4 minute read
Kelly BMW
An effective health and safety program can help collision repair facilMy SEMA Curtis. “I was impressed with our team keeping up with the services lations, but it can also bring the shop to a level of compliance sooner, fast- A: There are requirements by OSHA, the Environmental ities reduce injury and illness rates, decrease workers’ compensation and demands.” Autobody Newswith Stacey Phillips reached out to er and less expensive than you can do on your own. Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT), costs, increase productivity and im- Curtis to learn more about the im- In addition, facilities should as well as state regulations. The colprove morale across the workforce, portance of establishing an effective pay close attention to environmental lision industry is heavily regulated according to Wayne Curtis, direc- health and safety program that en- requirements. This includes prac- when it comes to EHS. The same tor of field services at KPA. Based in Lafayette, CO, KPA provides environment, health and sures compliance with national and state regulations.Shop Strategies tices related to waste management, documenting hazardous waste inspections, container labeling and standards that apply to auto dealerships apply to collision centers. It’s imperative to have the tools, resafety (EHS) and workplace compliance software and services for a Q:with Victoria AntonelliHow can a collision repair facility ensure proper compliretaining waste manifests. A safe workplace requires more sources and equipment that allow for the most compliant and safe apwide range of industries, including ance? than just being compliant. Periodic plications. automotive. evaluations can help identify weak- It seems that the Biden adminEach year, about 100 KPA safety specialists conduct audits at more than 2,000 auto collision-related faA: I recommend starting with the basics. The first step is to evaluate the shop’s current situation Product Innovation nesses in the processes your company uses to address hazards. By being proactive, it allows everyone to istration is paying close attention to the environment, specifically the Clean Air Act. I’ve also seen incilities across the U.S., Puerto Rico with Ed Attanasioand do an assessment. have the knowledge to identify and creased activity with the EPA 6H and Canada to determine if busi- I’m emphatic that all collision resolve hazards before they create a Rule, the National Emission Stannesses are compliant. Once the eval- repairers should perform an audit to serious incident. dards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. identify environmental and safety EPA Region 4 recently sent out letrisks. This will help determine the necessary actions to meet mandatory requirements, avoid citations and OE Shop Certification Q: of? What types of regulations should repair facilities be aware ters to collision centers reminding who is subject to 6H rule requirements and emphasizing the imporwith potential legal action. Third-party Gary Ledoux companies, such as KPA, are available for these types of audits. After reviewing the inspection results, the next step is to determine the priorities when developing a health and safety program that adProduct Innovation Wayne Curtis of KPA said providing regular dresses the high-risk areas in your workplace. All collision centers are with Stacey Phillipssafety training for employees helps collision repair facilities establish a safety culture and is proven to reduce injuries required to have a written hazard communication program and prouations are complete, the company vide training to employees as a basic then discusses concerning issues, offers recommendations and conducts Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirement.From the Desk of Mike Anderson training if necessary. Facilities are also required to
“The goal is to help companies install a program to protect work-with Mike Anderson ORIGINAL BMW PARTS & ACCESSORIES. proactively identify risks, stay up- ers from respiratory hazards. Shop Large Inventory to-date on evolving regulations and owners and managers can ask them- Competitive Pricing keep workers safe,” said Curtis, who selves: “Are all employees trained Experienced Staff has worked with KPA for 17 years. on our workplace hazards and how He estimates KPA completed more than 20,000 in-person and virto protect themselves? Have employees who wear tight-fitting resKelly BMW tual field visits to auto dealerships, pirators been fit tested? Have they Phone: 614.471.2277 collision repair shops, trucking and been medically evaluated to wear a Parts Direct: 614.337.3090 rental car locations in 2020. This respirator and do you have proof of Parts Fax: 614.476.2488 is a similar number that took place medical clearance on file?” www.kellybmw.com prior to the pandemic. In addition, If the answer is “no” and a facil- Hours: M-F 8am-6pm; Sat 9am-2pm the company conducted 1.2 million ity determines that it doesn’t have a 4050 Morse Rd., Columbus, OH 43230 trainings last year, the majority of good process in place, it’s important which were online. to find someone who can assist. Not ©2021 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo
“It was certainly challenging only can it help streamline the steps are registered trademarks. for us during the pandemic,” said needed to navigate the maze of regu-
