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You must work in a safe manner or you are breaking the HSWA and are liable to a fine of up to £2000 and/or imprisonment. This means following the safe working practices which are normally used within the industry. The guidelines published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and motor vehicle textbooks usually identify industry accepted safe working practices. Examples of important procedures are:
1.Always use axle stands when a vehicle is jacked up.
2.Always use an exhaust extractor when running an engine in the garage.
3.Always wear overalls,safety boots and any other personal protective equipment (PPE) when it is needed,for example safety goggles when grinding or drilling and a breathing mask when working in dusty conditions.
4.Always use the correct tools for the job.
Even if you are working in a safe and careful manner you are still likely to spill the odd small amount of fluid or snag the airline,this will then create a hazard. The procedure here is always to remove the hazard,no matter how it was created,immediately.
If you spill petrol or oil when you disconnect a pipe from the engine you should clean it up immediately or else you,or a colleague,may slip and fall. Absorbent granules should be used for this job,as they will soak up the liquid without causing a fire hazard or making the floor more slippery.
Brake fluid is a special hazard because if it is spilled on the vehicle’s paint work it will soften the paint and may cause it to peel off,just like paint stripper. Therefore any spilled brake fluid should be wiped off immediately and the paint surface washed and polished if needed. Antifreeze spilled on paintwork will soften the paint surface and cause discoloration,so it too must be wiped off immediately with absorbent paper roll or towel and washed down if needed.

When working on any system which contains fluids it is good practice to use a drip-tray to catch any possible spillages,this saves having to clean the floor as well as ensuring that all the used oils and fluids are disposed off safely,that is,you can pour them from your drip-tray into your disposal container. The Environment Protection Act requires that you dispose of used oils and other fluids in a way which will not cause pollution. In practice many vehicle manufacturers now collect used oil and brake fluid for recycling or safe disposal. Smaller garages without franchises will dispose of these liquids either through a private waste collection company or through a scheme in conjunction with the local authority. No waste oil,petrol,brake fuid or similar chemicals must be allowed to enter the drainage system.

Exhaust fumes are very dangerous,they can kill you. Small intakes of exhaust fumes will give you bad headaches,and over time can cause lung and/or brain diseases so ensure that you do not run a vehicle in a workshop without an exhaust extractor. Also ensure that the extractor pipe is correctly connected and is not leaking.

The airline used in most garages operates at between 100 and 150 psi (7 and 10 bar),this is a very high pressure,so it must be handled with great care. When you are using an airline always wear safety goggles to prevent dust entering your eyes. You must not use an airline for dusting off components,especially brake and clutch parts as the very fine dust can cause damage to the throat and lungs. Before you use an airline ensure that the coupling is fitted firmly into the socket and that the pipe is not leaking anywhere along its length. Any damage or leaks should be immediately reported to your supervisor or manager so that they can be repaired. The high pressure of the air can quickly turn a small leak in an airline into a large gash which in turn may make the airline wip around and cause damage to colleagues or customers’vehicles.

Another area of potential danger is when using electrical equipment such as an electric drill,handlamp or grinder. Most mains operated equipmentruns at 240 volts; an electric shock from such a voltage is most likely to kill you straight away. Some companies use 110 volt equipment which isoperated through a transformer,this is much safer,especially if the transformer is fitted with anoverload cutout. Hand-lamps should operate at 50 volts,or preferably 12 volts to give the highest level of safety. Plugs should only be fitted to electrical equipment by skilled persons,at the same time a fuse of the correct amperage rating should be fitted and the equipment tested and logged in accordance with the Portable Appliance Testing Regulations (PAT testing). PAT tested equipment should be numbered and carry a test date label. Before you use any electrical equipment visually check it for signs of damage and check that the cable is not frayed or split. Then ensure that you plug it into the correct voltage outlet. Do not attempt to use any electrical equipment which you suspect may be faulty; report the fault immediately to your supervisor.