The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair experienced record usage of its S/P2 e-learning program in the month of September.

More than 520,000 S/P2 tests were taken during the month. This total includes users at automotive repair facilities, as well as students at automotive training programs at career/technical schools that have free access to the courses, according to Robert G. Stewart, CCAR President. Over 95% of the tests were recorded from school accounts.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued safety and health guidance to help small businesses comply with the Agency's new hexavalent chromium(Cr(VI)) standard. The guidance document includes requirements for general industry [including automotive refinishing facilities], as well as construction and shipyards.

"This new resource is aimed at helping small businesses comply with the new standards, while helping them reduce the risk to employees potentially exposed to these compounds," said OSHA Administrator Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.

The guide describes the steps that employers are required to take to protect employees from hazards associated with exposure to Cr(VI). It is divided into sections that address the major provisions of the standards, and follows the same organization as the corresponding paragraph of the standards. However, the guide provides more detail than the standards to help employers better understand the requirements.

Click here to read the complete OSHA announcement regarding the guidance document.

CCAR previously posted a summary document on the new Cr(VI) standard following its publication in the Federal Register on Feb. 28, 2006. Click here to read the summary document.

Shops and schools using S/P2 to train technicians and students are invited to display the graphic seen at left on your company or school web site. To find out more, contact Jennifer Penland at 1-888-772-3535.

S/P2 is provided free of charge to automotive training programs across the U.S., and more than 2,000 schools are currently enrolled. Is your school - or a school you work with - signed up yet for S/P2? Call toll-free to 1-888-772-3535 to enroll.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) haslaunched a new topics page on its Web site aimed at demonstrating that investment in workplace safety and health makes good business sense.

"Making the Business Case for Safety and Health," a new Safety and Health Topic, is a product of several Alliances with OSHA, including the American Industrial Hygiene Association, American Society of Safety Engineers, National Federation of Independent Business, among others. Information on the page focuses on how a comprehensive safety program can help an employer save money and improve business.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation exists to: "conserve, improve, and protect New York State's natural resources and environment, and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well being."

CCAR, OSHA Renew Alliance Agreement
Source: OSHA

Auto Repair Shop Owner Penalized $10,000 for Violating Waste Site Cleanup Requirements
Source: Massachusetts DEP

Florida DEP Launches Mercury Switch Recovery from Scrap Vehicles
Source: Florida DEP

Cleaner Air in Boston Anticipated as Clean Diesel
Source: U.S. EPA

Michigan DEQ Suspends Registration for Scrap Tire
Source: Michigan DEQ

Massachusetts Oil Facility Faces Fine for Oil Spill and Lack of Adequate Spill Prevention Plan
Source: U.S. EPA Region 1

Auto Dealers Pay Penalties to Settle Clean Air Act Violations
Source: U.S. EPA Region 9