit can have on your business if you violate OHSA regulations.

In this instance that is in the OSHA database, a Detail shop was visited by an inspector in response to an employee complaint. The inspector didn�t just investigate the complaint, he inspected the whole location and issued no less than 13 citations for violation of different regulations. The citations issued were for :





â– Guarding Floor & Wall Openings & Holes

â– Eye & Face Protection, Respiratory Protection ( 6 Violations)

â– Portable Fire Extinguishers

â– Electrical Systems Design - General Requirements

â– Electrical, Wiring Methods - Components & Equipment

â– Hazard Communication .



Interestingly enough, the report on the follow up visit reported the they were "no longer in business". Also of interest here , is how much OSHA fine for each violation, and how much you could have saved by investing a little money in the beginning. OSHA fine per violation, not just one total fine, so if your violation is classed as "serious" you can be fined up to $3000 for each example found by the inspector.



Here are some examples of how a small investment by the operator could have saved him hundreds in not thousands of dollars later on. There are several detail shops in the OSHA database that were fined for "Medical Services & First Aid". The fines varied from between $225 and $500 for this offense. If the owner had invested $50 in a first aid kit , he would have saved himself a $225 fine. Same for an eye wash station, this operator was fined $375 dollars, for not having an item that he could probably buy for less than $100.



Out of the 48 detailing establishments visited, 78 citations were issued for the following reasons.

â– Hazard Communication 18

â– Respiratory Protection 8

â– Medical Services & First Aid 5

â– Electrical, Wiring Methods, Components & Equipment 5

â– Personal Protective Equipment,General Requirements 5

â– Portable Fire Extinguishers 3

â– Employee Right-to-Know Training Requirements 3

â– Hand & Portable Powered Tools & Equipment, General 2

â– Electrical Systems Design, General Requirements 2

â– Eye & Face Protection 2

â– Employee Right-to-Know Labeling Hazardous Substances 2

â– Employee Right-to-Know Availability of Written Information 2

â– Accident Prevention Program 1

â– Guarding Floor & Wall Openings & Holes 1

â– Means of Egress, General 1

â– Electrical, Wiring Design & Protection 1

â– Respirator Maintenance Requirements 1







The fines for the above citations ranged from $100 to $3000 for each violation, the detail shop owner in the first example received fines totaling over $11,000 dollars.



The other serious affect that this can have is the adverse publicity it will bring your business. If a company can not provide a safe environment for its employees, how can the customer have confidence that you will provide a safe environment for their $30-40,000 automobile. Secondly, it will make it harder to recruit top employees , who would want to work in an unsafe environment? On top of that you will find it harder to obtain insurance without paying a higher rate. The financial penalty�s imposed by OSHA will not be the only financial cost to your business.



There are many things you can do to protect your business and reduce your liabilities , at a very low cost, or even free.

â– Self Inspection. OSHA have compliance check lists that you can download from Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Home.

â– Implement a training program for all employees, especially for new hires, make sure they know what your health and safety policy is . Cover basics such as location of fire alarms, escape routes, assembly points, emergency procedures.

â– Attend a "Implementing an OSHA Safety and Health Program" . Many local colleges offer these courses.

â– OSHA also have a free on-site consultation program, which helps smaller employers improve workplace safety. Expert consultants review operations, identify and help employers abate hazards, and assist them in developing or strengthening workplace safety and health programs.



What to do during an OSHA inspection.

Remember , in 90 % of all visits , the inspectors are responding to a complaint. They are doing a job that they are paid to do, the same as we are. They are professionals and we should behave in the same manner as we do when dealing with a customer, professionally. They are not personally out to get you, they are just enforcing the regulations and protecting the safety of employees. Be polite and co-operate with them. Under the OSHA Quick Fix program , if you fix a non-serious hazard while the Inspector is there you will receive a 15% reduction in your fine.



The following is from an OSHA publication, and is sound advice. There are four basic elements found in workplaces with a good accident prevention program.

These are as follows.

1.The manager or management team leads the way, especially by setting policy,assigning and supporting responsibility, setting an example, and involving empoyees.

2.The worksite is continually analysed to identify all hazards and potential hazards.

3.Methods for preventing or controlling existing or potential hazards are put in place and maintained.

4.Managers, supervisors, and employees are trained to understand and deal with worksite hazards.



The key to the success of this plan is to see it as a part of your business operation and to see it reflected in all your work.



In summary, investing some time and money in Health and Safety now, can save you thousands of dollars over time, not just in fines, but in reduced workmans comp costs, insurance claims and other costs. It takes less than a second for an accident to occur, and in that time your whole lifes work can be ruined.
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What would be cool is to create a thread with links for the MSDS pdf for various chemicals we use. I know I don't have all the MSDS sheets for the stuff in my mobile boxes.



Cheers,

GREG
 
Each brand of chemicals must provide you with the correct MSDS for each product they sell to you.

Any links would have to be to every car care product supplier, etc.

There are so many little, local bath tubbers out there, it would not be possible to provide all the links and many of these little tubbers don't have a website.
 
I've bought stuff from the online detailing places and they don't send MSDS in the order. So I would have to look this up on my own.



Cheers,

GREG
 
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