Automotive Technologies

Student Resource

Environmental
Version 2.1 10/2019

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 Subject Chapter
THE LEGAL STUFF 1
ETHICAL ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES 2
CLEANER PRODUCTION 3
CREATING AWARENESS 4

CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS 5

STAFF PARTICIPATION 6
MAINTAINING COMPLIANCE 7
PENALTIES 8

MINIMISING WASTE 9

STORM WATER 10

WASHING CARS 11
GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING 12
CLEANING UP SPILLS 13

HAZARDS & AIRBOURNE PARTICLES 14

HAZARDS OF GASSES 15
NOISE HAZARDS 16

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 ETHICAL ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES
In earlier times, it was expected that if you were poor and lived near a factory, you
would have to put up with all sorts of pollution. Factories pumped soot choked smoke
into the air and filth into the river systems; it appeared many factory owners had no
concern for future generations, the environment or even the health of their workers
or neighbours’. It has now been recognized that these practices are no longer
acceptable, nor can they be sustained. It is now considered to be the responsibility of
everyone to care for the environment.

A business can no longer strive to improve their competitiveness, while ignoring the
affect that their business practices have on the environment (this includes
employees, neighbours’ and the general community).

Not only does a business need to be financially sustainable for the longer term, but it
also needs to be environmentally sustainable.

At first these considerations may appear to contradict each other. Many businesses
believe that environmentally sound work processes increase operating costs.
However, cleaner production techniques not only protect the environment, they also
reduce operating costs by reducing the wasteful use of energy, labour and materials.

One way that an industry can work towards cleaner production is to produce a
system of management called an Environmental Management System, or an EMS.
Financially and environmentally sustainable work practices are incorporated into the
EMS as incentives for businesses wanting to demonstrate the steps they have taken
to achieve compliance with the law.

To be successful, an EMS must be tailored to suit a particular industry and this

requires consultation between the particular industry and the relevant environmental
authority.

The EPA in Western Australia, have produced an EMS tailored specifically to suit the
particular needs of the automotive industry. Known as the Clean Green Shop, this
EMS works to promote cleaner production and improved profitability within the
automotive repair industry by:

• Protecting the environment from harm.

• Reducing the amount of waste that workshops produce.

• Reducing the consumption of resources.

• Encouraging recycling.

• Achieving legal compliance.

• Helping repairers save money.

• Continually improving management of the environment.

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By implementing an EMS, a business can benefit from improved efficiencies and
safer, cleaner production methods.

Not only will cleaner work practices protect the environment, they also reduce
operating costs by reducing the wasteful use of energy, labour and materials.

Cleaner work practices enable a business to comply with laws and to meet
community expectations regarding the treatment of:

• Employees, customers and neighbours.

• Land.

• Storm water, rivers, creeks and the sea.

• Air.

• Sewerage.

• Material and energy resources.

These work practices can be achieved using a combination of management controls,

employee participation and appropriate technology.

ILLEGAL DUMPING OF WASTE ON ROAD VERGE

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 CLEANER PRODUCTION
Cleaner production is a common sense approach to the environment.

The fundamental idea behind cleaner production is to use work processes that avoid
creating waste in the first place.

By reducing the amount of waste a business creates, fewer of the by-products that
cause pollution are created. Within the automotive service industry the most
common causes of pollution occur as a result of the following wastes:

• Oils and chemicals.

• Tyres

• Metals and plastics.

• Paper and cardboard.

• The careless use of resources (like water, electricity and fuel).

Proper maintenance of vehicles will reduce the amount of oils and chemicals
consumed and therefore released into the environment. Rectifying oil leaks and
excessive oil burning will reduce the amount of pollutants released to the
environment and will reduce oil consumption because a properly maintained engine
requires fewer engine oil top-ups.

Correct maintenance will also reduce tyre wear, through correctly inflated tyres and
proper wheel alignment and balance. As a tyre wears, it leaves minute particles of
rubber on the surface of the road, which is eventually washed into the stormwater.
Worn tyres are expensive for the motorist to replace, but they are also expensive
and difficult to dispose of in an environmentally responsible manner. As a result of
the high cost of their disposal, used tyres are one of the greatest sources of illegal
dumping of waste into the environment.

