Car Wash Hazards

Mike Yarnell
Compliance Assistant
November 8, 2011
 Five Categories
Self service
Exterior rollover
Exterior only
Full service
Detail shop
 Self Service
Open bay having a coin-operated pressure
sprayer, and sometimes a foaming brush
connected to a large central pump
Customer selects the option wanted, such
as soap, "rinse" and "wax" and uses the
equipment
Timer shuts the power off after a certain
period
 Exterior rollover
Automated systems where the car is
driven by the customer into the bay
Once the car is in the correct position, a
signal informs the driver to stop and place
the car in neutral
Wash equipment moves around the car on
a track, performing a specific function,
such as applying soap, washing or rinsing
 Exterior rollover
Common at gas stations, where the price
is often discounted in conjunction with
buying a tank of gas
 Exterior only
Automated system where the car is driven
into the entrance of a long, tunnel-like bay
The front tire, usually on the driver's side,
indexes into a conveyor system and the
driver places the car in neutral
Conveyor guides the car through the bay,
where it passes several pieces of
equipment, each with a specific purpose
 Full service
Uses the same conveyor-based
automated system
Interior is manually cleaned by attendants
Some exterior services, such as hand-
drying and wheel-cleaning, are available
 Detail shop
May hand wash the car or use an automated
system
Attendants completely clean and polish the car,
normally by applying wax and using a buffer to
remove the wax and polish the car
These shops are often able to remove dull paint
and small scratches, steam clean carpets and
seats, brighten chrome, remove tar and perform
a variety of other services
 Summary
Employees have to attend, maintain and
be involved in all five types of car washes,
although there may be less hazards in a
self service bay or detail shop where the
washing is manual
The following are potential hazards that
may be present in all car wash categories
 Potential Chemical Hazards
Certain pre-soak compounds used in
automated car washes are very alkaline
and corrosive and may be applied
manually
Certain highly corrosive tire shine
compounds may be applied at the
beginning or end of the car wash via spray
nozzles
 Potential Chemical Hazards
Foaming agents for deep cleaning may be
hazardous
Coatings, rinses, waxes and polish water-
resistant compounds may be quite alkaline
or may cause dermatitis
 Potential Chemical Hazards
Agents to assist the rinse process and
certain waxes can be quite acidic
Some chrome and wheel rim cleaning
chemicals contain hydrofluoric acid
Car washes may also have laundries to
wash hand towels by using household
detergents and bleach
 Airborne Chemicals
Mists from sprayed cleaning agents
Emissions from diesel and gasoline
engines
Composed of a complex mixture of thousands
of different gases, vapors, and fine particles
Diesel engine emissions may contain
potential cancer-causing substances such as
arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde, nickel and
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Electrocution and Mechanical
Hazards
A rollover system and other automated
systems may be controlled by a digital
control system
This computerized system knows where
the car is located, engages the wash,
brush or rinse systems where required and
may also automatically shut off the system
when a car comes off of the conveyor to
prevent a collision with the car behind it
 Exterior System Hazards
Hydraulic system may be used which
powers all moving and rotating parts of the
machine
Conveyor system has a chain which
rotates on axles at the beginning and end
of the conveyor track and has rollers that
catch the cars front wheel and propels the
car through the wash tunnel at a slow
speed
 Exterior System
Mitter curtain that moves back and forth
across the car surface
Scrubber brushes that rotate at high
velocity around the front, sides and rear of
car
Large cylindrical brush top brush that
rotates on an axle perpendicular to the car
to clean / scrub the top of the car
 Exterior System
High pressure water tank and pump that
may feed all manual and automated spray
machines; jets may operate up to 1000
PSI
Pre-soak may be applied manually with high
pressure water nozzles
Main wash spray foam applicator
Rinse / wax arches
Undercarriage wash applicator
 Exterior System
Electrical motors may operate at up to 480 volts
to power the hydraulic system, the water
pressure pumps, chemical feed systems and hot
air dryers
120 volt lighting and power outlets
Electrically powered water reclaim system
motors
Manual power washers
Electrically powered vacuums; either individually
powered or having one large vacuum canister
with a powerful air pump and many hoses
attached
 Slips, Trips and Falls
Accumulations of slippery soap, wax and other chemical
solutions on floor areas
 Struck-by Hazards

