Stay compliant. Protect your bottom line. We have a combined 95 years of experience helping automobile dealers comply with EPA, IIP and OSHA regulations. Let our experts show you a new approach for managing compliance at your dealership. (562) 716-6100 cellyservices.com Spend less time on compliance issues and more time running your dealership. LET’S TALK! • Legal Fees and Fines: Companies may face lawsuits, regulatory fines or settlements, which can be financially draining. OSHA fines and penalties are $16,500 per violation and $165,000 for a willful violation. With nearly 40 years of experience in workplace safety, I am confident that OSHA will find a code violation for a serious accident, roping you into a regulatory morass of appeals, hearings and penalties. Trial lawyers are lurking in the waters, too. If they smell employer culpability that caused a serious accident or harm, they will bypass the workers’ comp judge under some novel theory and head to the Superior Court. • Equipment and Property Damage: Repairs and replacements for damaged tools, machinery or infrastructure can be costly. Downtime for equipment can create a backlog and loss of productivity. If a customer’s vehicle is damaged during the incident, associated costs may follow, such as providing a loaner until repairs are made. • Increased Insurance Premiums: Insurance costs often rise after an accident, adding immediate and long-term financial strain to the dealer. • Emotional and Psychological Impact: Accidents can lower morale, increase stress and lead to long-term emotional effects on employees. • Reputation Damage: A serious accident can hurt a company’s public image, making it harder to attract employees and even customers. Customers may demand a buyback if a vehicle is damaged during an accident at the dealership. This is an excellent framework for understanding why proactive workplace safety measures are a financial necessity and not merely compliance. Preventative measures like rigorous safety training, regular equipment maintenance and fostering a safety-conscious workplace culture can significantly reduce these risks. Companies that invest in safety upfront often find that their return on investment (ROI) outweighs the costs of handling accidents after they occur. DISCLAIMER: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only and are not to be considered as legal advice. Employers must consult their lawyer for legal matters and EPA/OSHA consultants for matters related to environmental health and safety. The article was authored by Sam Celly of Celly Services Inc., who has been helping automobile dealers across the United States comply with EPA and OSHA regulations for over 38 years. Sam is a certified safety professional (No. 16515) certified by the National Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Sam received his BE (1984) and MS (1986) in chemical engineering, followed by a JD from Southwestern University School of Law (1997). Sam is a member of the American Chemical Society (No. 31176063), American Industrial Hygiene Association (No. 124715) and National Association of Dealer Counsel (NADC). Sam also serves on the Board of Orange County American Industrial Hygiene Association and on the California Industrial Hygiene Council (CIHC). Celly Services newsletters can be accessed at www.epaoshablog.com. Your comments and questions are always welcome. Please send them to sam@cellyservices.com. NCDA.COM 23
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