This page provides links to sources of information and guidance on health and safety in the motor vehicle repair (MVR) and associated industries.
Example risk assessments
HSE publications
Health and safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industries - HSG261 is a one-stop-shop for the motor vehicle repair (MVR) industry. It replaces 2 previous publications, Health and safety in motor vehicle repair (HSG67) and Health and safety in tyre and exhaust-fitting premises (HSG62), both published in the early 1990s. The publication reflects changes in the industry since then, including:
- air conditioning
- air bags
- hybrid vehicles
- compliant paints and spray guns
- Small and Medium Area Repair Techniques (SMART)
Other publications of use:
- Safe use and handling of flammable liquids - HSG140
- The storage of flammable liquids in containers - HSG51
- Workplace transport safety - HSG136
- Control of diesel exhaust emissions in the workplace - HSG187
HSE leaflets
- Working safely under motor vehicles being repaired - INDG434
- Reducing ill health and accidents in motor vehicle repair - INDG356(rev1) (2009)
- The motor vehicle repair checklist can now be found here.
COSHH
COSSH advice sheets for motor vehicle repair
Electrical safety
Do you use a steam/water pressure cleaner - INDG68
Flammable and explosive substances
- Safe working with LPG fuelled motor vehicles - INDG387
- Controlling fire and explosion risks in the workplace - INDG370
- Hot work on small tanks and drums - INDG314
- Safety in gas welding, cutting and similar processes - INDG297 (1999)
- Storing and handling airbags and seat belt pretensioners safely
Health substances
- Safety in isocyanate paint spraying - INDG388
- SMART paint spraying – How to control health and safety risks - INDG473
- Isocyanate paint spraying – Safely managing spray booths and rooms HSG276
- Safe working with vehicle air-conditioning systems - INDG349
- Benzene and you - INDG329
- Diesel engine exhaust emissions - INDG286
Manual handling
- Choosing a welding set? make sure you can handle it - (Includes welding set buyer's manual handling poster) - INDG390 (2003)
- Getting to grips with manual handling: A short guide for employers - INDG143
- Collecting and delivering vehicle tyres : A guide for employers tackling the risk of manual handling injuries
Slips, trips and falls
Workplace transport
Managing vehicle safety at the workplace: A short guide for employers - INDG199
Videos
- Spraying with a conventional gun
- Spraying with a HVLP gun with excessive air pressure
- Spraying with HVLP compliant spray gun
- Shows smoke circulating around a light fillet
- Spray booths and rooms clearance time demo
- Speeded up footage of smoke in spray room shows slow dispersal and random air movement
- Shows throw from a spray gun sufficient enough to instantly spread through booth
- Removing gloves without contaminating hands
- Do not lift your visor (on YouTube)
- Clearance of spray after spraying has stopped (on YouTube)
- Occupational asthma, a welder’s story (on YouTube)
Statistics relating to motor vehicle repair
Visit the National Archives for historical statistics on: