Safety in Automotive Shops: A Study about the Effectiveness of Eagle Garage

Car Accessories and Off-Road Vehicles in maintaining Safety Practices

Background of the Study

In the dynamic realm of automotive repair and maintenance, ensuring the safety

of both personnel and equipment is paramount. Based on information from a thorough

article published by the Illinois High School Association in 2021, safety practices are

defined as formal rules that specify the careful performance of tasks with the least

amount of risk to people, property, materials, the environment, and related processes.

This means that safety procedures must be developed using strict procedures like job

safety analysis (JSA) or hazard risk assessment (HRA), and they must be closely

matched to the common operations of a company that is engaged in a certain kind or

industry of construction. As automotive technology continues to evolve, the importance

of reliable safety measures cannot be overstated.

https://www.ihsa.ca/resources/safe_practices_procedures.aspx

According on a data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 3.9 out of every 100

full-time employees in the automotive repair and maintenance industry in the United

States experienced a nonfatal workplace injury or sickness in 2011. The industry's high

accident incidence is linked to a number of causes, and workers in the sector are

frequently exposed to a variety of risk factors in the course of their employment,

including excessive noise levels, asbestos, and unfavorable working conditions. Prior

studies have indicated a high correlation between hygienic conditions and workplace
accidents, despite the fact that some of these risks are categorized as hygienic

concerns and are linked to occupational disorders (Arquillos & Romero, 2016).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5011088/

According to an article from Prudential Uniforms (2021), working on vehicles can be

a fun, exciting, and rewarding career. However, repair shop owners and their staff need

to ensure the proper safety precautions and rules are implemented and followed at all

times. Safety measures help protect employees from accidental injuries to themselves,

their co-workers, customers, and the vehicles they are repairing.

https://www.prudentialuniforms.com/blog/safety-rules-automotive-repair-shops/

A perspective from Porter and Chester Institute (2020), stated that safety is

critical. Whether you own your own shop (or hope to someday) or work in one, make

sure to take the proper safety precautions. Follow state guidelines to prevent accidental

injuries to employees, customers, you, and the cars you service. You will be working

with heavy objects, flammable materials, and dangerous chemicals daily.

https://porterchester.edu/news-events/important-auto-shop-safety-tips

This study delves into the vital topic of "Safety in Automotive Shops," with a

specific focus on evaluating the effectiveness of Eagle Garage Car Accessories and

Off-Road Vehicles in maintaining and enhancing safety practices within these crucial

work environments. As automotive technology continues to evolve, the importance of

reliable safety measures cannot be overstated. This research endeavors to explore the

impact of incorporating Eagle Garage products into daily operations, shedding light on

their potential to mitigate risks and elevate safety standards in automotive workshops.
Statement of the problem

The purpose of this study is to assess the Effectiveness of Eagle Garage Car

Accessories and Off-Road Vehicles in maintaining Safety Practices. The following

questions were specifically addressed in this study.

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of?

a. Sex

b. Age

c. Job title

2. What is the level of effectiveness of Eagle Garage Car Accessories and Off-Road

Vehicles in maintaining Safety Practices in terms of;

a. User Experience

b. Employee Training

c. Management Awareness

3. Among the different aspects of Safety Practices, which of them is the most

effective?

Significance of the Study

The study focused on assessing the Effectiveness of Eagle Garage Car

Accessories and Off-Road Vehicles in maintaining Safety Practices. This study will be

beneficial to the following individuals.

Eagle Garage Management- The study is crucial for the management of Eagle

Garage to evaluate the effectiveness of their current safety practices. It gives them
information about their strong points and potential areas for development, enabling

them to make well-informed decisions that will improve workplace safety.

Employees- The study is significant to them as it assesses their perceptions of

the safety measures in place. Their opinions can help create a safer workplace by

influencing changes to policies, procedures, tools, and general safety measures.

Customers/Clients- This study is significant for them because Eagle Garage's

clients and customers are interested in the company's safety procedures, particularly if

they are buying off-road cars or automotive accessories. Eagle Garage's reputation can

be improved by implementing good safety procedures, but any shortcomings could

erode client confidence.

