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Car Wash HazardsCar Wash HazardsCar Wash HazardsCar Wash Hazards

Mike Yarnell

Compliance Assistant

November 8, 2011

Five CategoriesFive CategoriesFive CategoriesFive Categories

• Self service• Exterior rollover• Exterior only • Full service • Detail shop

Self ServiceSelf Service

• Open bay having a coin-operated pressure sprayer, and sometimes a foaming brush connected to a large central pump

• Customer selects the option wanted, such as “soap”, "rinse" and "wax" and uses the equipment

• Timer shuts the power off after a certain period

Exterior rolloverExterior rollover

• Automated systems where the car is driven by the customer into the bay

• Once the car is in the correct position, a signal informs the driver to stop and place the car in neutral

• Wash equipment moves around the car on a track, performing a specific function, such as applying soap, washing or rinsing

Exterior rolloverExterior rollover

• Common at gas stations, where the price is often discounted in conjunction with buying a tank of gas

Exterior onlyExterior only

• Automated system where the car is driven into the entrance of a long, tunnel-like bay

• The front tire, usually on the driver's side, indexes into a conveyor system and the driver places the car in neutral

• Conveyor guides the car through the bay, where it passes several pieces of equipment, each with a specific purpose

Full serviceFull service

• Uses the same conveyor-based automated system

• Interior is manually cleaned by attendants

• Some exterior services, such as hand-drying and wheel-cleaning, are available

Detail shopDetail shop

• May hand wash the car or use an automated system

• Attendants completely clean and polish the car, normally by applying wax and using a buffer to remove the wax and polish the car

• These shops are often able to remove dull paint and small scratches, steam clean carpets and seats, brighten chrome, remove tar and perform a variety of other services

SummarySummary

• Employees have to attend, maintain and be involved in all five types of car washes, although there may be less hazards in a self service bay or detail shop where the washing is manual

• The following are potential hazards that may be present in all car wash categories

Potential Chemical Hazards Potential Chemical Hazards

• Certain pre-soak compounds used in automated car washes are very alkaline and corrosive and may be applied manually

• Certain highly corrosive tire shine compounds may be applied at the beginning or end of the car wash via spray nozzles

Potential Chemical HazardsPotential Chemical Hazards

• Foaming agents for deep cleaning may be hazardous

• Coatings, rinses, waxes and polish water-resistant compounds may be quite alkaline or may cause dermatitis

Potential Chemical HazardsPotential Chemical Hazards

• Agents to assist the rinse process and certain waxes can be quite acidic

• Some chrome and wheel rim cleaning chemicals contain hydrofluoric acid

• Car washes may also have laundries to wash hand towels by using household detergents and bleach

Airborne ChemicalsAirborne Chemicals

• Mists from sprayed cleaning agents

• Emissions from diesel and gasoline engines– Composed of a complex mixture of thousands

of different gases, vapors, and fine particles– Diesel engine emissions may contain

potential cancer-causing substances such as arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Electrocution and Mechanical Electrocution and Mechanical Hazards Hazards

• A rollover system and other automated systems may be controlled by a digital control system

• This computerized system knows where the car is located, engages the wash, brush or rinse systems where required and may also automatically shut off the system when a car comes off of the conveyor to prevent a collision with the car behind it

Exterior System HazardsExterior System Hazards

• Hydraulic system may be used which powers all moving and rotating parts of the machine

• Conveyor system has a chain which rotates on axles at the beginning and end of the conveyor track and has rollers that catch the car’s front wheel and propels the car through the wash tunnel at a slow speed

Exterior SystemExterior System

• Mitter curtain that moves back and forth across the car surface

• Scrubber brushes that rotate at high velocity around the front, sides and rear of car

• Large cylindrical brush top brush that rotates on an axle perpendicular to the car to clean / scrub the top of the car


• High pressure water tank and pump that may feed all manual and automated spray machines; jets may operate up to 1000 PSI– Pre-soak may be applied manually with high

pressure water nozzles– Main wash spray foam applicator– Rinse / wax arches – Undercarriage wash applicator


• Electrical motors may operate at up to 480 volts to power the hydraulic system, the water pressure pumps, chemical feed systems and hot air dryers

