ILMC Visit Report to Auto Service Center.pdf - the International Lead ...

ILMC Visit Report
December 3 2003
Basel Convention Project –
Regional Strategy for the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Lead
Acid Batteries in Central America, Colombia, Venezuela and the Island States of
the Caribbean
Automobile Service Center
Cagua
State of Aragua
Venezuela
The purpose of site visits by ILMC staff is to provide expert opinion and advice to
the project stakeholders on the environmental performance of the recovery
operations for ULAB and the standards of occupational health of all those
workers involved in the recycling process.
This report represents the views and opinions of the International Lead
Management Center (ILMC). Furthermore, any comments contained in the report
about the procedures, practices and lead recovery processes observed and any
recommendations to improve environmental performance and raise the
standards of occupational health are those of the ILMC.
Whilst representatives of the Basel Secretariat, the Project Steering Committee
and the Environment Ministries of Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados,
Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and El Salvador, and the Health Ministry of
Panama together with the Solid Waste Management Authority of St. Lucia were
present during the visit, their views and opinions are not represented in this
report.
Brian Wilson, ILMC Program Manager

ILMC Visit Report
Automobile Service Center
Cagua
State of Aragua
Venezuela
The final visit for the delegates was to an Automobile Service Center in Cagua.
Again, the management of the Duncan Group are to be congratulated for giving
the delegates an insight into the services provided by the company to maintain
automotive batteries in optimum condition. Good and regular battery
maintenance not only ensures that the battery will start the car on demand, but
also prolongs the life of the battery. Furthermore, regular checks on the condition
of the battery will provide an early warning of possible battery failure, so that the
battery can be changed before it fails to start the car.
Pic. 1 Battery testing at the Service Center in Cagua
The service center was spotless and all materials, new and ULAB stored in large
cages. The service bays were clearly marked and so there would always be
plenty of room between vehicles for safe working.
The center was equipped with the latest battery testing meters and chargers and
the technicians were very pleased to answer questions about the meaning of the
meter readings and the action required to optimize the condition of the battery.
Brian Wilson, Feb 2004