Employers are required to provide personal protective equipment at no cost to the employee [OSHA's Final Rule].
Substandard personal protective equipment (PPE) is the sixth most cited auto dealership violation for 2010. OSHA requires the use of PPE to reduce employee exposures to hazards in the workplace, and when used correctly, PPE saves lives and money.
For the most part, state regulatory standards are in line with federal OSHA standards for PPE, but it is a good idea to talk to the KPA engineer in your area to make sure that your facility is in compliance with state and local policies.
Each department at a dealership has to fill out a written PPE hazard assessment. This assessment includes:
- descriptions of the department’s hazards that employees are exposed to on a daily basis
- PPE provided by the dealership to protect the employee from that hazard.
A typical example of a hazard in located in the parts department would be a key cutting machine. The hazard is the exposure of the eyes to metal shavings. The dealership would mark that safety glasses are provided to employees when using the key cutting machine. These assessments must be renewed on an annual basis.
Here is the basic list of personal protective equipment at dealerships (assuming a service bay at the facility):
- Respiratory: Proper respiratory equipment to protect against particulates and fumes depending on the job function. Make sure to that any employee needing a respirator completes a medical evaluation and a fit test before donning a respirator.
- Noise exposure: ear plugs, ear protectors, or ear muffs depending on the noise level and length of exposure.
- Eye and Face Protection: safety goggles, wrap around frames, visors, face shields, masks depending on risk exposures. [related article] Eye and face protection needs to be marked with a manufacturer’s brand (this helps the OSHA inspector determine that the PPE meets with ANSI standards).
- Proper footwear: work boots, not tennis shoes in the service bay. Work boots are currently under a cost exemption. They are the only pieces of PPE that the employer is not required to provide at no cost to the employee.
- Hand protection: Electric Shock Insulated gloves if working with electrical components [EV service technicians], protection against skin absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts or lacerations, abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, and thermal burns depending on risk exposure.
- Training: [list of all required training for dealerships, including PPE requirements and frequency]
Watch this two minute video. It explains what kinds of personal protective equipment are needed at the dealership, how to comply with OSHA standards, and a real example of PPE that saved a technician’s head.
