Safety in Reality : Car Wash Center

Hello guys..first of all, I would like to wish everybody Happy Belated Chinese New Year for all Malaysian..Last Tuesday, it was a good day for going out having an outing with my beloved family because it was surprisingly quiet on the road..the road was jam-free and no honking and waiting on the road...before that, it was hot and sunny afternoon and I thought that it would be a great idea to have my car wash nearby..

Arriving at the car wash center, I parked my car and told the worker to wash it…there were 10 workers there busy doing their work… as I wait for my car to be cleaned, I spotted a few hazards that may concern the workers there:

1. As you can see, the worker is having lunch during his well-deserved break. Can you witness the kitchen utensil and the red frame door on top of the roof? This is one of hazard that we can spot; falling object. It can also cause sprain or even worst, broken ankle for the worker if they try to climb it with the chair on the uneven floor.

Recommendation

- Eliminate the door from the roof.

- Place the kitchen utensil in a specified storage area.

2. This picture was taken next to their 'cabin'. I've asked one of the worker, and found out that they rarely clean up or do the housekeeping. This can cause tripping and fall hazard for workers. I wonder what is in that '100 PLUS' bottle..anyone can tell me?

Recommendation

- Eliminate any unused stuff from the area.

- Housekeeping and cleaning of the area should be done frequently.

3.This is where the power supply located; same place where they keep their equipment. The exposed circuit breaker box can bring hazards to workers in contact; electrocuted and fire. Car wash center deals with water and it can increase the probability for workers expose to these hazards with water comes close in contact.

Recommendation

- Install enclosure for the circuit breaker box to avoid exposure.

- Dry the hand before using any electrical appliances.

4. While waiting for the car to be vacuumed, I personally discovered another hazard that can be found. Underneath the table, next to the tree, I saw a pile of rubbish which was scattered on the floor. The worst part of it was you can find maggots and mosquito larvae in there! (it was so DISGUSTING!) As a student of safety and health, this is one of the example of biological hazard in workplace. I talked to one of them, which prefer to be called Siva, told that one of the worker had suffer from dengue fever, two months ago. Can you see the connection between the environment and the disease..? (By the way,can you see the dustbin is FULL..?? and why nobody wants to clear it..?)

Recommendation

- Eliminate the rubbish.

- Clear any area that can provide stagnant water.

- Increase the frequency of housekeeping.

After the so-called ' short inspection', the car was squeaky clean and shiny. The service was good ,the staff were friendly and the price was very reasonable.. Perhaps, they can ask their employer to implement, at least, the needs for the employee's safety and welfare.