Industry Peers- The study can be useful to other companies in the off-road

vehicle or automobile industries when comparing their own safety procedures. It might

provide information on best practices and areas where upholding safety requirements

needs to be improved.

Future Researchers- This study would serve as a future reference of the future

researchers to be used in further study or some related topic to be investigated.

Theoretical Framework

In this study there are two theoretical perspectives regarding the Effectiveness of

Eagle Garage Car Accessories and Off-Road Vehicles in maintaining Safety Practices.
Safety Management System (SMS) Theory

According to SafetyCulture (2024), Safety Management System (SMS) is a

collection of structured, company-wide processes that provide effective risk-based

decision-making for daily business functions. Safety Management Systems help

organizations offer products or services at the highest level of safety and maintain safe

operations. The main purpose of a safety management system is to provide a

systematic approach to managing safety risks in operations. SMS also aims to improve

safety by building on existing processes, demonstrating corporate due diligence, and

reinforcing the overall safety culture. Effective safety management is crucial in

continuing to operate and grow the business, especially in high-risk industries such as

aviation, energy, maritime, and construction.

In this study, SMS theory emphasizes systematic approaches to managing safety

within organizations. This includes components such as hazard identification, risk

assessment, safety training, and continuous improvement. The study can evaluate how

well Eagle Garage's safety practices align with the principles of SMS.

https://safetyculture.com/topics/safety-management-system/

Social Exchange Theory (SET)

According to Cook (2015), social exchange theory is one of the major theories of

social interaction in the social sciences. Homans, Blau, and Emerson were the key

theorists who developed the original theories of social exchange. Theoretical and

empirical developments include the extension of their work to the analysis of power and
dependence, social networks, reciprocity, fairness, social cohesion, and solidarity.

Social Exchange Theory proposes that behaviors can be thought of as the result of

cost-benefit analyses by people attempting to interact with society and the environment.

If a person believes that they are able to extract more of a reward through a behavior

than they lose by performing it, then the person will perform the behavior.

In this study, Social exchange theory examines the relationships between

individuals and organizations, emphasizing mutual benefits. In the study, this theory

could be applied to understand the reciprocity between the company and its employees

in terms of safety practices – how the company provides a safe environment, and in

return, employees adhere to safety guidelines.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/social-exchange-

theory#:~:text=Social%20Exchange%20Theory%20(SET)%20was,commitment%2C

%20reciprocity%2C%20and%20power.

Conceptual Framework

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Safety Practices in
Use of Eagle Garage Car Automotive Shops
Accessories and Off-Road
Vehicles
Figure 2. Schematic Framework of the Study

The figure 2 shows the two variables of the study Safety in Automotive Shops: A

Study about the Effectiveness of Eagle Garage Car Accessories and Off-Road Vehicles

in maintaining Safety Practices. The Independent variables focus on the Use of Eagle

Garage Car Accessories and Off-Road Vehicles. The Dependent variable focuses on

the Safety Practices in Automotive Shops.

Review of Related Literature

Globally, protection of workers against work-related injuries and illnesses has over the

years been an issue of great concern to employees, workers, governments, and the

general public. This is because a safe working environment does not only promote the

physical, mental and social well-being of workers, but also saves cost associated with

medical bills, compensation, work interruption, loss of experienced personnel, and

others resulting from accidents at the workplace. The International Labor Organization

estimates that every year approximately 270 million work-related accidents are recorded

worldwide,resulting in the death of some 2 million people. Apartfrom the accidents

resulting in fatalities, non-fatal accidents at the workplace, in some cases, leave victims

with loss of body parts, skin diseases, musculoskeletal and reproductive disorders,

cancer, mental and neurological illnesses, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Studies have shown that employees in small and medium enterprises are more prone to

work-related hazards and risks. This is partly attributed to inadequate resources, poor

technical capacity and ignorance of occupational safety and health (OSH) standards.

