Every workplace has some level of risk for injury. When you own an auto repair shop, the chances of an employee getting hurt is even greater due to the line of work, difficulty and equipment being used.
As the business owner, you are in charge of keeping your employees safe on top of protecting your property. If someone gets injured, you are liable to pay for their recovery.
Common Incidents that Can Hurt Your Employees
- Strains or tears: Auto mechanics are constantly lifting and carrying heavy objects. This overuse can cause your biceps, calves or other tendons to strain or tear over time.
- Getting Struck by Objects: With people and moving parts, it can be easy for small bits to go flying and hit someone. Mechanics also work under hoods, and if it’s not properly propped up, the stand can get loose and cause the hood to come crashing down.
- Slip and Falls: Everyone knows the trope of a dirty and dingy auto shop with parts and various liquids laying out. If your shop is in this level of disrepair, employees can slip on grease/oil or trip over a misplaced object and get injured.
- Cuts: Servicing cars requires handling metal bits that can sometimes be jagged or rough, making it super easy to get cuts. If the slice is deep or the metal part is rusty, it may require medical attention.
- Burns: Between handling chemical substances, flammable liquids and using torches to weld metal, it’s super easy to get burned. These burns are far more dangerous than a typical workplace burn and can have serious consequences.
- Electrocution: Car batteries, lights and more require electrical solutions when fixing. If handled improperly, a mechanic can get electrocuted.
- Eye Injury: Auto mechanics are always working under hoods. If they aren’t wearing protective eye goggles, debris and chemicals can get into their eyes.
More permanent injuries include:
- Exposure to Chemicals: Over time, getting constantly exposed to harmful substances can have an impact on your general health. You can form conditions like asthma or dermatitis that create limitations to your daily life.
- Asphyxiation: Being around car fumes for too long can deprive your body of clean oxygen, which can ultimately cause you to lose consciousness or die of suffocation.
- Loss of limbs: Power tools and equipment need to be handled safely, but sometimes accidents happen. One slip and fall with a saw cutter can cost you a body part.
Protect Your Employees and Auto Repair Shop With Insurance
When you own an auto repair shop, it’s crucial to have insurance in case of an emergency. If an employee gets hurt, then worker’s compensation will take care of them.
Beyond employee injury, your auto repair shop should also have insurance for a multitude of reasons:
- Theft
- Property damage due to fire, weather or vandalism
- Faulty workmanship or part
- Further damage to a customer’s car
- Employee crime
- Business interruption
Sanford Insurance offers multiple coverage options for Richmond auto repair shops that insure both your property and your employees. You can safeguard what’s important and have a plan in place in case something ever does occur.
Reach out today and see how we can protect your auto repair shop.