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Hazardous Materials Use in Auto Repair Integrated Strategies to Protect Health & the Environment

This comprehensive guide provides information on the hazardous materials used in auto repair, their potential health effects, and strategies to protect workers and the environment. It includes case studies, data analysis, and guidance for adopting safer alternatives.

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Hazardous Materials Use in Auto Repair Integrated Strategies to Protect Health & the Environment

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  1. Hazardous Materials Use in Auto RepairIntegrated Strategies to Protect Health & the Environment Julia Quint, PhD HESIS, DHS www.dhs.ca.gov/ohb WRPPN Conference Granlibakken, CA October 16, 2003

  2. Hazard Evaluation System & Information Service (HESIS) • Established by CA Legislature in 1979 in response to DBCP-induced sterility of workers • Collect and evaluate information to establish harmful effects on health • Provide “early warnings” and reliable information to prevent hazards to workers • Recommend protective occupational health standards to Cal/OSHA

  3. HESIS Health Advisory n-Hexane

  4. n-Hexane-Induced Nerve DamageDelayed Diagnoses of Auto Mechanics • Damages nerves in feet,legs, hands, and arms • Can last a long time & may be permanent • Acute symptoms include headache, dizziness, lost of appetite, drowsiness

  5. ProductNew Chemical(s) Wurth Brake & Isopropyl alc. Parts Cleaner Heptane Berryman B-12 Toluene; MeOH Chemtool Carb & Acetone Choke Cleaner Malco Brake MeOH; Xylene & Parts Cleaner Mineral spirits Mantek DJC PS 1-BP; isopropyl Aerosol alcohol Id’d from 2003 MSDSs (Internet)

  6. Integrating Illness, Injury & Pollution Prevention Strategies  Some of the Benefits • Prevents transfer of risks • Decreases workers’ overall health risks • Decreases health risks to communities • Simplifies regulatory compliance • Cost-effective • Promotes sharing of expertise / collaboration • Broadens support for worker H&S and P2

  7. HESIS Auto Repair Industry ProjectOverview • Two-year EPA P2 Incentives for States Grant (in progress) • Collaboration with the Institute for Research & Technical Assistance (IRTA), a non-profit NGO. • Develop & demonstrate the effectiveness of water-based, aerosol automotive cleaners • Develop integrated P2 / health and safety guidance for the auto repair industry

  8. Auto Repair Industry Project Objectives • Work with diverse auto repair facilities to develop & demonstrate the effectiveness of water-based aerosol cleaners (IRTA) • Conduct site visits & key informant interviews to obtain specific information • Review workers compensation data • Review Cal/OSHA compliance data • Develop and disseminate integrated environ. protection and H &S guidance and resource information. • Disseminate case studies (IRTA)

  9. Auto Repair Project Workers Compensation Claims Data Analysis Data from a large CA workers compensation insurer 10,861 claims –SIC= 7538 (general automotive) –WCIS = 8389 (automobile or truck repair garages) Time Period = 1/1/93 to 6/30/02 Selected Codes(n=34) Cause of injuryNature of injuryPart of bodyTot.benefit pd. Selected Cause of Injury Codes (n=91)  Chemical (n>5) Dust, Gases, Fumes or Vapors (n>5) Potential Solvent-Related Claims= Chemical & Dust, Gases,Fumes or vapors

  10. Top Five Body Parts Injured Potential Solvent-Related Claims (N=175)

  11. Top Five Nature of Injury Potential Solvent-Related Claims (N=175)

  12. Cost All Other Claims n = 9,166 Potential Solvent-Related Claims n = 149 Total Benefit Paid $59, 590, 301.26 $354,920.43 Mean $6501.23 $2028.12 Median $364.91 $225.33 Range $0 - $590,172.46 $0 - $83,084.86 CA Auto Repair Workers Compensation Total Benefits Paid

  13. CA Auto Repair IndustryWorkers Compensation Claim DataPreliminary Conclusions Workers compensation data probably severely underestimates auto repair workers’ illness and injury due to solvent-based cleaners. Some of the limitations include: • Lack of recognition and/or appreciation of solvent-related toxicity and health effects by employers and employers • Failure of healthcare providers to take occupational health histories and to recognize and diagnose work-related illness and disease due to chemical exposures • Long latency period for cancer and other chronic diseases caused by some solvents

  14. CA Auto Repair IndustryWorkers Compensation Claim DataPreliminary Conclusions (Cont’d) Morbidity due to the use of solvent-based automotive cleaners could have been underestimated in our analysis due to: • Lack of data from other insurers • Variable and inconsistent coding of claims • Lack of data on owners who are also workers • Workers who don’t report “under the table” family members

  15. Auto Repair Shop Site Visits Preliminary Findings Key information from 5 small shops in San Francisco • Potential safety hazards due to physical plant contraints (crowding of equip; poor housekeeping) • Mobile water-based brake cleaners and solvent-based aerosol cleaners both used. Many different solvents in aerosols • Full-service vendors provide water-based parts & brake cleaners (dispose & recycle waste, sell solvent-based aerosols) • Labels on cans used for hazard info instead of MSDSs • General lack of knowledge about health effects of solvents

  16. Auto Repair Project Key Informant InterviewsMethod • 14 Key Informant Telephone Interviews 6 employers dealership service mgr. P2 trainer 5 environ. inspectors chemist/research director • Instrument: Open-ended questions • auto repair shop demographics • purchase • use • regulatory issues • Themes Derived from Coded Notes

  17. Auto Repair Project Key Informant InterviewsSummary Themes • Auto Repair Shop Demographics • small shops; 3-5 employees; 30-45 cars/day • Purchase • effectiveness; cost; vendor recommendations • Use/Health/Safety • aqueous-based baths & solvent-based aerosols • no H&S information or MSDSs; • health concerns: none; skin (hands); “breathing toxins” • protection: latex gloves & open air ventilation • Regulatory Issues • aware of environmental regs; various agency inspections; better outreach needed; unaware of CAL/OSHA regs; have had no Cal/OSHA inspections

  18. Auto Repair Project  Next Steps • Conduct key informant interviews with: - union workers (IAM) - Automotive Service Council members • Analyze Cal/OSHA auto repair industry data (IMIS) • Develop and disseminate integrated P2 and H&S educational guidance information for auto repair shops

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