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VEHICLE SERVICE
INDUSTRY – BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES |
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Changing
Oil & Other Fluids |
Storage |
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Cleaning
Engines and Parts and Flushing Radiators |
Spill
Control |
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Washing
Cars and Other Vehicles |
Recycling
and Treatment |
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Body
Repair and Painting
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Purchasing |
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Keeping
a Clean Shop |
Education
and Training |
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CHANGING OIL
& OTHER FLUIDS |
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Waste oil, antifreeze,
and other vehicle fluids containing toxic chemicals and heavy
metals from wear and tear of engine parts. |
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Whenever
possible, change vehicle fluids indoors and only on floors
constructed of nonporous materials. Avoid working over
asphalt and dirt floors (surfaces that absorb vehicle
fluids). |
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If
vehicle fluids must be removed outside, always use a drip
pan. Prevent spills from reaching the street or storm
drain by working over an absorbent mat and covering nearby
storm drains or working in a bermed area. Note: absorbent
socks can help create a bermed area. |
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When
draining fluids into a pan, place a larger pan (that is
3 ft x 4 ft) under the primary drain pan to catch spilled
fluids. |
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Transfer
fluids drained from vehicles to a designated waste-storage
area as soon as possible. Drain pans and other open containers
of fluids should not be left unattended unless covered
and within secondary containment. |
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Never
pour vehicle fluids or other hazardous wastes into sinks,
toilets, floor drains, outside storm drains, or in the
garbage. These substances should be kept in designated
storage areas for eventual recycling or safe disposal. |
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Drain
fluids from leaking or wrecked vehicles as soon as possible
to avoid leaks and spills. |
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Consider
using a vacuum pump, or drain pan with a built-in pump
to transfer fluids. |
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| CLEANING ENGINES AND
PARTS AND FLUSHING RADIATORS |
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Solvents are hazardous
to employees and can ignite sewers. |
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Do not discharge
hazardous solvents and radiator fluids to the sanitary
sewer and storm drains. Use a licensed service to haul
and recycle or dispose of these wastes. |
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Designate specific
areas or service bays to clean engine, parts, or radiators.
Do not wash or rinse parts outdoors. |
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Use self-contained
sinks and tanks when working with solvents. Keep sinks
and tanks covered when not in use. |
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Inspect degreasing
solvent sinks regularly for leaks and make necessary repairs
immediately. |
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Avoid soldering over
dip tanks. Sweep up drippings and recycle or discard as
hazardous waste. |
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Rinse and drain parts
over the solvent sink or tank so that solvents cannot
drip or spill onto the floor. Use drip boards or pans
to catch excess solutions and divert them back to a sink
or tank. |
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Allow parts to dry
over the hot tank. If rinsing is required, rinse over
the tank as well. |
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Collect and reuse
parts, cleaning solvents, and water used in flushing and
testing radiators. When reuse is no longer possible, these
solutions may be hazardous and must be disposed of properly. |
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Never discharge cleaning
solutions used for engines or parts into the sewer system
without adequate treatment. Most facilities have these
solutions hauled off-site as hazardous waste because of
the permits necessary for on-site treatment. |
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Discharge rinse water
to the sanitary sewer only with adequate pretreatment
and approval of the District’s Wastewater Treatment
Plant (925-846-4565). |
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Never discharge wastewater
from steam cleaning to a street, gutter, or storm drain.
Never discharge wastewater from cleaning engines and parts
to a street, gutter, or storm drain. |
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Sweep or vacuum dust
and debris from scraping or bead-blasting radiators. |
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Use static tanks
for rinsing to reduce the volume of discharged rinse water. |
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| WASHING CARS AND OTHER
VEHICLES |
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Even biodegradable soaps
can be toxic to fish and wildlife when they reach a creek or
body of water. Consider the following when washing cars and
other vehicles: |
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If no soap is used when washing
the exterior of new vehicles, discharge wash water to
the storm drain directly. |
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If soap is used in washing, wash
water must be collected, preferably treated, and discharged
to the sanitary sewer. This wash water cannot be discharged
to a storm drain. |
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Always protect storm drains from
solvents used to remove protective coatings from new cars.
