How to Use Awareness & Mindfulness

To Prevent Accidents

Janet Wimmer
Regulatory Analyst
Moderator

Becky Ross
Marketing Manager
(303) 228-8753
bross@kpaonline.com
Presenter

Janet Wimmer
Regulatory Analyst
(901) 277-0301
jwimmer@kpaonline.com
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 Awareness-Mindfulness

When you participate at any level with a serious accident, it changes you.
 It’s Not a Pretty World

I have had the opportunity to be present for an

employee that had second degree burns over 50%
of his body. When you are burned to this extent, you
are dumped in to a vat of ice water to stop the burn.
When you are stabilized, you are given morphine
and placed in a whirlpool bath while your skin is
removed.

This is why I want to share my observations with

you.
 Awareness-Mindfulness

Most of the time the accident is a

Cut,
Scrape,
Bruise,
Eye injury,
Sprain,
Fall,
or
Strain.

BUT
Accidents

One life altering injury is

one too many
 Accidents

5.4 fatalities per 100,000 automobile technicians.

Approximately 15,000 reportable injuries a year.

If the accident costs $1,000.00

The sales to cover the cost of the accident must be

$100,000.00 if your gross profit is 1%

$50,000.00 if your gross profit is 2%
$33,333.00 if your gross profit is 3%
 Accidents

• We have a lot of equipment.

– “Accidents will happen.”

• We cannot train our employees

to be safe-they do not care.
– “Accidents will happen.”

• I cannot babysit my employees.

– “Accidents will happen.”
 Accidents

• Accidents are unfortunate, unintentional events.

A man’s head was removed when he lit a
lighter to see the level of brake wash in a
drum. The top of the drum blew off and took
his head with it.

• Certainly this was unfortunate and unintentional.

Why did it happen?????????
 Accidents

• We think we can respond fast enough to prevent anything

serious from happening. We cannot.
A temporary employee was told to bring a truck
into the Service Department. He did… straight through
the wall, pinning a tech to a pole and removing part
of his leg.
• The technician was twenty four years old and has not been
able to work since the accident.
Accident Witness, ―It happened so fast.‖
Once in motion, you cannot stop an accident.
 Accidents

• Cheater on a hydraulic lift.

• Hose verses fire extinguisher.

• Forklift procedure not followed.

Accidents

FIRE
Accidents
Accidents

• Could this happen at your store?

• Are you good or are you lucky?

• We all take risks every day

– We don’t think about what we are doing
– We are under pressure to take short cuts
– We assume we will not be hurt

• Let’s analyze the accident

Accidents

WHAT REALLY CAUSED THE ACCIDENT?

1. The Service Writer did not find out everything that was
wrong with the car.
Service Writers should be instructed to ask the client to tell them
everything that is wrong with the car. Not just what they want fixed.
2. The car was on jacks not on a lift.
There was not enough room to safely complete the activity.
3. The technician was using a metal cage drop light.
The service department is a flammable area. Metal cage drop lights
must not be used in this area.
Accidents

Accidents, Incidents, and Near Misses

• We all take risks every day

– We don’t think about what we are doing
– We are under pressure to take short cuts
– We assume we will not be hurt
• We all take risks every day
– We don’t think about what we are doing
 Accidents

HOW CAN ACCIDENTS BE PREVENTED?

• By being aware.
• By being mindful.
• By communicating your awareness and mindfulness.

YOU WILL CHANGE YOUR STORE SAFETY CULTURE.

Awareness-Mindfulness

SAFETY CULTURE

Relates to Manager’s Awareness

Relates to Manager’s Mindfulness

If Manager’s are not involved,

a safety culture does not develop
Management

• There is no easy job at a dealership.

• Managers are pulled in many directions.
• When walking out into the shop, the manager is
– Trying to solve a problem.
– Needing to correct an employee.
– Needing to calm an angry employee.

