Safety Information for Motor Mechanics in the Workplace

Ventilate your workspace

Exhaust fumes are toxic and inhaling them all day can lead to serious illness and in the worst-case scenario death. So if you’re working in a garage or workshop all day with cars that are ticking-over you need to ensure your working area is properly ventilated, and this doesn’t mean just opening a back window. So if you are in any doubt, when working on a car with the engine running – do it outside.

Always wear a mask

Fumes from substances such as spray paint, brake fluid and filler can be just as dangerous as those from engine exhausts. So if you are working within close proximity of any chemicals you should ALWAYS wear a mask. And this doesn’t just mean a scarf over your face; it should be a properly fitted mechanics mask which displays the British Standard kitemark.

Grab your goggles

Whether you’re welding, soldering or even carrying out a simple brake test, you should always wear safety goggles. Workshops and garages will always have the potential for flying fragments that can cause serious damage to your sight and even the loss of an eye. So get into the habit of wearing goggles all the time; in that way, they will become second nature and you won’t even realise you are wearing them.

Don’t forget gloves

A strong pair of gloves will go some way to protecting your digits from sharp objects and dangerous machinery, but working with chemicals and dangerous fluids day-in-day-out can cause long-term damage to the skin such as dermatitis. So even for the slightest task, it’s advised that you wear a thin pair of latex gloves to prevent future skin complaints and complications.

Lift properly