The sector also suffers neglect from OSH legislations and services. However, more

than half of Ghana’s labor force is in the informalsector and with this, only 2% have

OSH services. It is crucialthat OSH issues in this sector are brought to the limelight

inorder to attract the needed attention and recognition in thedevelopment of social

protection policies. Moreover, there isdearth of information regarding the extent of OSH

risks andstandard practices associated with workers in the informal sectorincluding

vehicle repair artisans and allied artisans. This paperexamines the exposure to work-

related injury and illnesses,access to first aid, use of personal protective equipment
(PPE),fire safety measures and hygiene practices among vehiclerepair and allied

artisans. These workers, by the nature of theirwork, are exposed to numerous health

risks resulting from keyactivities such as fixing car engines, vulcanizing,

straightening,spraying, welding, cutting, grinding, among others. This study informs the

development of health and safety standards andsensitization programs that relate to

vehicle repair artisans.

It was also stated that there is the need for collaboration between the artisans and

relevant stakeholders, namely the GNFS, the Ghana Health Service and the

Department of Factories Inspectorate to train the former on occupational health and

safety. This should include intensive education on skin care and the usefulness of

rudimentary protective equipment in forestalling work-related injuries and illnesses.

Basic training in OSH needs to be integrated into the informal training of apprentices by

their masters. Bio-monitoring and medical screening of the artisans is proposed by the

study to gain further insight into the adverse health effects resulting from the work of the

artisans. A comprehensive study in other workshops across the country is warranted to

obtain a holistic picture nationwide for the necessary policy considerations

https://www.academia.edu/7316814/

Occupational_health_and_safety_practices_among_vehicle_repair_artisans_in_an_urb

an_area_in_Ghana

According to a study entitled “A study on morbidity among automobile service and repair

workers in an urban area of South India” by Phillip et. al (2014), the global automotive

repair maintenance services industry is expected to be worth almost $306 billion by

2015. The Indian automotive aftermarket is currently estimated at Rs. 33,000

contributing 2.3% of India's GDP. The automotive aftermarket for parts in India is a large

and growing market that spans manufacturers, distributors, retailers, service providers,

and garages. The size of the automotive service market in India is estimated at 8-10

billion USD. It is estimated that 50% of this sector is unorganized. The auto services

sector currently employs an estimated manpower of 787, 7702 and increasing at the

rate of 12% p.a. This service sector is more prevalent in the rural areas when compared

to the urban areas due to lower penetration of the organized sector into this areas.

Studies among this sector has shown employees suffer long working hours combined

with poor remuneration and little social security, in the event of disease, disability, or

death. The owners of such small workplaces are generally found to discount the health

hazards and leave it to the workers themselves to manage their health problems.

Occupational risk among technicians working in these places range from exposure to

various chemicals such as gasoline, benzene, lead, asbestos, exhaust fumes to work

related accidents, musculo-skeletal trauma due to poor ergonomics at work places and

psycho social problems like alcohol and nicotine dependence. A study done in France

to identify risk factors of laryngeal and hypo pharyngeal cancers showed that there was

an excess risk among auto service workers (odds ratio-2.2, 95% confidence intervals-

1.3-3.9). Another study done among automobile radiator repair workers in New York city

revealed that 67% of workers had blood lead levels in excess of permitted hazard

levels. A similar study assessing lead exposure in automobile workers in India showed a

significant increase in levels of lead and an associated significant reduction in levels of

zinc. A 10 years followup study among automobile repair workers in The Netherlands, to

assess cause specific mortality showed an increased mortality due to mesothelioma,

urinary tract cancer, pancreatic cancer and ischemic heart disease. A proportionate

mortality ratio analysis of deaths in New Hampshire state of the United States of

America among automobile mechanics, revealed increases in mortality from leukemia,

lymphoma, oral, lung, and bladder cancers apart from an increased mortality due to

cirrhosis of liver and suicide. A cross-sectional study done in Egypt, to study contact

dermatitis in automobile repair workers, showed the prevalence of contact dermatitis to

be 18.4% against 3.9% prevalence among the control group which involved book

sellers. In a study to assess the lung function among automobile repair workers in

Kolkata city, spirometry of the participants showed that 25.8% had obstructive

impairment, with battery workers and spray painters at a higher risk.This study was

done among automobile repair workers in November 2012 to assess the prevalence of

health problems among these workers and their awareness about personal protection

equipment (PPE). The study was done in Vellore urban area within corporation limits.