Managers always have

a problem to solve!
Management

• The pressure to perform impedes your ability to

• Be mindful.
• Be aware.
• Be effective.

• Comments in manager’s meetings.

• ―Were those pictures taken in our shop?‖
• ―Those pictures were not taken today were they?‖
• ―Where were those pictures taken?‖
Management

The
Rusty Drum
Story
Awareness-Mindfulness

AWARENESS ~ MINDFULNESS ~ COMMUNICATION

GAURANTEED NOT TO TAKE TOO MUCH

TIME
Awareness-Mindfulness

HOW CAN ACCIDENTS BE PREVENTED?

• By being aware.
• By being mindful.
• By communicating your awareness and mindfulness.
• By targeting unsafe behaviors
• By initiating a system of accountability
• By reinforcing safe behaviors with positive comments
Awareness-Mindfulness

AWARE, MINDFUL OF WHAT????

Awareness-Mindfulness

Showroom
A Sales Manager told me there were
no fire extinguishers in the Showroom.
There were two.

Showroom Awareness-Mindfulness:

Fire Extinguisher: Know the location and keep it accessible.

Trip hazards: Secure electrical cords.
Secure frayed or buckled rugs.
Child hazards: Remove cleaning products from the area.
Place childproof plugs in electrical outlets.
Awareness-Mindfulness

Business Office and Call Center

50% of Office Personnel do not know
the location of the fire extinguishers.

Office Awareness-Mindfulness:

Fire Extinguisher: Know the location and keep it accessible.

Trip hazards: Secure electrical and computer cords.
Fire hazards: Keep floor heaters away from everything.
Awareness-Mindfulness

Parts Department
―It is time consuming to close
the mezzanine gate.
Everyone knows it is open.‖

Parts Department Awareness-Mindfulness:

Mezzanine gates: Must be closed unless in use.
Shelving: No overhang, safe stacking.
Exits, aisleways, and stairs: Clear of parts and debris.
Awareness-Mindfulness

Service Department
―We do not have time to clean up spills.‖ ―I use the fire extinguisher to
hang my jacket up.‖

Service Department Awareness-Mindfulness:

Slip Hazard: Spills must be removed as they occur.
Emergency: Eyewash must be clean and accessible.
Protection: Safety glasses and gloves
must be worn.
Lifts: Lifts must be inspected—
cheaters may not be used.
Housekeeping: Trash, debris, old parts,
and hoses must not be allowed.
Awareness-Mindfulness

Body Shop
At poorly operated body shops, I am told I just do not
understand how body shops work. I do know.

Body Shop Awareness-Mindfulness:

Trip Hazard: Excess parts and debris must be removed.
Emergency: Eyewash must be clean and accessible.
Protection: Safety glasses and gloves must be worn.
Safety: Compressed gas cylinders
must be secured.
Awareness-Mindfulness

Paint Shop
―The fumes do not bother
me I am used to it.‖
―My beard does not effect
the good fit of my respirator.

Paint Shop Awareness-Mindfulness:

Breathing Hazard: Beards cannot be worn with respirators.
Paint booth: Nothing may be stored within three feet of the
paint booth.
Fire Hazard: Containers must be labeled and closed.
Protection: Safety glasses and gloves must be worn.
Awareness-Mindfulness

Detail Shop
What can go wrong in a Detail Shop? There was a fire in a
Detail Shop this year. An employee ended up with second
degree burns over 25% of his body.

Detail Shop Awareness-Mindfulness:

Fire Hazard: Fire extingusiher training must occur.
Fire Hazard: Containers must be labeled and closed.
Protection: Safety glasses and gloves must be worn.
Awareness-Mindfulness

Throughout the Dealership

Fire Hazard: Fire extinguishers must be accessible.
Fire Hazard: Smoking must not be allowed.
Emergency: Exits must be unlocked and unblocked.
Got a Question? Ask our Expert!
Contact Information

www.kpaonline.com
Becky Ross
bross@kpaonline.com
866-356-1735