IAR Recyclers Newspress March / April 2015

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I’ve been busy getting I-CARE audits conducted which
means traveling around Iowa and spending time with
Iowa Auto Recyclers members. That is by far the best
part of my job. But it seems that the only thing easy
this past winter was the weather (except during our Hill
Day event!)
The conversation I’ve been having are mostly centered
on the huge drop in the metal market, the continued
barriers to acquiring salvage vehicles and the lack lus-
ter used auto parts sales. Which might sound like
same ole same ole but it seems to be having a more
devastating affect this year. I attribute it to the long
lasting downturn and the fact that many members have
already depleted their reserve funds such as the
crusher cars as scrap metal inventory or would rather
be holding crushers to wait out the market recovery.
Times are tough. So it strikes me as a good time to
remind members that slow times can be utilized to get
done some of those back burner items we never seem
to get to.
One of the topics I’ve been addressing with members
is the Safety Program. If you find you have slacked off
some from training then please delegate the job to an-
other staff member. Assigning the role of Safety Super-
visor to another employee is a good way to re-
invigorate your Safety Program with a fresh pair of
eyes. It also builds a true culture of safety if you rotate
the job every couple of years. Over time most of your
long term employees will have filled the role and the
shop will be that much better prepared in the event of
an inspection or an emergency.
Another Safety MUST DO is re-visit your chemical in-
ventory and update the list beyond just the one provid-
ed that includes the fluids being evacuated during the
dismantling process to include the chemical product
that you purchase and use at the facility. Now is the
time to clean this up as the Safety Data Sheets or
SDSs that will replace MSDSs in the future should start
showing up. Chemical manufacturers are require to
reformat the MDSD to SDS by June 2015 but I suspect
it will be a slower transition that OSHA planned. The
rule says you have to have your books updated by
June 2016 so getting your inventory accurate now will
be helpful in the transition. Then keep an eye on the
MSDS Library at
when you see it transition to SDS LIBRARY you’ll
know it is a good indication that SDS for our industry
are now available.
On the Environmental Program front, addressing the
storm water permit requirements is probably top of the
list for spring. The sample kits are going out soon so
watch for a shipment or call me to order a kit if you are
not on a regular sampling schedule through the I-
CARE program. New this year is the way in which we
will conduct pH monitoring. Previously we’ve collected
water and had the pH conducted at the laboratory.
Now we will be making a field analysis part of the regu-
lar process. Don’t worry it isn’t anything more than put-
ting litmus paper in the vial of water and recording
what color it turned. And you thought you’d never use
From the Desk of the Executive Director
Sue Speaking
Recyclers News Press Page 4