New Jersey residents who work in collision repair facilities are at the most risk from respiratory protection and hazard communications. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the two standards that were most frequently cited from October 2016 to September 2017 were respiratory protection and hazard communication.
The respiratory protection standard issued by OSHA mandates that employers have a written respirator program that has fit testing and employee training. The employers are also required to ensure that a worker is able to safely use a respirator by providing the worker with a medical evaluation.
The other OSHA standards that rounded out the top five most frequently cited during the same time period included spray finishing with flammable and combustible ingredients, powered industrial trucks and combustible and flammable liquids. To see the complete list of OSHA standards that are frequently cited at collision repair shops, workers and employers can visit OSHA’s website. The North American Industrial Classification System code is 81121 for Automotive Body, Paint and Interior Repair and Maintenance.
During an inspection of auto body repair shops, OSHA representatives often detect certain common issues and hazards. They include noise, isocyanates, personal protective equipment, silica, asbestos, ventilation, chemical usage and methylene chloride.
One of the most prevalent health hazards in auto repair shops is the exposure to the chemicals in cleaners, solvents, paints and other substances routinely used in the facilities. Many of the clearcoat automotive paints used contain isocyanates, which contain compounds that could possibly cause cancer in humans.
A workers compensation attorney may assist individuals who sustain injuries at work due to unsafe working conditions that violate OSHA standards. Injured workers may be assisted with filing workers compensation benefit claims and with appealing claims that are denied. The attorney may advocate on behalf of injured clients during benefit claims hearings.