The results of the said study was shown as the work environment observed during the

course of the study painted a dismal picture with continuous working hours and no

provision for rest, a very high proportion of workers reported work-related stress and

poor job satisfaction. This is consistent with previous studies, which proves that blue-

collar workers are more at risk of work-place stress than white collar workers. Majority

of the workers interviewed had no provision for social security when schemes like

employees provident fund and employee state insurance coverage were available.

Half of the workers were unaware of any health problems due to their occupational

exposures and thereby the use of personal protection is abysmally low. A very high

proportion of workers had symptoms of cough, breathlessness, abdominal pain,

abdominal discomfort and muscle aches, but only very few numbers have sought

medical attention to the problems, main reason for which was poor finances coupled

with high medical costs. The mean monthly income for the surveyed workers was INR

5350, which makes spending on healthcare a luxury, which most of them cannot

access. The lack of paid sick leaves and any social security net can be read along with

any data on poor health seeking behavior. Almost a quarter of the workers had un-

intentional occupational injuries in the last 6 months. Though they work in a high-risk

environment with chances of fire hazard, falls and chemical exposures, none of the

workshops had fire-extinguishers, first-aid kits or any such safety devices. Furthermore,

none of the workers had received any formal training in workplace safety or

administration of first aid. The findings of high prevalence of peripheral sensory

neuropathy in the surveyed workers, when examined using a 2 g monofilament may be

due to the subjective nature of the test and poor foot hygiene, as the examination was

done in the workplace itself which was recognized as a limitation of the study. Also the

validity of PEFR measurements using peak flow meters is sub-optimal, as the

techniques of measurements are difficult to teach and highly subjective in nature this

was a limitation. This study was aimed as a pilot study in giving directions for future

research in health problems affecting unorganized and marginalized occupational

groups such as automobile repair and service workers. Further research employing

advanced techniques like blood picture, heavy metal assays, nerve conduction studies,

biothesiometry, pulmonary function tests etc., are needed.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4083523/
Safety is very important in the automotive shop knowing and following all your safety

rules can help you to prevent injury and damage. There are many different little sections

of safety in the shop for example, gasoline, fire, hazardous materials. It’s recommended

the people to first know the rules and later apply them as they go on. There are also

laws involved regarding hazardous waste disposal methods. The Occupational Safety

and Health Act was passed down by the United States government in 1970. This teach

the citizens of the United States about safety and good working conditions, and them

with information.

https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Automotive-Shop-Hazards-FKNA8ZYTC

A career working on vehicles as an automotive technician can be exciting and fast-

paced. In fact, total technician employment is expected to exceed 1.7 million by 2031.

Those with the skills to repair and maintain cars could be able to take advantage of the

opportunities the industry has to offer. Something all automotive technicians need to

keep in mind is adherence to various safety rules. Whether technicians are employed at

a dealership or a specialty shop, safety is extremely important. (Universal Technical

Institute, 2021)

The U.S. Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

(OSHA) have established workplace standards for automotive technicians. These

standards help ensure that those working in these jobs have access to the proper

equipment, as well as information about workers’ rights. Because of the exposure to

different chemicals and various workplace hazards automotive techs can face, having

standards in place can help reduce the risk of accidents or injury. OSHA regulations are

constantly updated to keep pace with an ever-changing industry. If an automotive shop

or repair business doesn’t comply with these standards, they might face fines and could

even get permanently closed. OSHA regulations help ensure that employees are aware

of any possible dangers and how chemicals in the workplace could affect them. Shops

are required to provide employees with proper safety and protective equipment.

https://www.uti.edu/blog/automotive/auto-repair-safety

According to Koopman (2018), Innocent people have died, been severely injured, or

gone to jail because of defects or potential defects in computer-based automotive

systems. With the deployment of self-driving cars, it is more important than ever to

understand the gaps between theory and practice in automotive computer-based

system safety. This paper is based on the author’s personal experiences with

unintended acceleration (UA) litigation against car makers (Original Equipment

Manufacturers, or OEMs) for 2000-2010 model year vehicles, and additional

experiences with multiple recent military and commercial self-driving car (Autonomous

Vehicle, or AV) safety assurance projects. These experiences include access to

extensive sets of engineering documents, analysis of Electronic Throttle Control (ETC)

source code, and vehicle testing to confirm identified safety vulnerabilities. These

experiences have revealed common threads that encompass technical, business,

regulatory, and litigation aspects of safety. While regulatory environments vary in other

countries, the significant role that the United States (US) car industry and US legal

system play in the automotive domain ensures that these factors will influence many

cars produced worldwide. Unlike other domains, conformance to international computer-

based system safety standards is voluntary for US-sold vehicle OEMs and suppliers.