Improved wheel and tyre maintenance will also reduce fuel consumption. It is
important to understand that the message of proper vehicle maintenance is not only
meant for the ears of your customers, the staff and company vehicles must be well
maintained also.

The recycling of waste metals, such as worn engine or suspension parts and
transmission components has long been a source of recycling revenue. Scrap
merchants will pay by the tonne for quantities of waste metal if there is sufficient
volume and it can be delivered to them. Most automotive repairers would not
generate enough volume of waste metal to make it worth their while to stock pile it,
however many recyclers will leave a bin for metal to be recycled and will take it away
free of charge. Although the repairer misses out on the scrap revenue, they are not
paying to have the waste taken away, as they would be if the waste was simply put
into the general waste bin, there is no down-time while the metal is taken to the
scrap merchants and the environment benefits because a precious resource is being
recycled.

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Most municipal councils operate some form of recycling service for plastic, paper
and cardboard. As long as this material is presented in the manner required by the
recycling service, these items will be removed free of charge.

Australians are, as a rule, very careless users of our resources. We live in the driest
continent on earth, yet our water usage is among the highest per capita of any
country in the world. Obviously we have much to learn about the efficient use of this
precious resource, but it has become apparent that practices such as hosing down
workshop floors or not recycling the water from car washes, are no longer
acceptable.

Your local water authority will have ideas, hints and tips on how your business can
best conserve water.

Switch off equipment when it is no longer in use. Not only will this reduce the power
bill, but it will also reduce amount of power that must be generated. There are few
forms of power generation that do not impact on the environment. Power stations
can be run by fossil fuels, such as diesel or coal, nuclear power or hydroelectric
power. Fossil fuels when used to generate power produce pollution, just as vehicle
engines do. The waste from nuclear power plants has the potential to create
enormous environmental harm and the issue of how to safely dispose of it is yet to
be successfully resolved. Even hydroelectric power stations which, once they have
been established, are pollution free, need huge tracts of land to be flooded for them
to be established. Put simply, the less power that is generated, the better for the
environment.

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 CREATING AWARENESS
For an environmental policy to work well in the workplace, it is essential that all staff
members have a good understanding of environmental causes and effects, of the
reasons for an environmental policy, and how their participation will assist.

This is known as the Aspects and Impacts.

Going through the Aspects and Impacts will cause you to consider what you can do
to continually improve your environmental management performance

CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS
Customers are increasingly discerning of quality and value for money, but they are
also increasingly aware of the consequences commercial Activity can have on their
quality of life and the environment they live in.

Customers expect to deal with service providers whom demonstrate an awareness

of, and care for the environment. These businesses must be well presented, well
managed and responsible for their actions.

STAFF PARTICIPATION
Most people do not want to cause harm to the environment but unfortunately, old
habits are hard to change. People get used to doing things a certain way and don’t
think about possible consequences of their actions. It is the aim of environmental
legislation to assist people to modify or cease actions that cause damage to the
environment.

To implement changes to people’s work habits requires consultation and

cooperation. Without the participation of staff in the process of change it is unlike that
new habits will become established.

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 MAINTAINING COMPLIANCE
While working to an EMS will undoubtedly benefit the environment, the EPA is
actively enforcing environmental legislation and failure to comply with these laws can
be very costly. Any business or individual who fails to act in an environmentally
responsible manner or who disregards the laws will be liable for heavy fines.

There are several laws that apply to environmental management but most of them
follow simple principles:

• Be aware of the effect of your business on the environment.

• Prove you are aware by taking informed action to reduce these effects.

• Prove you have taken action by keeping records about what you have done.

If you take the trouble to keep informed of what the law requires you to do, you will
discover that good environmental practices are also good business practice

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 PENALTIES
Under section 31A of the Environment Protection Act 1970, the EPA may serve a
Pollution Abatement Notice on the occupier of premises to control the Activity on
those premises in order to stop or prevent pollution or unreasonable noise from
occurring.

A Pollution Abatement Notice can be issued to any business that has caused, or is
likely to cause pollution or an environmental hazard, including noise pollution, or has
failed to comply with any part of the relevant legislation.

The Pollution Abatement Notice may require the offending process to cease
immediately or to be modified in a specified manner. For example, a Pollution
Abatement Notice may specify that a workshop must cease washing vehicles on the
driveway, where the water may enter the stormwater drains.

