vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Pollution Prevention
and Toxics
(7406)
EPA744-F-98-013
August 1998
Design for the Environment
Small Auto Refinish Shop
Project in Philadelphia
U.S. EPA*
What Is Design for the
Environment?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Design for
the Environment (DfE) Program is a voluntary, partnership-based
program that works with small companies to integrate health
and environmental considerations into business decisions. DfE's
approach to environmental protection emphasizes making
changes and choices—in materials and processes—that prevent
pollution before it is created.
What Is the Project Goal
and Game Plan?
The Small Auto Refinish Shop Project works with auto refinish-
ers to identify and adopt safer, cleaner, more efficient practices
and technologies. Through its research, the Project Team has
uncovered many examples of health and safety improvements
that increase efficiency and help shops save time and money—
some are even cost-free. Other factors—like the quality of the
refinish job and compliance with environmental regulations—
also can advance the goal of a cleaner, safer shop.
Why Is This Project
Important To You and
Your Workers?
Auto refinishers use many potentially harmful chemicals,
especially during painting operations. Of particular concern are
isocyanates, solvents, and paint additives. Isocyanates, for exam-
Kle, are a major cause of occupational asthma. To safeguard their
ealth, workers need to protect themselves from exposure during
spray painting and related activities. The Small Auto Refinish
Shop Project will identify better control technologies and more
efficient workplace practices and will make this information
available to interested shop owners. Use of these new practices
and technologies will better protect workers and minimize the
generation of waste and the release of chemicals in the environ-
ment.
Why Small Shops in
Philadelphia?
Design for ttiefrivironment
ly Shop Project
The DfE Program selected Philadelphia for the project's first
pilot because of the city's positive experience working with auto
refinishers, concern for small businesses and the safety and envi-
ronmental issues they face, and the large number of auto refinish
shops in the Philadelphia area. The project focuses on small
shops because they make up the majority of the auto refinish
industry and often have the fewest resources to upgrade their
shops.
, Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber.
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Are
The Philadelphia pilot for the Small Auto Refinish Shop Project
will encourage use of improved practices and technologies such as
the following:
• More efficient spray guns that reduce the amount of paint
overspray and potentially harmful chemicals in the air.
• Better spray booths, filters, and filter changing practices
that contribute to better air quality within and outside
the shop.
• More careful, efficient paint mixing room and gun cleaning
practices that will produce less waste and reduce releases of
solvents.
• Better ventilation systems and adequate protective equip-
ment, such as respirators and gloves, during tasks that
involve exposure to harmful chemicals.
Whf Mf Shop
a
Partner?
A number of auto refinishers in the Philadelphia area and in
other parts of the country have already installed new equipment
and improved their practices. Whether your shop has made
changes, or is interested in making them, the DfE Program hopes
you will become a partner. By having partner shops at different
stages of improvement, the Project Team can bring together
experience and practical knowledge to share among partners. In
the end, any shop that makes improvements may not only have
helped its pocket book, but created a healthier work environ-
ment and a cleaner neighborhood.
Do
Help?
Partner shops serve as resources to the DfE Program. They offer
a real-world perspective on health and safety matters in the shop:
what are the barriers and incentives to change, how do you go
about converting from the old—equipment, infrastructure and
practices—to the new. The collective experience from partner
shops will help the DfE Program design a blueprint for change. A
DfE partnership team (industrial hygienist and project manager)
will visit the partner shop and observe its operations, talk with
management and workers, and gather information on improved
equipment and practices. DfE will encourage partner shops to
implement the recommendations the team might make for
improvements and to participate in a workshop to educate other
shops about the benefits of changing the way they work.
Are the
to
The DfE Program offers shops several incentives to partner:
access to the latest developments—in safer shop equipment and
practices, worker health issues, waste minimization, and work
place efficiencies; a free Industrial hygienist consultation—
including advice on how to make additional improvements in
the health and environmental profile of their shops; and, recogni-
tion—of their improvements and willingness to work with EPA
to promote safer, cleaner auto refinish shops.
for ttie £rwironment
Shop Project
If you're interested in partnering or would like to learn more about
this project, please call Mary Cushmac, Project Manager in EPA's
Design for the Environment Branch at 202 568-88073, or send her an
e-mail at .
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