Moreover, some OEMs have not followed industry-specific guidelines such as the
MISRA Software Guidelines, including vehicles that are the subject of two class action

lawsuits. The US permits OEMs to deploy vehicles that are self-certified to meet

provisions of the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). FMVSS

regulations take the form of a test procedure approach originally intended to ensure that

the normal safety-relevant functionality of pre-computer vehicles, such as braking

capability, was adequate. While some simplistic failure modes such as detecting the

complete loss of a functional subsystem are included, the test procedures are not

intended to achieve any defined amount of software testing coverage, are not designed

to detect non-deterministic faults, and do not demonstrate fault recovery from non-trivial

computational faults. While vehicles commonly use some basic fault tolerance patterns

such redundant CPUs for life-critical functions, it can be the case that redundancy and

other fault tolerant computing techniques are not used in accordance with accepted

practices, such as dual-CPU designs with a single point of failure. At least one death

has been officially declared to be due to automotive computer system malfunction, and

there have been approximately 500 settlements for death and injury alleged to also be

due to defective vehicle designs by the same OEM. Another class action against a

second OEM alleges similar issues. Additionally, there are instances in which

individuals have faced civil or criminal penalties for mishaps they claim were caused by

vehicle malfunctions. Now that computers have life critical control authority, they must

be considered as a credible potential cause of severe mishaps.

Koopman also stated that a general safety principle is that a system is not presumed to

be safe until a mishap occurs, but rather must be demonstrated to be safe before

deployment. Approaches to demonstrating safety are typically based on some sort of

safety argument. That argument might be explicit, implicit in the form of having followed

a suitable set of safety practices, or some mixture of the two. Common codified safety

practices include the generic notions of a Safety Integrity Level (SIL), Design Assurance

Level (DAL), or other risk-based approach to identifying and requiring a defined level of

engineering rigor. The US legal system, on the other hand, tends to emphasize the

identification of defects. OEMs can attempt to defend themselves simply by asserting

that their vehicle is safe because no bugs have been identified that lead to UA. Injured

parties and their experts typically must search for relevant bugs or other design defects

such as single points of failure to support a vehicle defect argument. US regulations do

not require vehicles to have a safety argument beyond FMVSS compliance, although

using one is not precluded. However, lack of following accepted engineering practices

can be a contributing factor to legal outcomes, especially when considering negligence.

Additionally, a pattern of mishaps can lead to a mandatory vehicle recall in some cases.

Some European vehicles in the 2000s adopted the E-Gas approach for electronic

throttle control. In general, the approach involves a primary functional unit that performs

control, and monitoring/checking units that disable engine power if a fault is detected.

The suitability of this approach for life-critical applications depends upon adequate

isolation between doer/checker levels and appropriate fault coverage. In some cases,

independent UA mitigation is required, such as a vacuum pump to boost braking force

independent of throttle position. The specification also describes required fault handling

functionality.

https://users.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/pubs/koopman18_safecomp.pdf
Working on vehicles in automotive shops requires safety measures. Therefore, owners

of such establishments need to ensure that proper safety precautions are in place for

everyone's protection. Such measures protect workers and visitors from injuries. For

example, accidents happen more frequently when someone slips on an oily floor.

Others could fall off ladders with tools clutched tightly by slippery fingers. That is why it

is essential to know how to safeguard yourself and your co-workers and even

customers because accidents happen. Auto mechanic work involves dangerous

machinery, chemicals, and tools which put employees at a greater risk of accidents. If

your best mechanic is out due to their workplace accident-related injuries, you not only

lose their level of productivity but will also incur higher medical costs. (SafeWork SA,

2021)

If you're working in an automotive shop, chances are your job involves using tools and

handling automobile parts. These are things that can be sharp or heavy enough to

injure anyone if something goes wrong. A 2011 study published in Industrial Health

found mechanics reporting cuts as the most common type of accident experienced in

place of work. In addition, mechanics and other workers in the automotive industry are

also injured due to falls or equipment tip-over, leading to severe cuts or burn accidents.

