9 safety tips for anyone working in the automotive industry

SOME jobs are riskier than others, but it’s clear that working in the automotive industry is rather dangerous in many respects.

In fact, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there were 7,000 injuries and 35 deaths in the motor repair industry over the last five years, so here are 9 safety tips that should prevent you from getting hurt.

• Wear protective gloves

If there’s a risk of toxic paints or other hazardous materials splashing onto your skin, always wear strong protective gloves available from companies like Brosch Direct. These provide an essential protective barrier against harmful materials and can prevent everything from burns to allergic reactions.

• Wear overalls

Personal protective equipment is of paramount importance in any high-risk job, so if you’re worried about burns from oil or toxic battery fluids, you should also wear tight-fitting overalls. The same applies when using other irritants including spray paints, so don’t take unnecessary risks.

• Be visible at all times

In an environment where noisy machinery, clanking metal, roaring engines and loud voices is the norm, you must make yourself as visible as possible to avoid injuries. High-vis vests can quite literally save lives, so be sure to wear one during working hours.

• Throw away oily rags

While it can be tempting to stuff an oily rag in your pocket for future use, try not to do this as the oil might seep through your clothes and harm your skin. Instead, place them in a designated ‘oily rag box’ or cupboard so you know exactly where they are when you need one.

• Repair oil leaks

Oil has a nasty habit of leaking and this can cause floors to become horribly slippery, but thankfully the HSE suggests ways in which you can minimise this problem including arranging a programme of maintenance for faulty products and placing metal bunding around leaky machines which are beyond repair.

• Put sawdust on the floor

If you’re looking for a quick and simple way to soak up oil while waiting for a machine to be fixed, put sawdust on the floor. This is highly absorbent and will stop your surfaces from becoming overly slippery.