Alternatively, the Pollution Abatement Notice may stipulate when, or how certain
Activity can be carried out. An example of this would be a Pollution Abatement
Notice that directs a business to close all windows and doors after 10.00 o’clock at
night to reduce the noise levels in the surrounding neighbourhood.

The Pollution Abatement Notice will have a date by which it must be complied with.
This will be a minimum of 30 days from the date the notice was served.

Anyone served with a Pollution Abatement Notice will have to pay a $400 service
fee.

If the cost of any rectification work is less than $50,000, the EPA may issue a Minor
Works Pollution Abatement Notice. The Minor Works Pollution Abatement Notice is
effective immediately and may contain the same requirements as a Pollution
Abatement Notice.

Failure to comply with a Pollution Abatement Notice may incur a fine of up to

$240,000 and up to $120,000 per day for a continuing offence.

Failing to comply with a Minor Works Pollution Abatement Notice will incur a
maximum fine of $30,000 and $5,000 per day.

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 MINIMISING WASTE
Disposing of industrial waste can cost a lot of money
so it makes sound business sense to minimise the
amount of waste that is generated by a business,
and the best way to achieve this is to sort the waste.
Some waste, such as used batteries, metals or office
paper, can even be used to generate a further
income. Sometimes the cost of waste disposal may
be waived if there is some recycling value in the type
of waste.

Any waste products that have been sorted and are

awaiting disposal must be stored appropriately and
in accordance with the appropriate legislation. Some
waste products can present a hazard so there is
legislation governing how these products must be
stored and even limits to how much of the product
can be stored awaiting collection. A typical example
of this is waste tyres. In the event of a fire, tyres
present a significant hazard, causing massive
amounts of pollution and being difficult to extinguish.
Because of this, most premises are not permitted to
store any more than 5 tonnes of used tyres before
they must be collected.

Many of the by-products generated in the workshop can be

recycled. Recycling can save, and even make you money. By
recycling materials you reduce the amount of waste going to
landfill.

Some of the non-hazardous wastes that can be recycled include:

• Cardboard, clean paper and glass.

• All metals.
• Plastics.
• Tyres (in quantities of less than five tonnes).
• Batteries.
• Air-conditioning refrigerant.
• Some chemicals and waste solvents.
• Oil
• Copper wire.
• Water.

These materials need to be stored separately. Mixing these

materials will contaminate them and make them unsuitable
for recycling.

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Perhaps the most common waste product to be generated by the automotive
industry is waste oil. Every time an engine or transmission is serviced or overhauled,
the oil must be drained from it and, as this oil cannot be immediately re-used, it must
be stored appropriately prior to being recycled. Waste oil is a prescribed waste and
can only be handled or transported by a licensed contractor. All receipts and records
relating to the disposal of a prescribed waste must be retained as proof that the
waste was disposed correctly.

Allowing any prescribed waste to contaminate the sewer or stormwater or disposing

of it into rubbish collection is an offence.

Good practice that will assist you in reducing the amount of waste your workshop
produces include:

• Negotiating with materials and parts suppliers

and ask them to take back cardboard packaging.

• Reuse or recycle packaging.

• Wherever possible order supplies in bulk to

reduce packaging.

• Separate your recyclable materials and store

them in areas where you can accumulate
quantities that are economical to recycle.

This should include areas for:

– Cardboard, clean paper and glass.

– All metals.

– Plastics.

– Tyres.

– Batteries.

– Air-conditioning refrigerant.

– Some chemicals

– Oil and waste solvents.

Identify the wastes you can recycle and estimate how much of each recyclable
waste you can generate in a month or a year.

• www.ecorecycle.vic.gov.au and follow the links to find local recyclers of

metal, plastics, oil paper and cardboard. Ask them about the most effective
methods

• Only use the dump master for solid general wastes that cannot be recycled.

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 Simply throwing all workshop waste directly into the dump master may
appear to save time and effort, but waste destined for landfill must be paid
for. The more waste a business can send to be recycled, the more money
that will be saved in waste disposal costs.

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 STORM WATER
The storm water system is the drainage system in our cities and towns that channels
rainwater from the roofs of buildings, footpaths and roads into the gutters and drains.
From the drains the rainwater or ‘Stormwater’ flows into streams, creeks and rivers,
before finally flowing into the sea.

