Automotive

Shop Safety
Safety Requirements for
Automotive Shop
1. Clean-Up the Spills Immediately
Spillage of oil, transmission or radiator fluid and other
liquid is quite common in automotive repair shops. It
puts you at significant risk of slipping on the floor,
therefore, to protect yourself or your customers from
falling, the spills must be cleaned up immediately
which eliminates the risk of slipping and or injury.
2. Sweep the Floors Regularly
 Sweeping and cleaning the floors must be rule #1
in the auto repair safety rules to keep the
workplace dust and allergen-free.
 3. Keep the shop organized.

 Put all the tools away

 Never leave parts, tools, creepers, etc. on the floor
 Never carry any sharp tools or parts in your pockets.
Safety Tips for Auto Technicians
1. Wear Sturdy Work Boots

 All mechanics are instructed to wear the right size work

boot which is strong and sturdy with a steel cap toe. The
work boots protect their feet in the event of tools or parts
falling down which could cause injury to their feet.
2. Wearing Proper Work Gloves

 Auto repair mechanics have to handle engines and other

automotive parts that can be extremely hot and cause
severe burns or are extremely dirty. Thus, mechanics are
encouraged to wear proper work gloves as protection
before handling hot and / or dirty parts.
3. Appropriate Eye Wear

 Protecting your eyes while doing any repair or service

work is recommended. The use of protective eyewear is a
small price to prevent eye injury.
4. Wearing Workshop Apparel

 Wearing loose clothing or any other inappropriate attire

puts you at risk of ripping the clothes, spilling or getting
the shirt caught between parts or sections of the vehicle
which could result in injury to you. Shop owners must
provide their mechanics with customized apparel to suit the
working conditions.
5. Eating or Consuming Drinks must be confined to the
kitchen

 All staff in the automotive repair shop must not be

allowed to consume their meals on the workshop floor,
as they can get exposed to the chemicals used for serving
& repairing vehicles.
6. Do not smoke

 Never smoke in or near repair bays or garages. Vehicles

contain flammable and combustible fluids which can easily
be set on fire if a hot ash from a cigar or cigarette were to
come into contact with such materials.
7. Dispose of the Waste Correctly

 Not only are mechanics expected to learn the safety rules

within the automotive shop but it's advisable all staff are
part of the learning process as they share the
responsibility in making the right decision to handle the
correct measures of handling chemical waste.
8. Proper Electrical safety

 It is essential to cut off the power before working on the

electrical components of a vehicle to avoid accidental
electric shock.
Rules to follow when using
vehicle lifts
The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) recommends these simple
vehicle lift safety precautions to help your shop operate
incident-free:

01 02 03
Inspect your lift Don't block open Never load your
daily and make or override lift beyond the
any repairs with controls. manufacturer's
original equipment rated capacity.
(OE) parts.
 04 05 06
Positioning of the Never raise vehicle
vehicle and operation Always keep lift
with anyone inside it. area free of debris.
of the lift should be Customers or
done only by trained bystanders should
and authorized not be in the lift area
personnel. during operation.
 07 08
Do not hit or run Position lift supports to
over lift arms,
contact the vehicle
adapters or axle manufacturer's
supports.
recommended lifting components may cause
points and raise the lift
until supports contact the
vehicle. If you are
working under the
vehicle, the lift should be
raised high enough for
locking device to be
engaged.
09
Note that with some
vehicles, the removal
or installation of
a critical shift in the
vehicle's center of
gravity. Use high-
reach, supplementary
stands to prevent
instability.
 10 05 06
Before lowering the
lift, be sure materials
are removed from
under vehicle.
Shop Safety Features and
Emergency Procedures
Observe the following guidelines about
safety features and equipment in a shop.

a) Walk around the shop to become familiar with the various areas
(e.g., work bays, management offices, parts department,
customer waiting area) and the traffic flow of vehicles coming
in and out of the shop.
b) Note the location of shop exits, which should be well-marked
with an “EXIT” sign. Keep the area around the exits free of
obstructions.
c) Be familiar with the shop’s evacuation routes and procedures
in case of fire or other emergencies.
d) Note the location of specific work areas, such as those for
welding, painting, and grinding, which should be clearly
marked.
e) Know the location and how to operate the eye wash station,
which is used to flush the eyes in case of a chemical splash.
f) Know where the first-aid supplies are kept and be
familiar with the supplies available and how to use
them.
g) Locate the telephones that can be used for emergencies
and where emergency numbers are posted.
h) Note the location of storage containers for hazardous
wastes and materials.
i) Know where the fire alarm is and how to activate it at
the first sign of a fire that has any possibility of getting
out of control.
j) Know where fire extinguishers are located and how to
use them. It is critical to be familiar with how the fire
extinguishers in the shop operate to be prepared if a fire
should start.
Emergency Procedures

a) If someone is injured in the shop, notify the instructor at

once.
b) Do not give first aid to a victim unless trained to do so.
However, if properly trained, do not hesitate to give first
aid.
Emergency Procedures

c) If someone comes into contact with electrical current and

receives an immobilizing shock, do not try to move him or
her if the current is still on and the person is still in contact
with it. Shut off the main circuit to the shop. Electrical
current will flow through whoever touches the person being
shocked. Notify the instructor at once.
d) General fire emergency procedure
NOTE: Specific procedures for dealing with fire emergencies vary. It is important to know the specific procedures for
your shop.

1) If a person is on fire, immediately wrap the person in a

fire blanket to smother the flames.
2) For other fires, turn on the fire alarm.
3) Notify the instructor as soon as possible. The instructor
will decide whether or not to attempt to extinguish the
fire or to wait for emergency personnel
4) Turn off any machines and power in the event of an
alarm if time or circumstances allow.
5) Follow building evacuation procedures as required.
Quiz

Answer the following.

1. What is/are the important of implementing safety
precautions and rules in automotive shop?
2. Is it necessary to be well-informed about shop
safety features and emergency procedures? Why or
why not.