Boston Safe ShopsAuto Shop Pollution Prevention

Thomas M. Menino, MayorBarbara Ferrer, Executive Director

http://www.bphc.org/bphc/oeh_safeshop.asp

Presented by Paul Shoemaker, MPH

From This:

To This:

Overview

1. Environmental Concerns - Auto Shops in Boston

2. The Safe Shops Model and Interventions

3. Outcomes and Results to Date

4. Lessons Learned

Auto Shops in Boston• More than 550 shops in densely

packed mixed zoning areas

• Most with less than 5 employees paid per-job with no health insurance or other benefits

• Few have resources for worker protection or pollution prevention

• Provide an important source of employment in low income, minority, and immigrant communities

Auto Shops – Environmental Concerns

• Air emissions of solvents and paint fumes• Worker contact with hazardous chemicals• Storage of flammable chemicals• Spills and soil/groundwater contamination

and chemical waste storage• Solid waste storage and disposal, physical

injury risk from junk parts, etc.

Target Neighborhood Demographics

Neighborhood

Pop. %Non-white

Pop. %Below

Povertylevel

Asthma hospitalizationsper 1,000 children

under 5 (1999-2003)

Elevated blood lead levels (10 ug/dL or

greater)

Number of Auto Shops

Roxbury 85% 29.20% 14.8 2.20% 36

Dorchester North 82% 22.90% 13.7 4.40%

163South 67% 17.60% 11.4 3.80%

Mattapan 97% 17.50% 9.9 2.80% 45

All of Boston 51% 19.10% 11.1 2.70% ~550

Allston/Brighton 31% 23% 3.4 2.50% 91

Charlestown 11% 17.50% 4.5 2.10% 2

West Roxbury 17% 6.80% 3.4 1.00% 14

Roslindale 40% 11.20% 7.5 2.10% 32

Jamaica Plain 49% 17.30% 9.7 2.50% 28

East Boston 50% 19.50% 4.3 2.60% 27

DATA SOURCE: Boston Public Health Commission Health of Boston 2005 Report and U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, American FactFinder

A spray booth exhaust system?

Hazardous waste storage area?

Flammable storage cabinet?

Solid waste storage?

Safe Shops Project Model

Partners

Bowdoin Street Health Center

MassCOSHNuestra

Comunidad Development Corporation

Activities• Partner meetings• Environmental Assessments and worker surveys• Safe Shops training session• Provision of resources and assistance

• Business development assistance (finding funding)• Identifying alternative products and vendors• Worker training in best practices• Health Van and health insurance enrollment

• Follow-up env. assessments and worker surveys• Continued training, assistance and follow-up

Results to Date• 238 auto shops inspected and/or surveyed

• 95 shops and 1 vocational school received training sessions

• 430 workers and 124 vocational students participated in trainings

• 9 shops have made major operational/purchasing changes

• New city ordinance passed to regulate auto shops

• Newsletter of shop success stories published and mailed to shops resulting in calls requesting training

• Expansion of the program citywide

Selected Results to Date (shops that received training)

• Increase in compliance in labeling of waste area containers from 56% to 90%

• Increase in compliance for labeling and closing of lids for solvents and parts cleaners from 80% to 96%

• Increase in cleanliness and the sanitary conditions from 83% to 100%

Using Less Toxic Products

Using aqueous based brake cleaners:

Arthur’s Sunoco, Mattapan,

Auto Service and Tire, Mattapan

Foreign Auto Clinic, Brighton

G & G Auto Services, Mattapan

J & P Auto Repair, Dorchester

Mecca Motors, Allston

Woodings Garage, Allston

Using EPA-approved Gun Washer:

Moreno Auto Body, Roxbury

Supreme Auto Center, Mattapan

Case Study – Supreme Auto Center

Participated in S.T.A.R. paint training to reduce paint overspray

Purchased HVLP spray guns w/ detachable paint cups

Purchase vacuum capture sanders and EPA-approved paint gun cleaner

98% reduction in acetone and 56% decrease in toluene in shop indoor air

Report saving hundreds of dollars of paints that would have been wasted with old methods and paint guns without detachable cups

Case Study – Moreno Auto Body

Participated in S.T.A.R. paint training to reduce paint overspray

Purchased a supplied air respirator for painting to replace the paper dust mask previously used

Switched to low VOC paints and EPA-approved gun cleaner

94% reduction in acetone and 88% decrease in toluene in shop indoor air