Author: Hao Nguyen, Senior Product and Regulatory Counsel

The rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EV) has given lithium-ion batteries a new level of scrutiny. OEMs are now more hands-on in their approach to understand, and sometimes influence, how dealerships across the country manage these heavy battery packs safely and efficiently. Most don’t realize that these alternative sources of energy in the service department is not a novel concept because they have long been a familiar presence in your service bays in the form of an electric forklift, electric pallet jack, golf cart, and even ride-on floor scrubber. This article will identify this unique hazard and discuss what dealerships can do today to mitigate their risk of these types of emergencies in their repair facility. 

Earlier this year, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill that requires opioid antagonists to be present and ready to administer at all worksites that are required to maintain a first aid kit under federal OSHA standards.

OSHA’s first aid requirements are often a source of uncertainty for employers, and dealerships are no exception. Questions frequently arise about how many first aid kits are “adequate,” whether cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) must be included in training, or if employers should invest in automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced updates to OSHA’s penalty framework that could result in substantial savings for employers. This is the most employer-friendly shift in OSHA enforcement policy in years, placing an emphasis on fixing issues quickly and a history of hazard mitigation efforts.

By Hao Nguyen Senior Product and Regulatory Counsel As I was driving to visit a dealership in Central California recently,