Dismemberment at a Car Wash!

At a car wash in mid-west a machine called an industrial centrifuge extractor was being used to dry towels. An employee had his arm pulled from his torso when he reached into the extractor while the internal drum was still spinning. As a result of an inspection conducted after the accident three citations were issued by the Secretary of State. One issue before the Commission alleged that there was a willful violation of an OSHA machine guarding standard. The Secretary imposed a penalty of $28,000 for the violation. So not only do we have a catastrophic injury to an employee but in addition to the insurance payout the wash incurred the following costs; loss of business, loss of a valued employee, cost to retrain a new employee, personnel cost to process the paperwork, loss of productivity due to moral and the $28,000 penalty. In this particular case safeguards were circumvented and proper training was absent.

Another case in point, an employee took a short cut through the tunnel. As he was exiting, the intake vent on the blower sucked the jacket he was carrying up in to the machinery tearing his arm from his shoulder. Although there was a guard it was inadequately designed to prevent this terrible incident.

In both of these cases the outcome was a successful limb reattachment, however, they would never have the full use. With the proper training both incidents could have been avoided altogether. It is imperative that all employees understand the dangers associated with car wash machinery. Repetitive training for both new and existing employees is an absolute if you are to maintain a safe environment.

Train....Train....Train!

Winter Conditions Can Cause Serious Injuries!

Here are some tips and/or reminders to help prevent slips and falls during the winter months:

1. Maintain Salt Logs at each location.
2. Move garbage receptacles at self serve washes next to the bays to minimize customer walking exposure.
3. Use signage to direct customers to walk on areas of the wash that are designed to accommodate pedestrian traffic.
4. Be sure all underground heating is in good working order for both the bays and aprons around the wash.
5. Check all gutters - are in good repair and directing runoff to areas of the wash devoid of pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
6. Whenever possible offer cover for areas where there are customer change and vending machines.
7. Inspect bays daily for any ice build up.
8. Check weeping systems - are they causing excess icing on the bay floors?
9. Extra salting may be needed where over spray occurs.
10. Be sure employees are wearing proper foot wear and clothing.
11. Only use approved portable heating devices and position them away from combustible materials at all times.
12. Identify areas of the wash where morning sun is prevalent whit shade in the afternoon. This scenario tends to create black ice and require more salting than other spots on the property.
13. At the exit of the wash, inspect all areas where excess run off from the vehicles can create dangerous slipping exposures. Some samples are; vacuum stations, sidewalks, detailing and where the cars enter the public roads. If the distance from the exit to the road is short, you may want to consider rerouting to allow more time for the dripping water to drain. This way you can keep it under your control.
14. Surveillance cameras are always a good idea to help prevent fraudulent cases.
15. If a slip occurs, a photo of the area as well as documentation and maintenance logs are very important.
16. All exterior ramps and stairs should have approved railings.

Feel free to add to the list with a comment.....And rembember a little extra effort could go a long way!