• 120 volt lighting and power outlets• Electrically powered water reclaim system

motors• Manual power washers• Electrically powered vacuums; either individually

powered or having one large vacuum canister with a powerful air pump and many hoses attached

Slips, Trips and Falls Slips, Trips and Falls

• Accumulations of slippery soap, wax and other chemical solutions on floor areas

Struck-by Hazards Struck-by Hazards

• Being struck by customer-driven or employee operated vehicles is a major hazard

• In all operations, a struck-by hazard exists either by vehicle or mechanical equipment

• Employees can be struck by a vehicle as it approaches or enters the bay, where it disengages from the conveyor system, where it is driven out, or where it heads to a finishing / towel drying area

Applicable OSHA StandardsApplicable OSHA Standards

• Employers must conduct a workplace hazard assessment

• PPE– Adequate hand / eye / body protection when

handling corrosive chemicals and manual spraying of treatment chemicals

OSHA StandardsOSHA Standards

• Lock out / Tag out– In-house or vendor mechanic that maintains

the equipment – Repair, replacement or maintenance of

conveyor chains, spinner brush belts or parts, motor belts or repair of electrical motors or equipment

– Cleaning of the wash tunnel areas where there are moving machine parts


– In automated systems, cars can become disengaged from the conveyor system

– In express systems, the customer may apply the brakes, causing the roller to go under the car - system may shut off automatically, but the employer should develop training and a policy to require shutoff every time this occurs

– LO/TO would not apply to this case


• Chemical hazard communication– Chemicals can be highly corrosive– Strong acids (rinses / waxes) – Strong bases (alkaline soaps)


• Electrical– Standard automated car washs operate on

480 volt power – Electrical fixtures, if subject to spraying / wet

areas must be approved for wet locations


• Egress/exits– Whether full or exterior service, safe egress

must be maintained from one end of the tunnel to the other, or from all areas employees may work

– Space may be limited and egress and exit use must be maintained without obstructions or locks


• Eye and body wash provisons– Read the MSDS – Garden hoses with regular water pressure

may be used for body drenching– An eye wash, at a minimum, must be

available to employees


• Slips, trips and falls– Along egress pathways and in other areas,

water, soap and slippery chemicals can accumulate

– Mats or rough surfacing materials can be used in problem areas

– Cleanliness must be maintained


• Noise and hearing conservation– All machinery in a wash tunnel is inherently

noisy, particularly the blowers– For employees stationed near blowers for an

extended period of time, the employer must conduct a noise survey

– If employees are in constant motion and do not stay in the tunnel or near blowers, overexposure is unlikely


• Exhaust and chemical mists– In an older or enclosed facility, vehicle

exhaust may accumulate causing elevated exhaust component levels including carbon monoxide

– During winter months if the tunnel uses automated doors or plastic curtains, corrosive mists may also accumulate


• Motor vehicle safety– Use cones, signage and barricades at the

entry point into a car wash and at the exit point when the car is put back into drive by the operator after its released from the conveyor system

– Motor vehicle safety guidelines available through the International Car Wash Association

– Commercial signage is also avaialble


• Equipment maintenance – All equipment must be maintained according

to manfacturer requirements– Equipment used while in disrepair may break

and project objects causing struck-by injuries – The digital control system may include safety

shut-off controls and devices - it must work as designed and be properly maintained


• The employer should establish danger zones at entry and exit points where either a customer driver or employee driver can strike a worker

• Use of high visibility clothing is recommended


• Employee training– Adhering to all safety precautions– Slips and falls – Other safety risks that are present in the

working environment such as open pits in lube bays


– Excessive noise especially near blowers at the car exit

– Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)– Bursting high pressure hose in wash tunnel– Lock out/Tag out


– Potential for a car fire– Hazards associated with working in and

around moving vehicles in a confined area – Moving equipment hazards within the car

wash tunnel– Electrical shock hazards– Chemical hazards and hazard communication

car washed it

Documents

automated car washes

types of car washes

hydrofluoric acid car

potential hazards

conveyor system

automated system attendants

rollover system

deep cleaning