The Proof is in the Pudding

Processes to protect Customers and Employees

With all of the recent OSHA activity keep in mind that not all safety regulations are mandated.  Up until now, OSHA has not established a standard for employee fatigue. However, injuries associated with this condition are beginning to mount.  Due to weather conditions, car washers often have small windows to wash a volume of cars; this can lead to excessive hours and, of course, employee fatigue.  If your company does not have a policy to address this situation, consider putting one in place before someone is hurt or it is mandated by OSHA. 

A clerical employee was severely injured in a lube shop that had been converted into a detail bay.  In this case the bay still had the opening for working under the cars which created a tripping hazard.  Lesson learned: when operations are modified, be sure that the conditions of the facility are conducive for the new operations being preformed. This is also an example of an injury that was sustained as the result of an employee being in an unauthorized area.

Another serious incident occurred when a customer exited their car in a lube bay and fell into the pit. There was a policy in effect requiring all customers to remain in their vehicle, however, the customer chose to ignore this.  To prevent these occurrences an accountable employee should be assigned the task of enforcing all rules.

Bottom line, great processes are meaningless unless they are put into action and then enforced.

What Now?

I recently read that OSHA is likely to target a specific class when a serious accident occurs within their industry group. I also learned that, often, OSHA, will then begin a series of random inspections at nearby business with similar exposures.

Exactly that happened when a car wash worker was killed and one injured by a customer as they exited the tunnel. A year later, OSHA established a special program to focus on planned enforcement of hazards inherent to car washes located in certain states.

Prior to this, inspections had been limited to referrals and complaints. Now it is an industry focus. Do you think they will be looking to make an example of some of these businesses? You bet!

If you don’t have a formal safety program, get one. Your insurance provider can help. If you do have one, now is the time for updates. If you are unclear what to look for, there is an OSHA handbook for small businesses with a self-inspection check list available on their website. It is a good place to start.

If you are a multi location operation, you must have a program at every property.

Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance.

OSHA tip:  If you are visited, one new area they are looking at is fire extinguisher inspections. Most operators are aware that the tag must show an inspection has been done annually. However, many might not know that the tag also has spaces on the back for monthly internal inspections. OSHA is now looking to levy fines for those businesses that do not have monthly postings!