Every auto detailing shop has its own set of unique safety concerns. But even though detailing shops may come in various sizes and have different amounts of staff and specialties, there are some general safety practices that can be followed to reduce the risk of injury or vehicle damage.
If you’re planning on pursuing an auto detailing career, keeping the shop hazard-free doesn’t have to be a time consuming process. Read on for a few simple ways to keep your work environment safe, so that you can focus on making cars look their very best!
1. Use a Handheld Light to Check Crevices During your Auto Detailing Career
Whether you’re wiping down leather upholstery or vacuuming carpets, it’s important to always give car interiors a brief inspection before you start your work. Objects like safety pins or small shards of glass can easily find their way between car seats or nestle themselves into rugs, so you’ll want to make sure you avoid any unnecessary cuts and scrapes.
You typically won’t leave cars running with the dome lights on while cleaning interiors in your auto detailing career, so a handheld light can come in very useful for examining dark areas and tight spots. Use a flashlight or handheld downlight for a quick inspection, so you’ll know it’s safe to put your hands between and under seats, or along carpeting while detailing interiors.
2. Wear Slip-Free Footwear in your Auto Detailing Career
You’ll learn in an auto detailing course that slip-free and waterproof footwear is some of the most important safety equipment you can have. Often times, the floors of auto detailing shops are full of mud, water, soap suds, and cleaning products that put you and other detailers at a high risk of slipping. Shoes or boots with a strong grip are a great investment that will protect you from any unnecessary injury.
3. Give Auto Detailing Floor Drains Regular Inspections
Detailing shops use floor drainage systems in order to get rid of excess soap, water, and grime. These usually come in the form of a centrally located drain or a drainage strip that runs the length of the shop. You’ll sometimes need to hose the floor down to ensure that dirt and suds make it to the drain, but you’ll also want to perform regular checks to remove any clogs.
When water builds up on the ground of a detailing shop, it could spell disaster. There’s a higher risk of slipping, and there’s also a big risk of damaging expensive power tools. Not only that, but dropping power tools in half-an-inch of water can cause power shortages or even electrocution. Make sure to check for debris or anything else that could clog floor drains in the detailing shop often, so that you can keep water buildup to a minimum.
4. Always Direct Customers to Safe Waiting Areas
When it comes to an auto detailing shop, safety practices don’t end with employees. Customers won’t have the same level of safety training that you will, so you won’t want them to risk slipping or hurting themselves while their car is in your care. Plenty of shops allow customers to pull their car into the cleaning area, so as soon as they hand over the keys, it’s important that you direct them to a safe waiting area.
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