Dear Members,

We hope this magazine finds you well and thriving in your automotive dealership businesses. Today, we want to bring your attention to a critical aspect of your operations that often goes unnoticed: employee safety. As you know, the well-being of your staff is paramount, and as an automotive dealership association, it is our responsibility to help find the best resources to help you protect your employees from accidents and injuries. We have found that in ComplyAuto Safety and partnered with them to bring you their solutions that will completely change the playing field. We asked them about some of the top issues that dealers face on a daily basis and how their processes improve on them.

1. Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Management Is Difficult

Dealers across the country have complained about their outdated SDS binders. It’s tough to manage manually as they are trying to do business in an industry that changes so quickly. Even so, a physical item to manage in a digital world is unwieldy and antiquated.

ComplyAuto Safety’s simplified SDS management system makes this all extremely efficient. They have a database of over 10 million SDS in an online catalog that dealers can choose from and are constantly adding to them. Additionally, dealers can automatically create and print container labels, add and organize the chemicals as they see fit for easy access, and even create their own custom SDS. Best of all, anyone in the organization can access this catalog and update as needed at any time. No more losing the binder or asking where it is.

2. Daily Inspections Are Time Consuming and Inefficient

Given its importance, there is no way around performing daily inspections. Dealers have identified daily inspections as one of the most time-consuming action items that they need to do because the process relies on a manual process that is subject to human error: Did we do the inspection correctly? Did we remember to do the inspections? How do we know it was actually done?

ComplyAuto Safety has leveraged technology in a fantastic way. By utilizing unique QR codes that dealers can print and affix next to what needs to be inspected, employees can scan the QR codes to complete the inspection. There is also an automatic notification as to which items need to be inspected and a log of all activities for demonstrable compliance (which OSHA loves to see). Additionally, the QR codes apply to the SDS. Dealers can print and place them next to the applicable chemicals and quickly scan them on any mobile phone to see the details.

3. Online Safety Trainings Are Terrible and I’m Not Sure Who Is Supposed To Do What

“It’s something we just have to do” is the prevalent response from dealers when talking about online training courses and dealers simply feel like they need to check a box. The training course can also be overwhelming. Dealers are hit with them all at once and are left on their own to figure out which employee needs to do what. Even if employees do complete them, there is no guarantee that the information will be retained or remembered if someone from OSHA starts quizzing them (and that has happened).

ComplyAuto Safety has a team of certified instructional designers who are formally trained in adult learning to create their growing library of training videos. Not only are they more fun and engaging, there is a formula to ensure instruction retention and recall by using a series of interactive exercises, pop quizzes, and drag-and-drop functions. You will actually look forward to the lockout/tagout and hearing protection training courses! Enrollment into these videos can be set automatically by job function and customizable by job title so you can take the guesswork out of it.

4. Policies Are Constantly Outdated and Managing Them per Employee Is Tedious

Not only does the dealership need multiple formalized policies, the policies need to be acknowledged by the relevant employees showing that they viewed it and understood it. Depending on the number of required policies, the number of employees, and the functions that they perform, managing these policies can be uniquely difficult.

ComplyAuto Safety has collaborated with Fisher Phillips to create 50-state legal policy builders that are automatically updated when laws and regulations change (which is also tracked by Fisher Phillips). Additionally, the policies are integrated with the training courses so in true “two birds, one stone” fashion, employees who sit for the required fire extinguisher training course will acknowledge and sign the dealership’s Fire Prevention Plan.

5. Streamlining Compliance With OSHA Standards Is Daunting

Navigating the extensive regulations set forth by OSHA is overwhelming. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in severe penalties and legal consequences. ComplyAuto Safety simplifies the process by providing a user-friendly platform that guides you through OSHA compliance requirements. The software ensures that your dealership maintains accurate records of safety inspections, training sessions, and incident reports, helping you stay compliant with OSHA standards. With ComplyAuto Safety, you can confidently demonstrate your commitment to safety during OSHA inspections and audits.

Other Benefits of ComplyAuto Safety

1. Backed by World-Class Legal Expertise
ComplyAuto Safety has collaborated with Fisher Phillips, a renowned national law firm with one of the largest automotive practices for OSHA/EHS in the nation, to deliver the ultimate peace of mind to dealers in all of ComplyAuto’s products and services.
2. Reducing Insurance Claim Counts
Accidents and injuries in the workplace can lead to increased insurance claims, which can have a significant impact on your dealership’s bottom line. By implementing ComplyAuto Safety, you take proactive steps to prevent accidents and minimize potential risks. The software’s comprehensive safety features enable you to identify potential hazards, provide timely safety training to employees, and track incidents effectively. By reducing the number of accidents and injuries, you can significantly lower insurance claim counts and potentially secure more favorable insurance premiums. This not only safeguards your employees but also helps protect your dealership’s financial stability.

OSHA enforces strict regulations to ensure the well-being of employees, and non-compliance can result in substantial fines and penalties. Here are the top five OSHA serious violations of 2022 and the associated fines:

1. Fall Protection — Failure to provide fall protection equipment and systems: The violation of fall protection standards resulted in fines averaging $4,936 per citation, with an average total penalty of $14,484 per inspection.
2. Hazard Communication — Failure to provide a comprehensive hazard communication program: Violations related to hazard communication had average fines of $4,161 per citation, with an average total penalty of $8,196 per inspection.
3. Scaffolding — Inadequate scaffolding safety measures: Violations related to scaffolding safety resulted in average fines of $3,965 per citation, with an average total penalty of $8,105 per inspection.
4. Respiratory Protection — Failure to provide appropriate respiratory protection equipment and training: The average fine for respiratory protection violations was $3,828 per citation, with an average total penalty of $6,850 per inspection.
5. Machine Guarding — Insufficient machine guarding measures to prevent employee injuries: Violations related to machine guarding had average fines of $3,566 per citation, with an average total penalty of $7,390 per inspection.

To learn more about ComplyAuto Safety and how it can benefit your dealership, we encourage you to reach out to their representatives at ComplyAuto.com for a personalized demonstration or visit ComplyAuto at the convention. Let’s work together to make safety a top priority and ensure the continued success of our automotive dealership community.

Stay safe and successful!

Bruce Knudsen
Executive Vice President
Montana Auto Dealers Association