AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY GROUP APPROVED BY WSIB

Ontario Service Safety Alliance and new car dealers involved

December 12, 2007

Earlier this week the Regional Construction Safety Group, comprised of members from Hamilton-Halton, Toronto and Grand Valley Associations received $837,707 in Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) rebates.

Now a similar program has been announced for automotive shop owners in Ontario to provide opportunities to work together towards improving their collective health and safety.

The reward for this commitment is the potential for premium rebates for all members of the group and a reduction in injury frequency.

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) endorses the Safety Group Program and the Ontario Service Safety Alliance (OSSA) is the Safety Group Sponsor

Safety group members received rebate cheques of an average of 3.2% of their annual WSIB premiums in 2006. Typically, firms see a reduction of greater that 20% in their injury frequency. Safety Group members attend at least 3 of 5 one-day meetings per year, facilitated by OSSA.

Membership fee registration is required. Contact John Aird at OSSA at 905 614 3001 or jaird@ossa.com before January 11, 2008. For further information and a registration form visit http://www.ossa.com/content/services/OSSASafetyGroup.cfm .

Association members of www.ciia.com or its affiliated collision repair associations already receive a 10% discount on OSSA products, as a membership benefit. Please see www.ciia.com or call 1 866 309 4272 or info@ciia.com for more information

(SEE HEADLINES)

ONTARIO COLLISION REPAIRERS GET LOWER WSIB
PREMIUMS AGAIN

Fifth Year Industry Efforts Have Reduced Shop Costs

Since 2003, efforts by trade associations and others have been positive with the continuing results of lowered WSIB premiums.

The new rate for vehicle service and repair shops for 2007 is $3.33 for every one hundred dollars of payroll. This rate is down 7 cents from last years' rate and down from $3.72 per $100 assessment in 2003.

"Lost time and critical injuries are down again in the sector but strains and sprains continue to be a problem", sys Tony Nigro, President of the Hamilton district Autobody Repair Association (HARA).

HARA is a member of the Vehicle Sales and Service Committee for the Ontario Service Safety Association (OSSA), long a leader in health and safety workplace programs.

"More shop employees than ever before are taking our WHMIS classes both in their shops and in the classroom", says Tony. HARA now offers WHMIS training every third Wednesday at their training facility to meet demand for walk-in students.

"We have also arranged a discount for OSSA health and safety training materials and supplies for members to help them meet their safety obligations."

With increasing enforcement activity by the Ministry of Labour, including a recent jailing of a shop owner for refusing Ministry inspectors entrance, the association is urging shops to call them at 1 866 309 4272 if they are faced with compliance orders or a requirement for health and safety changes in their workplace.

For more information on health and safety issues including
hoist training, please see: http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/safety.html

Appeal On Assessment For Vehicle Sales And Service
Shops At WSIB Fails

Decision No. 1373/05

Panel: E. Smith (Vice-Chair), Séguin, Lebert

Decision - September 20, 2005

Neutral Citation: 2005 ONWSIAT 2079

Class of employer (automobile service) - Class of employer (dual rates) - Class of employer (retail operation) (integrated).

Employer was retail store that sold computers, televisions, stereos and other household items - Employer started new business activity of installing car stereos - Integrated operations rule in Board policy considered business activity of retail store to be integrated unit - Employer came within exception to integrated operations rule for business activity such as installation, which is considered a distinct business activity when carried out in conjunction with a retail operation.

The employer sold computers, televisions, stereos and some other household items. This business activity was classified in Rate Group 644 for household furniture, appliances, televisions and stereo stores. Beginning in 2000, it also had a business activity of installing car stereos. The Board classified this activity in Rate Group 630 for other vehicle repair shops. The employer appealed, claiming that the activity of car stereo installation should be classified on an integrated basis with the primary business activity of the retail store. The appeal was dismissed.

From January 2000 to May 2001, the best fit for the car stereo installation was in Rate Group 630. The rate group description or even the scope of the rate group should not be read to limit the rate group to retailers with garages carrying out auto repairs. It is common practice for the Board to give additional specificity to its intent in the body of the description, and may often specifically include or exclude functions that might not otherwise be covered.

Rate Group 630 was amended in May 2001, to state that the Board considered the business activity of a Class F retail store to be an integrated unit regardless of whether it includes an activity which might be considered a distinct business activity if carried out as a business in its own right. However, there is an exception for a business activity, such as installing, which is considered a distinct business activity when carried out in conjunction with a retail operation. The employer came within the exception to the integrated operations rule. Accordingly, the employer was also correctly classified in Rate Group 630 after May 2001.

ISOCYANATES AND OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA

Vehicle spray painters are 80 times more likely of contracting occupational asthma than the general population, that's the view of the Health and Safety Executive in Northern Ireland.

In an article to be published in the next edition of the Irish Bodyshop Journal, Margaret Lacey, a health and safety inspector with the HSE Northern Ireland says the single biggest causative agent is isocyanate, which a commonly used agent in the painting process.

She commented: "Many employed or working in bodyshops do not understand the risk that isocyanate paints pose or the health effects that can be caused."

(see headlines)

How your shop can save $500

Just print the poster at the link below:

http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/pdf/poster.pdf

Post in the back of your shop and avoid the $500 fine levied by the Ontario Ministry of Labour (see headlines)

NEW WHMIS TRAINING AVAILABLE

After a number of shops were served notices of non-compliance by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, and to meet the requirements of the proposed CISCO program, a new Health and Safety Training program has been introduced in response.

This Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training program is mandatory for collision repair and auto refinish shops.

A Video, Student workbook, and Post test package was produced by the Ontario Service Safety Alliance and designed especially for Ontario's Auto Collision Repair and paint shops.

Featuring five video sections and matching workbooks, the video highlights all the areas needed to meet the legislative requirements for automotive repair shops.

This training package also includes:

• A pocket-sized WHMIS Hazards symbols card for employees
• A poster for the shop with the WHMIS symbols
• A profile on how to set up a joint health and safety committee
• An Isocyanate warning bulletin
• How to easily set up a health and safety policy statement
• How to conduct a health and safety inspection tour of a collision repair shop.
• Guide for a paint shop Isocyanate control program
• WHMIS Training and Information Checklist
• Written emergency plan
• Action planner

This 3.5 hour training course offered to any shop in Ontario can be completed in one evening, or afternoon. Please contact the office at 1-866-309-HARA or hara@ciia.com or www.ciia.com under "Contact Us/Questions" to book your training.

More Information