As the owner of an auto body and repair shop, you should realize the importance of reducing hazardous air pollutants. Particle pollution, volatile organic compounds and other air pollutants will not only affect your employees in the shop, but even your customers. While your garage insurance comes equipped with workers compensation for the times your employees are injured or need medical attention, it is still best to protect them from these hazards.

One way to reduce the emissions of these pollutants: reduce the use of solvents in your garage. Millions of workers across the nation are exposed to solvents on a daily basis. According to OSHA, “health hazards associated with solvent exposure include toxicity to the nervous system, reproductive damage, liver and kidney damage, respiratory impairment, cancer and dermatitis.” That being said, we have a few ways for your garage to reduce the use of solvents:
• Opt for an enclosed solvent gun washing system. This will help reduce evaporation when you are cleaning equipment.
• Use a water-based cleaning system instead of using solvent-based cleaners. For example: hot soap washers.
• When the cleaner is not in use, turn it off. This will also reduce evaporation.
• Go green by recycling old solvent! You can do this by using an on-site distillation unit.
At Wolpert Insurance, we want to make sure that the work environment you expose your workers to is not hazardous to their health. By reducing the use of solvents, you could be avoiding a workers’ compensation claim in the near future. However, if a claim is inevitable, our unique garage insurance program will have you covered! This program is designed to protect both you and your employees from the unique risks in your shop, giving you the option to purchase workers compensation, automobile insurance, employment liability, property insurance, umbrella insurance and much more. Contact our agency today to learn more and grab a free quote.
Be sure to come back next week; we will be discussing solvent recycling!
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