boston safe shops auto shop pollution prevention thomas m. menino, mayor barbara ferrer, executive...
TRANSCRIPT
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
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