Being struck by customer-driven or employee

operated vehicles is a major hazard
In all operations, a struck-by hazard exists either
by vehicle or mechanical equipment
Employees can be struck by a vehicle as it
approaches or enters the bay, where it
disengages from the conveyor system, where it
is driven out, or where it heads to a finishing /
towel drying area
 Applicable OSHA Standards
Employers must conduct a workplace
hazard assessment
PPE
Adequate hand / eye / body protection when
handling corrosive chemicals and manual
spraying of treatment chemicals
 OSHA Standards
Lock out / Tag out
In-house or vendor mechanic that maintains
the equipment
Repair, replacement or maintenance of
conveyor chains, spinner brush belts or parts,
motor belts or repair of electrical motors or
equipment
Cleaning of the wash tunnel areas where
there are moving machine parts
 OSHA Standards
In automated systems, cars can become
disengaged from the conveyor system
In express systems, the customer may apply
the brakes, causing the roller to go under the
car - system may shut off automatically, but
the employer should develop training and a
policy to require shutoff every time this occurs
LO/TO would not apply to this case
 OSHA Standards
Chemical hazard communication
Chemicals can be highly corrosive
Strong acids (rinses / waxes)
Strong bases (alkaline soaps)
 OSHA Standards
Electrical
Standard automated car washs operate on
480 volt power
Electrical fixtures, if subject to spraying / wet
areas must be approved for wet locations
 OSHA Standards
Egress/exits
Whether full or exterior service, safe egress
must be maintained from one end of the
tunnel to the other, or from all areas
employees may work
Space may be limited and egress and exit use
must be maintained without obstructions or
locks
 OSHA Standards
Eye and body wash provisons
Read the MSDS
Garden hoses with regular water pressure
may be used for body drenching
An eye wash, at a minimum, must be
available to employees
 OSHA Standards
Slips, trips and falls
Along egress pathways and in other areas,
water, soap and slippery chemicals can
accumulate
Mats or rough surfacing materials can be
used in problem areas
Cleanliness must be maintained
 OSHA Standards
Noise and hearing conservation
All machinery in a wash tunnel is inherently
noisy, particularly the blowers
For employees stationed near blowers for an
extended period of time, the employer must
conduct a noise survey
If employees are in constant motion and do
not stay in the tunnel or near blowers,
overexposure is unlikely
 OSHA Standards
Exhaust and chemical mists
In an older or enclosed facility, vehicle
exhaust may accumulate causing elevated
exhaust component levels including carbon
monoxide
During winter months if the tunnel uses
automated doors or plastic curtains, corrosive
mists may also accumulate
 OSHA Standards
Motor vehicle safety
Use cones, signage and barricades at the
entry point into a car wash and at the exit
point when the car is put back into drive by
the operator after its released from the
conveyor system
Motor vehicle safety guidelines available
through the International Car Wash
Association
Commercial signage is also avaialble
 OSHA Standards
Equipment maintenance
All equipment must be maintained according
to manfacturer requirements
Equipment used while in disrepair may break
and project objects causing struck-by injuries
The digital control system may include safety
shut-off controls and devices - it must work as
designed and be properly maintained
 OSHA Standards
The employer should establish danger
zones at entry and exit points where either
a customer driver or employee driver can
strike a worker
Use of high visibility clothing is
recommended
 OSHA Standards
Employee training
Adhering to all safety precautions
Slips and falls
Other safety risks that are present in the
working environment such as open pits in
lube bays
 OSHA Standards
Excessive noise especially near blowers at
the car exit
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Bursting high pressure hose in wash tunnel
Lock out/Tag out
 OSHA Standards
Potential for a car fire
Hazards associated with working in and
around moving vehicles in a confined area
Moving equipment hazards within the car
wash tunnel
Electrical shock hazards
Chemical hazards and hazard communication