Discharging these solvents to the sanitary sewer must
receive adequate pretreatment and approval of the District’s
Wastewater Treatment Plant (925-846-4565). |
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Whenever possible, take vehicles
to a commercial car wash. |
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If car washing is a central activity
of the business, preferably treat and recycle wash water
to reduce discharge to the sewer system. |
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Designate a vehicle-washing area
and wash cars and trucks only in that area. The “wash
pad” should have a berm around it so fluids are prevented
from draining into storm drains and instead drain to an
oil-water separator before discharging to the sewer. |
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Cover outside wash pads or minimize
the area of uncovered pads. For guidance, consult the
District’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (925-846-4565). |
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Minimize the use of acid-based
wheel cleaners. These products require additional treatment
(beyond oil-water separation) before discharge to the
sewer. |
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Never allow rinse water from
spray-on, acid-based wheel cleaners to flow to a street,
gutter, or storm drain. |
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| BODY REPAIR AND PAINTING |
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Solvents, thinners,
paints, and sanding water all cause problems for both the sanitary
sewer and the storm drains. |
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Whenever possible
conduct all body repair and painting work indoors or under
cover. |
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When receiving damaged
vehicles, inspect them for leaks. Use drip pans if necessary. |
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When cleaning automobile
body parts before painting, minimize use of hose-off degreasers.
Brush off loose debris and use rags to wipe down parts. |
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Use dry cleanup methods
such as vacuuming or sweeping to clean up dust from sanding
metal or body filler. Debris from wet sanding can be allowed
to dry overnight on the shop floor then swept and vacuumed.
Liquid from wet sanding should not be discharged to the
sanitary sewer without receiving adequate pretreatment
and approval from the District’s Wastewater Treatment
Plant (925-846-4565). Never discharge the wastewater to
the storm drain. |
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Reduce waste paint
and thinner by carefully calculating paint needs based
on surface area and by using the proper sprayer cup size. |
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Do not use water
to control over spray or dust in the paint boot unless
it is collected. The wastewater should not be discharged
to the sanitary sewer without receiving adequate pretreatment
and approval from the District’s Wastewater Treatment
Plant (925-846-4565). |
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Clean spray guns
used with solvents and oil-based paints in a self-contained
cleaner. Reuse the cleaning solution until it becomes
too dirty. Never discharge cleaning waste that contains
solvents or oil-based paints to the sewer or storm drain. |
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Spray guns containing
only latex paint may be washed in a sink with sufficient
water and discharged to the sewer, not to a storm drain. |
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Use sanding tools
equipped with a vacuum to pick up debris and dust. |
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Reduce waste by using
low-volume, paint-mixing equipment and high-efficiency
painting tools. |
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| KEEPING A CLEAN SHOP |
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Good housekeeping
practices minimize liability, reduce costs, and make it easier
to detect spills and identify problems. |
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Use
drip pans under leaking vehicles to capture fluids. |
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Sweep
or vacuum the shop floor frequently. |
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If
mopping is still needed, mop and discharge mop water to
the sanitary sewer. The mop water must meet the District’s
Wastewater Treatment Plant (925-846-4565) wastewater discharge
requirements. |
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Mop
floors instead of hosing down work areas. |
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While mopping, spot
clean any spilled oil or fluids using absorbents, rags,
or oleophilic mops (mops that absorb oil, but not water). |
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Do not pour mop water
into the parking lot, street, gutter, or storm drain. |
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Remove unnecessary
hoses to discourage washing down of floors and outside
paved areas. |
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Regularly sweep parking
lots and areas around the facility instead of washing
them down with water. |
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Clean fuel-dispensing
areas with absorbents instead of water. |
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Collect all metal
filing, dust, and paint chips from grinding, shaving,
and sanding and dispose of the waste properly. Never discharge
these wastes to the storm drain or sanitary sewer. |
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Collect all dust
from brake pads separately and dispose of the waste properly.
Never discharge these wastes to the storm drain or sanitary
sewer. |
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Send rags to an industrial
laundry. |
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Consider using an
oleophilic mop to reduce the volume of waste liquids collected
and the cost of disposal. |
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Appropriate
storage protects the shop from hazardous spills. |
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Store
hazardous materials and wastes in areas protected from
rain and in a manner that prevents spills from reaching
the sanitary sewer or storm drain. |
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Keep
lids on waste barrels and containers and store them indoors
or under cover to reduce exposure to rain. |
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Label
all hazardous waste according to hazardous waste regulations.
Consult the fire department or local hazardous waste agency
for details. |
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Keep
wastes separate to increase waste recycling and disposal
options and reduce costs. |
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Never
mix waste oil with fuel, antifreeze, or chlorinated solvents.
