Creating a safe workplace isn’t just a good idea to keep your employees safe, it’s the law. Under OSHA’s regulations, dealerships are required to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) to their employees. However, simply making it available on an ad hoc basis is not enough; you are required to take a systematic, documented approach to identifying hazards and deciding whether PPE is necessary for each job. That process, called a PPE hazard assessment, is mandatory under the law. If your dealership hasn’t completed and certified such an assessment, you are not only putting your employees at risk, but you’re also out of compliance and at risk of fines of up to $16,550 per violation.

What the Law Requires

Under OSHA’s General Industry Standard, 29 CFR §1910.132(d), all employers, including dealerships, must evaluate their workplaces to determine whether hazards that require PPE are present or likely to be present. If such hazards exist, the employer must:

• Identify and select the PPE that will protect employees.
• Ensure each employee is properly fitted with the selected PPE.
• Communicate those PPE requirements to affected employees.
• Train employees on how to use and maintain the equipment.

Most critically, the employer must also certify in writing that the hazard assessment was performed. This certification must include:

• The name of the person who conducted the assessment.
• The date of the assessment.
• Identification of the work areas evaluated.
• A clear statement that the assessment was completed.

Without this certification, your PPE program is incomplete, and your business will be at risk during an OSHA inspection.

Why Dealerships Are Affected

Potential hazards are common in dealership operations. Technicians may face risks from moving parts, compressed air, sharp edges or chemical exposure. Staff in the Parts Department may be exposed to lifting injuries or impact hazards. Detailers regularly handle cleaning agents or work on slippery surfaces. The purpose of a hazard assessment is to identify these risks by job role and location and determine what protections, if any, are required. It is not enough to assume that safety glasses or gloves are appropriate; the selection must be based on a careful and documented evaluation of the specific hazards encountered.

Who Should Perform the Assessment?

Hazard assessments should be conducted by someone with thorough knowledge of the facility and its operations. This person must understand how to evaluate exposures across multiple risk categories, including eye, face, hand, foot, hearing and respiratory hazards.

For larger or more complex dealerships, especially those with collision repair centers or reconditioning operations, assessments may need to be broken down by department or function to be thorough. That’s why many dealerships rely on ComplyAuto Safety as their go-to resource for hazard assessments and certification.

ComplyAuto’s specialists handle the entire process for you: identifying and evaluating hazards by job role and area, preparing the required written certification, selecting appropriate PPE and providing the documentation OSHA requires. With ComplyAuto’s support, your dealership can be confident your assessment is thorough, up to date and fully compliant.

The Role of Training

Once the assessment is complete and PPE is selected, employees must be trained. OSHA requires that employees understand when PPE is required, how to properly wear and remove it, what its limitations are, and how to care for and dispose of it. This training must also be documented and periodically refreshed.

Why Certification Matters

One of the most common mistakes is forgetting to document and certify the assessment. Even if you’re supplying PPE and employees are using it properly, you’re out of compliance if you can’t produce a written certification during an OSHA inspection. Your hazard assessment isn’t just a checklist, it’s the foundation of a compliant workplace safety program.

How ComplyAuto Helps

ComplyAuto has the training, tools and processes you need to ensure compliance with this critical safety requirement. If you are unsure about whether or not your dealership has a certified PPE hazard assessment on file, or if your dealership has never completed one, now is the time to act. ComplyAuto Safety can help you conduct and document a PPE hazard assessment for each facility, quickly and efficiently, to maintain compliance with OSHA regulations and provide a safe workplace for your staff.

Existing ComplyAuto Safety customers can reach out to their dedicated client success manager to get the process started right away. Interested dealers can reach us at info@complyauto.com for more information.

ComplyAuto helps dealerships simplify compliance and document what matters. Don’t wait for a citation, let us help you complete your hazard assessment the right way.