Autobody Repair and Refinishing

Autobody repair and refinishing shops  provide various repairs to a vehicle's body structure including replacing and repairing body parts, realigning vehicle frames, as well as painting and refinishing automotive equipment. 

Autobody Repair and Refinishing

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What are the hazards associated with autobody repair and refinishing?

Workers in autobody repair and refinishing shops can be exposed to a variety of chemical and physical hazards. Chemical hazards can include volatile organics from paints, fillers, sealants and solvents; isocyanates and hexavalent chromium from spray finishing and painting operations; silica exposures from sandblasting; and fumes from welding and cutting operations. Physical hazards include ergonomic injuries, noise exposures, manual lifting, amputations from powered hand tools, and slip, trips and falls from oil and grease on walking surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself and others?

Before using any chemical, information on the label and accompanying information (e.g., safety data sheets) should be consulted in order to identify any personal protective equipment necessary to prevent direct contact through inhalation, splash or spatter to eyes, nose or mouth, or skin contact.

You should never attempt to respond to an emergency situation unless they have received the appropriate training and are equipped to respond to the incident. Additionally, employees should follow their employer's fire safety procedures and practices in preventing fires.

The lack of personal protective equipment or the use of inappropriate personal protective equipment can result in serious injury, illness or death. Personal protective equipment should be inspected before and after each use and maintained in good working condition. 

What resources are available to assist employers?

Training and Outreach Services

The presentations on hazard communication, respiratory protection, machinery and machine guarding, fire extinguishers, noise exposure, welding and cutting, health hazards special emphasis program and personal protective equipment are available to assist employers in training their staff. Each of these presentations should be modified to address site-specific conditions and hazards. Other example presentations are available along with pre-recorded webinars which can be accessed at any time.

In addition, the education, training and technical assistance bureau provides free online safety and health training and outreach services (i.e., speaker's bureau requests, safety booths) upon request. 

Lastly, the NCDOL Library offers free safety and health videos (including streaming video services) and related research assistance on consensus standards (i.e., ANSI, NFPA, NEC).

Safety and Health Programs

A hazard communication program, respiratory protection program, hearing conservation program and personal protective equipment hazard assessment are available for employers to download and adapt to their specific conditions. Other example safety and health programs are available for employers to download and adapt to their specific conditions.

Safety and Health Topics

More related information can be found on the following safety and health topic pages: hazard communicationpersonal protective equipmentrespiratory protection, eyewash stations and emergency showers, chemical hazards and toxic substances, spray finishing operations, asbestos, electrical safety, portable fire extinguishers, machine guarding, abrasive wheels, hexavalent chromium, noise, welding, cutting and brazing, hand and portable powered tools, isocyanates and fire protection and prevention.

Consultation Services

The consultative services bureau provides free and confidential onsite consultation regarding worksite safety and health hazards.

Which standards apply?

OSH has adopted the following standards which are applicable to autobody repair and refinishing operations in North Carolina. This is not all inclusive.

Note: Please also check the standards information and activity webpage to see if there has been any recent or upcoming regulatory activity on this topic.

General Industry

29 CFR 1910 Subpart D - Walking-Working Surfaces 

29 CFR 1910 Subpart E - Exit Routes and Emergency Planning

  • 29 CFR 1910.37 - maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes

29 CFR 1910 Subpart G - Occupational Health and Environmental Control

29 CFR 1910 Subpart H - Hazardous Materials

29 CFR 1910 Subpart I – Personal Protective Equipment

29 CFR 1910 Subpart J - General Environmental Controls

29 CFR 1910 Subpart L - Fire Protection 

29 CFR 1910 Subpart O - Machinery and Machine Guarding

1910 Subpart P - Hand and Portable Powered Tools and Other Hand-held Equipment

  • 1910.242 - hand and portable powered tools and equipment, general
  • 1910.243 - guarding of portable powered tools
  • 1910.244 - other portable tools and equipment

29 CFR 1910 Subpart Q - Welding, Cutting and Brazing

29 CFR 1910 Subpart S - Electrical

29 CFR 1910 Subpart Z - Toxic and Hazardous Substances

Recordkeeping

Other Applicable Standards

The Which OSHA Standards Apply webpage can help identify other standards that may also be applicable to your worksite.

Where can I learn more?

Industry Guides

Compliance Documents

  • OSHA Technical Manual (TED 01-00-015) provides technical information about workplace hazards and controls to OSHA’s Compliance Safety and Health Officers.
  • STD 01-05-010 - Spray Booths - Average Air Velocity provides clarification for 29 CFR 1910.107(b)(5)(i) - Spray finishing using flammable and combustible materials, regarding air velocity.
  • SN 19 - Class I and Class II, Division 2 Hazardous Locations for Spray Finishing clarifies what constitutes Class I or Class II, Division 2 hazardous locations surrounding spray finishing operations.
  • Operational Procedure Notice: OPN 135, Special Emphasis Programs for Health Hazards, describes the conduct of inspections and associated activities under this SEP.
  • Operational Procedure Notice: OPN 149 - Special Emphasis Program for Amputations establishes the OSH Division's enforcement policy for safety and health inspections where employees may be exposed to amputation hazards on machinery due to lack of guarding and/or failure to utilize energy control procedures.
  • SN 18 - Approved Containers to Store Flammable Liquids in General Industry, provides guidance on acceptable containers for the storage of flammable liquids in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.106 - flammable liquids.
  • STD 03-08-001 - Welding, Cutting or Heating of Metals Coated with Lead-Bearing Paint, provides clarification of the standards when welding, cutting or heating is performed in an enclosed space on metals coated with lead-bearing paint.

Technical Assistance

Inquiries about workplace safety and health requirements can be submitted to Ask OSH online or by phone at 919-707-7876.