Employees in automotive shops like mechanics are at risk of all sorts of injuries. For

example, they need to lift heavy objects, leading to straining their muscles. In addition,

they often work for hours with poor posture, which can lead to repetitive stress injury or

cumulative trauma disorder such as muscle pulls, spinal and wrist injuries. Slips and

trips could cause trauma even without falling, and they are common in the automotive

workplace. According to the BSL, in 2005, heavy lifting accounted for more than 50% of
all overexertion injuries. Using advanced tools and utilizing proper techniques while

performing any physical task could prevent such injuries. Unfortunately, some of these

musculoskeletal injuries cannot always be avoided despite your best efforts.

Eye injuries among auto mechanics are nothing new. However, studies have shown that

most eye injuries occur with workers who aren't wearing safety equipment due to the

unavailability of safety gear like goggles or inadequate training on how important they

are to protect their eyes. As a result, every day in America alone, 1,000 people suffer

from work-related eye injuries. In addition, the prevalence of workplace accidents

involving an injured worker’s eye is widespread.

Mechanics and other technicians are faced with danger when they are overexposed to

harmful chemicals and sharp tools. However, even with all the precautions in place,

incidents sometimes still happen. Breathing in fumes or coming into contact are the two

most common ways of exposure to harmful chemicals.

Similarly, auto mechanics are also exposed to these dangerous substances when the

engine parts start to wear off, and they contain these chemicals. For instance, toxic

chemical additives could be present in the oil.

Automotive gas is highly flammable, and if not handled properly, it could lead to severe

burns if they come into contact with sparks, high temperatures of fire. Working with

power tools and equipment in an automotive workshop is dangerous. For example, the

use of grinders, electric metal shears, etc., present the danger that you could lose a

limb or a digit if not careful enough.

The auto garage is one of the most dangerous places to work. The constant presence

of fluids and cables on the floor creates a slippery surface, leading to accidents such as

slips, trips, or falls. In addition, some chemicals may be stored next to regular foot traffic

in areas where they should not be stored. Working with cars and auto machines is a

dangerous job, mainly because of overexertion. Working in the automotive repair shop

can cause injuries like over-exerting oneself by lifting heavy objects or being forced to

repeat tasks without breaks. If left untreated, the strains could lead to severe injuries for

those working on vehicles all day long. Therefore, it is advisable to implement safe

practices that will help reduce stress-type strain exposures like improper lifting

techniques.

https://www.gloves.com/pages/safety-guide-for-automotive-workers
Questionnaire for the Statement of the Problem

Answer each questions as to what level of agreement can you perceive

5- Very Agree
4- Agree
3- Neutral
2- Disagree
1- Very Disagree

User Experience

1. I am satisfied with the ease of use of safety equipment and procedures provided by

Eagle Garage Car Accessories and Off-Road Vehicles

2. I find that the safety measures implemented by Eagle Garage Car Accessories and

Off-Road Vehicles enhance my daily tasks

3. The safety protocols is effective in ensuring customer and employee safety during

operations

4. The safety practices contribute to a positive working environment

5. The safety measures align with the needs and expectations of both employees and

customers
Employee Training

1. The training programs provided by Eagle Garage Car Accessories and Off-Road

Vehicles is comprehensive in terms of safety practices

2. I am confident in my ability to execute safety protocols following the training provided

by the company

3. The refresher training sessions are conducted frequently to ensure employees stay

up-to-date with safety procedures

4. I feel adequately prepared to handle emergency situations based on the training

received

5. I believe that the training programs contribute to overall employee competence and

safety awareness

Management Awareness

1. I am aware about the management team regarding the importance of safety practices

in the workplace

2. The management actively seeks feedback from employees regarding safety concerns

3. The management communicate safety policies and updates to employees

4. The management prioritize safety alongside other operational goals and objectives

5. The management is responsive to addressing safety issues and implementing

necessary changes based on feedback from employees