5 tips for auto body shop safety

If you have an auto body shop, it’s important to make the shop as safe as possible for your customers. There are a lot of perils around auto shops, and that’s why you’ve got to reduce risk as much as possible. (Tow trucks themselves come with risk, and auto shops are a whole different story, so if you’ve got a shop and you do incidental towing, you’ve got a lot to think about.) Anyways, there are a few simple things you can do to reduce risk at your garage. Here are a few tips.

5 tips for auto body shop safety

1. Understand the risks.

Okay, so you and your employees are used to the risks of working around tow trucks, cars, and the shop. You’ve been trained and you’ve got plenty of experience. But your customers don’t have the same knowledge of the dangers of working with cars. For example, here are a few…

  • Chemicals
  • Paint fumes
  • Sanding dust
  • Welding and cutting
  • Slips and falls (i.e. oil, grease, water)
  • Debris
  • Electrical risks
  • Heavy machinery

These are potential dangers around an auto body shop, and if someone were to get hurt, you could be liable. That’s why it’s important to know the risks and mitigate them as much as possible.

2. Have a waiting area.

It’s probably best if you don’t allow your customers into the shop. Provide a comfortable waiting area for your customers. That way you have a place to discuss repairs away from the shop and you can let your customers relax while they’re waiting.

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3. Have employee-only signs.

It’s also a good idea to label certain areas off-limits to customers. That way people are alerted to the dangers of the shop and they know to stay away from places they shouldn’t be. It’s all part of the quest to keep your customers away from the garage, where they could get into trouble.

4. Be cautious if you have to take the customer into the shop.

If it is absolutely 100% necessary to bring a customer back to the garage, it’s important to be as careful as possible. Again it’s best to keep clients out of the shop. But if it’s unavoidable, here are a few things you can do…

  • Make sure the shop floor is clean and tidy
  • Clean up spills
  • Clear the walking paths of any trip hazards
  • Make sure there are no sharp edges that could cut someone
  • Check the frame-straightening machines and hydraulic pressure for wear and tear to be sure they don’t break
  • Make sure your customer waiting areas are properly ventilated and free of fumes
  • Keep food and drink away from the shop
  • Make sure your customers wear the proper PPE

5. Check that the floor is in good shape.

It’s also really important that the floor covering, whether that’s carpet or tile, is in good shape. There shouldn’t be any cracks, holes, or tears that could trip someone. (That goes for the parking lot and sidewalk, too, which should also be in good shape. And make sure that snow and ice are removed.) If there are any steps or ledges, those should be clearly marked. Don’t neglect the importance of good, even flooring! You don’t want anyone to take a nasty fall.

Pro tip: If the auto body shop is open after dark, make sure you have lots of lighting and proper security.

Tow trucks, cars, and auto shops have a lot of risks. That’s why it’s crucial to commit to safety. Keeping your clients safe needs to be a top priority, and a few simple things can help you keep your customers out of harm’s way. Slips and falls are a big deal, and preventing injuries is a good plan.

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Get started with insurance quotes for your auto shop. Our team would be happy to help you get the coverage you need for your shop and any tow trucks you happen to have. To get in touch with our team, you can give us a call, message us, or fill out our online form. We like making insurance easy and we like helping people save money on their business insurance.

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