Mass production methods have made the present-day motor car such that it requires special techniques,skills and tools for the rectification of body damage. Specialist tools have been designed to suit the varying contours and shapes of the p...

To protect yourself from the cleaning agents which you are using you must,where appropriate,wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Most cleaning agents are poisonous and cause irritation or more serious complaints if allowed to come into...

In your companys Health and Safety Policy document there will be reference to the cleaning of the floors and equipment in the garage and general amenities such as toilets and rest areas. Also there will be maintenance and repair records for...

The Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and local by-laws in most areas require that used cleaning solvents must be disposed of safely. This means that they must be put into drums and either col- lected by a refuse disposal firm or taken to...

Before using any solvent,detergent or sanitizing agent such as bleach you must read both the label on the container and the COSHH sheet which the manufacturer or your company has prepared. Solvent should only be used in the cleaning bath fo...

There are three main items of cleaning equipment used in the garage:the cleaning bath (or tank),the pressure washer and the steam cleaner. The cleaning bath uses a chemical solvent,this is usually used for cleaning dirty/oily components. Th...

You must always isolate an electrical machine from the mains supply before either cleaning it or carrying out any maintenance or repairs. There aretwo reasons for this:first,if you touch anelectrically live part you may get an electric shoc...

The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979 require employers to maintain an accident book as well as regulation 7 of the HSWA. This book requires brief details of any accident or dangerous occurrence to be recorded. An appro...

If you hear a fire/emergency warning you must follow the companys evacuation procedure this is usually stated on the workshop wall. If you hear a fire alarm a typical evacuation procedure is: 1.Shut off the electricity by pressing the emerg...

There are five different types of fire extinguishers in common use in garage premises,these are identified by their colour,as given in the following table: In addition there are fire bucketsfull of sand,and fire blankets. Before you use any...

Generally only senior staff (managers) are allowed to operate alarms and other forms of alert/evacua- tion systems. This is because of the costs which may be involved if the fire service is called out wrongly and the damage which may occur...

An authorized person is somebody who has thetask of carrying out a specific job. Anybody may call the emergency services if they are needed. The four emergency services are: Police Fire Ambulance Coastguard. All are called by dialling 999 o...

You can always buy a new wing for a car,but you cannot buy a new arm for a mechanic. In the event of an accident people come first. For instance if a building is on fire,do not re-enter to retrieve your belongings,wait until the fire is out...

By law all companies are required to maintain records of accidents which take place at work. These records are usually kept in an accident book.Accident books may be inspected by HSE inspectors (generally referred to as factory inspectors);...

If a person is injured the first action must be toensure that first aid is given by a competent first aider or other suitable person. Most companies have a designated first aider who is trained to deal with accidents and emergencies. If you...

The best policy is not to let customers into the workshop many garages have a notice to this effect on the workshop door. For MOT purposes garages must have a customer viewing area. However,it is not always possible to keep people out of the...

Should there be an accident the first thing to do is call for help. Either contact your supervisor or a known first aid person. Should any of these not be available,and it is felt appropriate,call for your local doctor or an ambulance. You...

The following table lists typical items of personal protective equipment (PPE) and states when they must be worn. You will often see safety notices requiring you to wear certain PPE in some areas at all times,this is because other people ar...

Do not attempt to manually carry a load which you cannot easily lift and which you cannot see above and around. The maximum weight of load that you should lift is 20 kilogrammes,but as a trainee this may still be too heavy for you. When you...

Many pieces of garage equipment are marked only to be used by authorized personnel. This is mainly because incorrect use can cause damage tothe equipment,the workpiece or the operator. Do not operate equipment which you have not been properl...

As a trainee in the motor industry your company will require you to report any dangerous situations to your supervisor; this will be a person that you know as the chargehand,foreperson or service manager. Any internal matter should in the fi...

This section is about those situations where the hazards cannot be readily removed,that is,how do you behave in accident situations,or when equipment malfunctions and you can see an accident about to happen? Most mechanics are only likely to...