Any pollutant that is allowed to enter the stormwater system will be washed into the
waterways. This includes all pollutants that are washed from driveways, forecourts
and roads.

Every drop of engine oil that leaks onto the road will eventually be washed into our
waterways. The motorists who must add half a litre of engine oil to his leaking engine
each week probably doesn’t think he’s doing the environment any harm, but if only
ten percent of Western Australia's 1.9 million motorists adopt the same attitude,
there will be about 9,563 litres of engine oil being washed into our waterways each
week. That's 818,419 litres of oil across Australia per year.

Of course, oils aren’t the only pollutant generated by industry; there are also
chemicals, detergents, solvents, hardeners, fuels, degreasers and litter.

Traces of heavy metals may be carried in suspension in radiator coolants and will
eventually find their way into the food chain. This means that they are absorbed by
the smaller organisms in the waterways, which are in turn eaten by larger creatures,
which then absorb the heavy metals. These heavy metals accumulate in the bodies
of the larger creatures and not only do they slowly poison them, but they also make
them poisonous to eat. Already, many larger sharks have so much mercury in them
that they are unfit for human consumption.

Many detergents used to wash vehicles or to degrease engines contain phosphates.

Phosphate is an element found in many fertilisers and when allowed to enter the
waterways are a major factor in the formation of blue green algae. Blue green algae
are toxic and will destroy much of the aquatic life in the
waterway, as well as making the water unfit for
livestock, wildlife or human consumption.

Litter is perhaps the most obvious and unsightly of all

pollutants, but apart from looking untidy, litter can block
the waterways and has been responsible for the
deaths of many native animals. Accumulations of litter
attract vermin such as rats and disease carrying
insects such as flies and mosquitoes. Broken glass
can injure any person or animal unlucky enough to
step on it, but on a hot day, the sunlight reflecting off a
piece of broken glass has been known to start
bushfires too.

Many practices in the automotive industry can be

modified to prevent contamination of the waterways.

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 WASHING CARS
Washing vehicles is a task carried out daily in the automotive industry. Many
repairers will wash their customer’s vehicle as an extra service, body repairers wash
a vehicle to present it in the best possible light after a repair and car dealerships
want every vehicle on the lot to be sparkling clean. Unfortunately, washing cars is
very wasteful of a most precious resource in water, and if not carried out in an
environmentally responsible manner, has the potential to dump large volumes of
pollutants into the environment.

There are many ways that the washing or wet rubbing of vehicles can be carried out
so that no pollutants can find their way into the stormwater system and waste is
minimised. These include:

• Using trigger action nozzles on all hoses to reduce water usage.

• Don’t wash vehicles in the street or on driveways where water will run into
stormwater drains.

• Don’t use detergents for any washing Activity if the water run off may enter the
stormwater system.

• Use biodegradable and quick break detergents.

• Wash a maximum of two cars per day on a grassy area or crushed rock surface (at
least three times the size of a single vehicle) that allows water to be absorbed.

If washing more than two cars per day, create a car wash area that includes one of
the following:

• A portable bund that includes a pump to sewer.

• A bunded concrete pad that drains to a silt trap which drains or pumps out to a
sewer.

• A roofed, bunded concrete pad that drains to a triple interceptor trap.

• Ask your water authority about the minimum requirements for car wash discharge
to sewer (a silt trap may be acceptable if no oil or grease is present).

• Only discharge to the sewer if you have a Trade Waste Agreement or prior
approval from the relevant authority.

• Recycle wastewater by using equipment that allows you to remove contaminants

from the water.

A bund is a raised barrier, designed to prevent the spread of liquids from a contained
area. A bund can be permanent, like the raised concrete edging often seen around
car washes or steam clean bays, or may be portable, such as sandbags and the
flexible plastic or rubberised bunds used to prevent chemical and oil spills after
industrial or motor vehicle accidents. A bund tank is a tank that has been placed

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within a second tank as extra security against spillage during filling, or if a leak or
rupture occurs.

Any bunded area must be covered to prevent rainwater entering the triple interceptor
or sewer. The triple interceptor is not designed to handle the high volume of water
and may cause pollutants to be flushed into the stormwater system. Rainwater
should never be allowed to enter the sewer as there is no need for rainwater to be
treated.

