Tire service and automotive repair can be dangerous, yet that danger can be minimized with adherence to proper safety policies, protocols and procedures.
Shop safety starts with common sense, reinforced with a shop safety program. Having specific plans in place with steps performed consistently can help keep you, your employees and your customers stay safe.
Aside from legal and ethical considerations, maintaining a safe shop floor creates a better work environment for your team. It also can help you attract and retain top talent by showing you’re serious about investing in their well-being as a priority.
Shop safety must be more than just lip service and “safety first” mantras. Safety needs to part of the shop culture, encouraged and enforced with consistency at all levels of the organization.
While some incidents are unexpected and can be difficult to anticipate, the majority of accidents stem from steps or behaviors not performed properly or by the attitudes of employees.
If safety isn’t fully embraced as part of the shop culture, accidents more likely are to happen more often. Shifting your culture starts with getting employees enthusiastically engaged
This includes rewarding employees for milestone days of being “accident free,” recognizing team members for catching and correcting potential safety concerns or making sure the proper steps are followed and repairs are performed right.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines provide an essential framework, while procedures, consistent training, team involvement and checklists can help communicate expectations and confirm that all the right tasks are followed. Not only does this protect those lives in your care –- customers and employees –- but it also helps protect your shop should an incident occur.