Your Car
Part II: PPE, Personal Protective Equipment
When it comes to detailing, PPE protects us the technician more than anything while we clean your vehicle. That said, is there anything more satisfying than jumping into a super clean vehicle free of odors, grime and grossness and that feeling of freshness. Like scoring an extra life in a video game. No? Maybe a free coffee from your favorite coffee shop then.
Before we can operate safely cleaning your vehicle, we must also know what it is that we are using to clean the interior and exterior.
SDS, Safety Data Sheets give us a run down of the chemical make up of the product, how to use and dispose of and how to protect us while using the product. This is a must have for any professional auto shop to have easily accessible.
As detailers we often get thrown in with a broad market to include service shops and body shops. The three most common pieces of equipment are eye protection, ear, hand and respiratory protection.
Data taken from the Office of Technical Assistance & Technology, Understanding OSHA Requirements for Auto Shops.
Protection for eyes and face Based on the task, workers may need protection against chemical splashes, vapors or mists, flying sparks or particles, or harmful glare (29 CFR 1910.133). Protective eyewear should fit properly and be appropriate for the work.
Protection for hands. The type glove and it varies from task to task. Shop owners must provide their workers with appropriate gloves to protect them from solvents. Glove varieties include butyl, neoprene, or nitrile gloves and it is up to you to read the SDS for each product since these gloves do not protect against all hazardous chemicals.
Latex gloves are meant to be used in the health care setting, as they only protect against germs or biological hazards. In addition, latex gloves may cause an allergic, and sometimes deadly, reaction in some individuals. You should avoid using latex gloves.
Protection for hearing. The OSHA enforceable permissible exposure level over an eight-hour workday is 90 decibels (dB). The limit for 15 minutes is 115 dB (29 CFR 1910.95). If workers are exposed to a loud environment, provide earplugs or other ear protection.
Respiratory Protection. What You Need To Know General information Respirators protect workers lungs from hazardous airborne chemicals or particles. Employers are responsible for providing adequate respiratory protection that corresponds with the hazardous chemical exposure of the task being performed (29 CFR 1910.134).
No one wants to think about what is trapped in the carpet, fabric, plastics and leather of our vehicles. It is comforting to know that the equipment exists for us as detailers to touch the surfaces in your vehicle and to also breathe safely while disturbing the material and air inside of your car.
There are many cases of technicians becoming sick and/or even hospitalized from the extended exposure that is the process of Auto Detailing. For many of us climbing over the 20 year mark, this is a major concern.
And one of many reasons we have to price ourselves the way we do. As a consumer it is crucial to be as educated as possible. When an automotive shop of any kind quotes you a price, before getting upset or simply confused, do not ever be afraid to ask questions. As for me and my company, I am an open book and want to be as transparent as I can be with my customers. I will go out of my way to spend time with you to make sure you understand what exactly you need and that you as a consumer know and understand what you are receiving.
Thank you for reading Part II.
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