DEDICATED WASH AREA

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 GENERAL HOUSKEEPING
For the most part, operating a workshop or business in an environmentally
responsible manner is simply a matter of good housekeeping. Good housekeeping
prevents pollution, avoids fines and reduces clean-up costs, as the business is clean
and well organised in the first place. This has the advantages of:

• Reducing the amount of waste on site.

• Minimising the time spent cleaning up, or looking for lost equipment.

• Improving working conditions and morale.

• Improving the public appearance of the business.

Some of the good housekeeping practices that will also have a positive effect on the
environment by preventing pollution from reaching the stormwater system include:

• Daily clean-up routines.

• Allocating housekeeping responsibilities to all staff.

• Have all staff clean up their own rubbish as they go.

• Setting aside designated areas for the proper storage of all materials and wastes.

• Ensure all hazardous substances are kept in properly identified containers.

• Ensure that the workshop has enough drip trays, storage bins and clean-up
materials.

• Keeping a mop and bucket on hand at all times so that small spills can be cleaned
up immediately.

• Maintaining a supply of absorbent material on hand for larger spills.

• Drain cooling systems into a suitable container to be disposed of correctly, rather

than letting the coolant run out onto the ground.

• Store used batteries under cover so that rainwater does not allow them to overflow,
causing acid spills.

• Keeping scrap, used parts, oil drums and material to be recycled under cover,. This
will prevent them being flooded or washed down by rainwater so that no impurities
are washed into the stormwater system.

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 CLEANING UP SPILLS
All spills create waste materials and take valuable production time to clean up. Spills
can be avoided by keeping containers tightly sealed, regularly inspecting containers
for leaks, following proper handling methods and using drip trays.

If a spill does occur it must be quickly contained to prevent it reaching stormwater,

the sewer or causing other contamination.

Containment methods for spills include; sandbags, sawdust, brooms, mops, portable
bunding, rags, special absorbent pads, squeegee mops, special absorbent pellets,
sand and kitty litter.

Depending on the method of clean-up you use, you will need to dispose of the clean-
up material according to approved methods.

In all cases you should refer to each substance ‘Material Safety Data Sheet’ (or
MSDS) for information about the correct clean-up procedure. If you do not have the
relevant MSDS contact the supplier immediately.

The following guidelines should assist you in dealing with spills when they occur in
the workshop: Whenever a spill occurs:

• Clean up spills immediately, even spills that won’t run into stormwater drains may
be stepped in, or driven through, where they will continue to be spread, eventually
finding their way into stormwater drains.

• Keep protective clothing and spill equipment within

easy reach.

• Do not use a hose to wash spills into stormwater or

the sewer.

• If a spill does occur, follow the MSDS clean-up and

disposal instructions carefully.

• Place spill clean-up material in the general waste

only if the material is not saturated with oil.

• Oil saturated clean up material is a prescribed waste

and must be disposed of correctly.

• Check all hazardous substances you use and

determine what special spill precautions are required.

• Be prepared for a spill by training staff how to safely

respond.

• When workshop rags are too dirty to be used any A general spill kit located close to
longer, put then aside so that they can be used to where a spill is likely to occur. This
wipe up any spills as they occur.
contains the most common materials
needed to clean up minor spills.

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 HAZARDS & AIRBOURNE PARTICLES
In years gone by, people living in the vicinity of industrial complexes had little
recourse when the pollution from nearby industry fouled the atmosphere in which
they lived and breathed. They had no choice but to put up with soot stained washing
on their clothed lines, pungent odours, and thick smoke and polluted waterways.
Many of the emissions from these factories were highly toxic, local residents often
suffered poor health and even premature death. The people of today no longer have
to put up with this damage to their environment. If a citizen feels that their local
environment has been polluted in some way, they need only ring their local council
or the EPA to have the cause of the pollution investigated.

All businesses are required to limit and control air pollution

Common causes of air pollution can include:

• Over spray.

• The evaporation of solvent.

• Dry sanding.

• Burning off.

• Poorly maintained vehicles.

• The release of chemical vapours (like petrol, LPG and

refrigerant gases).

• Asbestos brake and clutch friction material dust.

Good practices include:

• Do not burn off any waste.

• Avoid Activity that creates a lot of dust.

• Make sure that all spray painting (primer, colour and touch ups) is only carried out
inside a spray booth.

• Use technology and staff training techniques to reduce the amount of paint and
solvent used in a job or discarded into the environment.

