Health and safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industries

Health and Safety
Executive
17 Rolling road and brake-testing equipment should be inspected under
regulation 6 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), 3
typically every year.
Brake and clutch servicing
18 The use of asbestos in vehicle brake, clutch and gasket components was
prohibited from 1999, with the exception that pre-1973 vehicles could continue to be
fitted with asbestos-containing brake shoes until the end of 2004. So it is possible
that some old vehicles could contain asbestos and sensible precautions should be
taken. But remember that all brake and clutch dust is potentially harmful so:
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never blow dust out of brake drums or clutch housings with an airline;
use properly designed brake-cleaning equipment which prevents dust escaping
(see Figure 4); or
use clean, wet rags to clean out drums or housings and dispose of used rags
in a plastic waste bag while still wet.
If you do need to dispose of asbestos waste, follow the guidance in HSE’s
Asbestos essentials sheet EM9 Disposal of asbestos waste. 4
Vehicle valeting
19 Valeting may be carried out as a separate operation or as incidental to other
work, such as routine vehicle servicing. Many proprietary cleaners are relatively
harmless, but others can contain toxic or flammable solvents and prolonged skin
contact with cleaners and detergents can cause dermatitis. Direct skin and eye
contact with such substances can also be harmful (see the product label and
hazard data sheet). Assess the hazards and risks involved and use products that
create the least risk.
20 Remember that substances that are safe to use in a well-ventilated workshop
may not be safe in an enclosed vehicle.
21 Use working methods that minimise the amount of solvent used, eg pour only
small amounts of fluid onto a pad or applicator from a small container, which is
kept closed when not in use.
22 For adequate ventilation during valeting:
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make sure the working area is well ventilated;
when working inside vehicles, leave all doors and sunroofs wide open; and
assess whether forced ventilation (eg a fan) is required to blow fresh air through
the vehicle to dilute any solvent vapours.
23 Never use aerosols or solvent-based trigger sprayers near a naked flame.
24 Wear protective clothing, including eye protection and suitable gloves such as
single-use nitrile gloves. If you must use latex gloves, make sure they are
‘low-protein, powder-free’. Always throw away single-use gloves when you take
them off.
25 Choose an application method that reduces the risk of clothing contamination,
but if contamination does occur, remove and dry the clothing in a safe place in the
open air.
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