Consult a hazardous waste hauler for details. |
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Double-contain
all bulk fluids to prevent accidental discharge to the
sewer or storm drain. Consult the fire department for
details or the District’s Wastewater Treatment Plant
(925-846-4565). |
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Keep
storage areas clean and dry. Conduct regular inspections
to detect leaks and spills as soon as possible. |
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Carefully
transfer fluids from drip pans or collection devices to
a designated waste-storage area as soon as possible. |
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Park
vehicles for scavenging or parting on a paved surface
and properly drain and collect gasoline and other fluids. |
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Drain
all fluids from components, such as engine blocks, being
stored for reuse or reclamation. Keep them under cover
and on a drip pan or sealed floor. |
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Store
new batteries securely to avoid breakage and acid spills
during earthquakes. Shelving should be secured to the
wall. Store used batteries indoors and in plastic trays
to contain potential leaks. Recycle old batteries, if
they are not damaged. Damaged batteries must be hauled
off-site and disposed of as hazardous waste. |
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| SPILL CONTROL |
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Spills
cause safety hazards for employees and can spread if not cleaned
up immediately: |
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The
best spill control is prevention. |
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Reduce
the distance between waste collection points and storage
areas. |
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Contain
and cover all solid and liquid wastes, especially during
transfer. |
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Purchase
and maintain proper absorbent materials for containing
and cleaning up different spills and make sure they are
easily accessible anywhere in the shop. Saturated absorbents
typically must be disposed of as hazardous waste. |
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Clean
up spills immediately and completely, including the absorbent
materials. |
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Cover
nearby storm drains when transferring fuel from tank truck
to fuel tank. |
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Seal
or remove floor drains to prevent accidental discharge
to the sewer system. |
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The
air and water supply area at gas stations is vulnerable
to fluid spills and radiators that boil over. Inspect
this area daily and clean up spills immediately. |
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| RECYCLING AND TREATMENT |
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Recycling
and properly treating wastes protects the environment and saves
money. |
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Recycle
solvents, paints, oil filters, antifreeze, motor oil,
batteries, and lubricants. |
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Set
up a system (separate, well-labeled containers in a convenient
location) to simplify waste separating and recycling. |
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Choose
treatment systems that are easy to maintain and repair. |
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Properly
maintain and service all pretreatment equipment including
sumps, separators, and grease traps. Follow each manufacturer’s
maintenance instructions and consider using a licensed
service to regularly conduct maintenance. |
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Frequently
inspect equipment for malfunctioning parts, leaks, and
the accumulation of pollutants such as oil and grease.
Because pretreatment equipment is supposed to remove pollutants,
a lack of accumulation may be a sign of a malfunction. |
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Retain
only a licensed company to haul away and dispose of wastes. |
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If
possible, install self-contained, zero-discharge treatment
systems that recycle wastewater. |
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Purchasing decisions
have a direct and long-term impact on the products used and
disposed of by the shop. Simplify pollution prevention and reduce
costs and liability by controlling the types and amounts of
products purchased. |
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Consult
the supplier for information on less toxic chemical cleaners
and other products. Some toxic chemical cleaners that
should be replaced with alternative cleaners are: chlorinated
solvents, chlorofluorocarbons, and 1,1,1, trichloroethane. |
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Ask
your supplier for information on the composition of brake
pads. Recent studies have suggested that brake dust washed
off streets by rain may be the single biggest contributor
of copper pollution in the Bay. Awareness and understanding
of this problem and the available alternatives help determine
solutions in the future. |
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Minimize
inventory by purchasing only as much product as needed
in the foreseeable future. This reduces storage space
needs, inventory-tracking costs, and liability for storing
hazardous materials and waste. |
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| EDUCATION AND TRAINING |
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Train
all new employees on personal safety and proper methods
for handling and disposing of hazardous waste and continue
training annually. Make sure all employees understand
appropriate discharge routes for different types of wastewater. |
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Post
instructional and informational signs around the shop
for customers and employees. Put signs above all sinks
prohibiting discharges of vehicle fluids and wastes. Put
signs on faucets (including hose nozzles) reminding employees
and customers to conserve water and not use water to clean
up spills. |
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Label
drains in and around the shop to indicate whether they
flow to an oil-water separator, directly to the sewer,
or to a storm drain. |
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NOTE
Sanitary sewer encompasses
sinks, toilets, cleanouts, most inside floor drains, and
wash pad drains.
Storm drain encompasses
streets, gutters, catch basins, storm drain inlets, and
open channels. |
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