• Use a vacuum collection system when sanding or cleaning brake and clutch
assemblies.

• Regularly inspect and maintain your spray booth in accordance with the
manufacturer’s specifications.

• Make sure your spray booth complies with AS 4114 and local council regulations.

• Never release refrigerant into the atmosphere.

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• Never used compressed air to clean the dust off brake or clutch assemblies.

Under no circumstances should any refrigerant be released to the environment.

Fortunately for the environment, refrigerant gases are now very expensive, so there
is ample motivation for recovering them!

Take care when carrying out repairs or modifications to an existing building if you
suspect the cladding or roofing material to be made from asbestos. Disturbing
asbestos building materials can release asbestos particles or fibres to the
atmosphere. These fibres are extremely hazardous to health. Removal of asbestos
can only be carried out by a licensed contractor, in accordance with very strict
occupational health and safety guidelines.

Solvents, such as thinners, will evaporate readily when exposed to atmosphere,

especially when subject to high ambient temperatures. Allowing solvent to evaporate
is a waste of a resource, a potential fire hazard and will pollute the environment.
Always store solvents in tightly sealed containers in a cool, well ventilated area,
away from direct sunlight.

Spray painting Activity should only be carried out in a properly constructed spray
booth and dry sanding should be conducted using extraction equipment. Both these
processes release airborne particles and pollutants to the atmosphere that may
prove hazardous to other workers or nearby residents, particularly those suffering
from respiratory ailments or complaints.

The EPA forbids the use of outdoor incinerators, or any type of burning off. The
smoke from burning off Activity is a dead give-away and when associated with
industrial waste is usually foul smelling as well. Any business foolish enough to burn
industrial waste can expect a visit from the EPA or the local council’s by-laws officer,
and a substantial fine.

Poorly maintained vehicles can contribute to air pollution in many ways. Under
inflated tyres have a greater rolling resistance, accelerating tyre wear, but also
increasing fuel consumption. The more fuel that is burnt, the more pollutants are
pumped into the atmosphere and our air quality suffers as a result.

When an engine is out of tune, fuel is wasted as it passes from the exhaust only
partially burnt. This is a waste of a precious and expensive resource, but it also adds
to air pollution. A well-tuned engine burns the fuel more completely, reducing
exhaust emissions and improving performance.

Engines that consume excessive amounts of oil, either through oil burning, or leaks
also contribute to air pollution. Leaking oil drips onto the road, from where it will
eventually be washed into the stormwater, but much of it will also be blown onto the
hot exhaust system where it burns. Worn engines that burn engine oil leave clouds
of fouls smelling smoke in their wake, they also foul spark plugs and prevent the
engine from running at their most efficient. Smokey engines attract the attention of
the police, EPA and even members of the public who value clean air, so owners of
these vehicles can expect to be issued with a notice to present their vehicle to the
nearest testing station if they fail to have the smoking exhaust fixed.

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Although the use of asbestos is now banned and illegal in automotive products this is
no reason to be complacent when dealing with brake and clutch dust. It will be some
years before it can safely be said that no vehicle has any traces of asbestos in its
brakes or clutch so great care must be taken to ensure no dust is disturbed or
breathed in. Asbestos dust is extremely hazardous to health and this is why
alternative braking materials are now being used in vehicle brakes and clutches,
however the effects of these new products on long term health is not yet fully known.

As a consequence, the dust from these products must be treated as hazardous and
the same precautions must be used when handling them as are used to handle
asbestos products. Any dust from an industrial application must be treated as
hazardous and should not be breathed in or allowed to pollute the environment.

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 HAZARDS OF GASSES
The hazards created in the workplace by various gases have been well documented
however they will also have a damaging effect on the environment.

Typical gases found in the automotive industry include:

LPG - Liquid Petroleum Gas Oxygen

CNG - Compressed Natural Nitrogen
Gas
Argon Petrol & solvent vapours
Acetylene Exhaust gases
HFC134A refrigerant

Each of these gases presents an occupational health and

safety risk, but with the exception of oxygen and nitrogen,
they are also potentially damaging to the environment.

Gases, such as CNG are lighter than air, and in the event
of a leak, quickly disperse. Unfortunately, these dispersed
gases increase the pollution over our cities and accumulate
in the atmosphere as ‘greenhouse gases’.

Gases such as LPG or fuel vapours are heavier than air.

They settle in low lying areas and apart from the obvious
fire risk, can cause asphyxiation through oxygen
deprivation. By settling in the lower areas, these gases will
eventually find their way into stormwater drains and into the
waterways.

Most gases are stored in cylinders, under very high pressure. Gas cylinders of all
types must be store in a cool, well-ventilated area, away from heat, sources of
ignition and direct sunlight. Exposure to heat or direct sunlight can raise the pressure
within the cylinder to a dangerous level. Gas cylinders contain a fused plug, which
will rupture to vent the gas to atmosphere if the pressure within the cylinder reaches
a dangerous level.

This release of excessive pressure will prevent the explosion that will occur in a total
rupture of the cylinder; however this released gas may accumulate in confined areas,
presenting a serious health hazard and fire risk. Even escaped gases that disperse
before they can create an immediate health or safety risk will still contaminate the
environment.

Great care must be taken when transporting, storing or using gas cylinders. The
cylinders must be kept upright and secured to prevent any damage to the cylinder.

The purchase and handling of refrigerants is a controlled substance.

Both a permit to purchase refrigerant and a licence to handle it is required.

No automotive refrigerants are allowed to be released to the environment; large fines

are attached to any person who allows refrigerant to be released to the atmosphere.

© South Metropolitan TAFE 22

Automotive Electrical Department
Gas equipment, such as oxy acetylene welding plants must be checked regularly for
leaks, using soap and water, and any leaks must be fixed immediately.

Do not store oxygen and acetylene cylinders together, as in the event of a fire, the
two cylinders will vent, creating an extremely volatile mix.

Good practices include:

• Recycling all refrigerant gases.

• Encourage customers to use their vehicle air-conditioning at least once a week to

reduce the incidence of refrigerant gases permeating through the air-conditioning
system’s flexible hoses.

• Reduce exhaust emissions by switching engines off when not in use, and
encouraging efficient driving practices.

• Decant any gas from leaking or decommissioned cylinders.

• Store fuels and solvents in sealed containers, out of direct sunlight.

• Empty the fuel from used fuel filters into a sealed container to be disposed of
correctly.

• Store gas cylinders in a cool, shaded and well-ventilated area, away from welding
and any other sources of ignition.

• Store oxygen and acetylene cylinder separately.

• When using oxy/acetylene equipment, only open the acetylene cylinder valve a
quarter of a turn, so that it can be turned off quickly if a leak develops in the hoses,
regulator or torch.

© South Metropolitan TAFE 23

Automotive Electrical Department
 NOISE HAZARDS
Excessive noise is a form of pollution and a documented occupational health and
safety hazard. Industry has been made well aware of the long term damage that can
occur to a worker’s hearing after repeated exposure to noisy industrial machinery.
Perhaps less apparent is the impact that industrial noise has on the environment.
Any excessive noise can be considered noise pollution and is subject to EPA
environmental legislation. Noise pollution may be something as seemingly innocuous
as a barking dog or a crowing rooster, or it may be loud machinery, revving engines
or loud music. In some instances, the noise made by a factory or workshop may be
acceptable during business hours, but will constitute noise pollution after hours,
when nearby residents may be putting children to sleep, or trying to sleep
themselves.

Excessive noise levels have an adverse effect on your staff

and neighbours.

The workshop radio can often be as damaging to hearing as

your workshop equipment.

Noises from small business come under local government

control.

Some practices that may reduce the impact that loud noise
has on the environment include:

• Position the compressor in a sound deadened area.

• Make sure the compressor is switched off at the end of each

day. A compressor, which begins cycling during the night or
over the weekend, can be very disturbing for local residents.

• Minimise the use of noisy equipment such as air chisels and impact guns.

• Don’t operate noisy equipment outside of business hours when it may disturb
neighbours.

• Carry out noisy operations away from other people.

• Always wear hearing protection when using noisy equipment.

• Conduct noise tests if the noise levels are high

• Having staff that work in a noisy environment to undergo an

annual hearing test.

• Take care not to over rev engines or squeal the tyres when road testing vehicles.

Excessive noise can cause deafness in extreme cases, or can lead to

partial hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), or industrial deafness.
Noise can also lead to other accidents through lack of concentration.

© South Metropolitan TAFE 24

Automotive Electrical Department