RGDA of NS says gas regs OK

RGDA of Nova Scotia Executive Director Graham Conrad

On July 1, Nova Scotia joined every other province east of Ontario and introduced gasoline-pricing regulations. There is currently interest in Ontario. In Nova Scotia, Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations is the government department responsible for managing the regulation requirements until the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board assumes control. The NS URB public hearings on Petroleum Product Pricing Regulations are over and the Board has made public its report with a couple of recommendations. For this reason, the URB will not assume management of the regulations until February 2007.

In January 2007, the Provincial Government will review the impact of regulations as well as review the changes recommended by the URB. As of November 1, all gasoline retailers in the province will have either signed on for pricing regulations or will have opted to stay with current supplier agreements. Those retailers opting for regulated margins will have minimums and maximums for self-serve and full serve. They are 4.0-5.5 ¢ litre S/S and 4.0-7.5 ¢ litre F/S.





Under regulations, in addition to retail margins, oil company margins are set at 6.0 ¢ litre maximum similar to pre regulation, so we are told by oil companies. Since all oil companies declined the opportunity to intervene or be cross examined at the URB hearings the public must accept what they tell us. The age old argument from Oil company claims that regulation eliminates competition must be weighed against the reality of dramatic business closures over the past three years which if allowed to continue would virtually eliminate competition and levels of service especially in rural areas of the province.

Regulations will now provide margin stability into running a retail gasoline outlet and will also help stem the dramatic number of closures. Many retailers say it will instill renewed confidence in investment within the Industry. In other words, regulation will create more stability, competition and help maintain or grow levels of full service offerings.


As of October 31, an RGDA survey from 211 of 323 non-company operated gasoline retailers throughout the province indicated:

Critics of regulations, other than oil companies, may not remember the extent to which the government went to encourage an industry driven solution to the problem and thereby eliminate the need for government intervention. Oil company refusals to effectively negotiate with retailers, as well as the best efforts of a government appointed mediator, failed to persuade oil companies to recognize the need to enable retailers to earn adequate margins to remain viable.

Oil companies created the perfect conditions for regulations and therefore have to accept full responsibility for the eventual outcome. It’s just that simple.
At the time of writing the article Shell, Irving and Petro-Canada have indicated they will enter into new cross-lease arrangements with retailers who have opted for regulated margins.

The RGDA acknowledges the progressive manner in which these oil companies choose to partner with their retailer network. As soon as the other oil companies realize the non-competitive position they are in, we are sure they will get on board as well. Indeed, gas regulations are right on target.
Submitted by The Retail Gasoline Dealers Association of Nova Scotia.

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Innovative Partnerships,
a model for success in NS!

The Nova Scotia Automotive Sector Council recently teamed up with Halifax Military Family Resource Centre and MacPhee Pontiac GM (Dartmouth, NS) to establish a new model for success. MacPhee Pontiac executives opened their minds to a new way of thinking. On October 27, the event team invited a small group of high school students with automotive career goals, a parent, and an adult in career transition, for a career awareness presentation and tour of the state-of-the-art dealership.





The participants were introduced to the 45 careers in the automotive industry, learned how important essential skills are in the workplace, followed by a two-hour tour through the service and collision centres. By keeping the group small, participants were able to infuse themselves into the work of the licensed technician. Technicians were asked to explain what diagnostic or mechanical tasks they were performing, what tools were being used and described a ‘day in the life of a technician’.





The tour was followed by an industry-sponsored luncheon that created an opportunity for participants to talk one-on-one with two certified technicians and apprentices. Employees provided insight into their experiences and answered participant questions. The Automotive Sector Council provided information on NSCC automotive programs, the Apprenticeship model and need for Mentorship in the industry.





A special thanks is extended to the Automotive Trades Association for sponsoring lunch. “The excitement that the group left with was contagious” says Corrie Robley, Project Manager Automotive Sector Council. “I have no doubt that the participants are now motivated to work in our industry. As one student summarized nicely “I’ll be back!”

The following week we received very positive feedback on the career event and learned that a participant applied for a customer service position at MacPhee’s. And that is music to our ears.

To learn more on how to replicate this model in your company, contact Corrie Robley, Automotive Sector Council: 1-877-860-3805. Become a military-friendly employer! Visit HireAMilitarySpouse.ca to learn more about Military and Industry Partnerships.

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What's new in Atlantica!
December/January 2007 edition

By Ed MacDonald Chair - Automotive Recyclers Association of Atlantic Canada

The Automotive Recyclers Association of Atlantic Canada held a very productive meeting in Truro this past month and several projects and activities were addressed and new challenges were brought to the table.

Branding and the process to effectively implement this process was a hot topic of discussion where it is estimated that over thirty percent of the vehicles are being improperly `branded.’ Vehicles that are obvious wrecks and should be set aside as non-repairable parts vehicles are being designated as repairable and in other instances vehicles that are easily repairable are designated as Non-Repairable. This adds to a lot of confusion and frustration for all stakeholders.

A draft proposal has been on the books for quite some time which is the template or guide to assist the designator in making the correct decision. All agreed that this proposal should be approved as quickly as possible. To this end, a meeting was held at Maritime Auto with Derek Covey of Coveys Auto Recyclers representing our Association, Morris Anderson Representing the Appraisers Association and Justin Murray, Director Atlantic IBC Investigative Services.





All of us have a vested interest in getting this resolved as soon as possible. We also agreed that a focused and concerted effort is required to finalize this process and a letter indicting the importance and necessity of this program is being developed and forwarded to all decision makers and interested parties. Car Heaven - this program in concert with our association, the Clean Air Foundation, The Canadian Diabetes Society and General Motors is going like gangbusters and it is estimated that our recyclers have processed well over six hundred vehicles since its inception.

That is a lot of cars. Everyone is pleased with the results and four more of our members have signed up to accept vehicles. We have approved a ten dollar bounty on all of these vehicles which will be utilized the association to assist in the administration of this and other programs. We are more than pleased to welcome Wayne Giles of Giles Auto Salvage to our association.

They immediately requested participation in the Car Heaven program and have shown a keen interest in actively participating in the association programs. How’s your Silver Bullets? - The mercury switches, commonly known as the ”silver bullet” is still actively being collected by our members in Atlantic Canada however a great deal more has to be done to convince our members to continue to collect these highly polluting items. Each member has received a self addressed return bottle for their collection and all is encouraged to continue. A listing of the vehicles containing these switches and locations will be available to all shortly.

There will be quite a number of articles and magazines published this month featuring our recycling industry including the Canadian Collision Repair Magazine believe this is a testament that we are a very progressive and professional organization fully integrated in the repair process. To say the least –we have come a long way.

To each and every one of you I wish to extend my very best wishes during the pending Holiday Season.

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I-CAR on proper eye protection

Safety glasses and goggles are able to protect the eyes from the majority of hazards in a repair facility. They are made from a strong polycarbonate material and do not break when hit by hard projectiles flying at high speeds. Normal prescription glasses are not impact resistant, so are not considered appropriate eye protection. There are prescription safety glasses available, as well as safety glasses with built-in bifocal lenses.

A typical solution is wearing safety glasses that fit over prescription glasses. Face shields are impact resistant, but face shields and welding helmets are designed more for protecting the face than the eyes and appropriate eye protection should always be worn under them. This is because there are sufficient gaps between the head and sides of a face shield or helmet where flying material can enter. Full-face respirators do cover all sides of the face, but may not be impact resistant, for example those for use in a spraybooth. If the respirator is only being used for painting, and there are no other hazards around, safety glasses are not necessary underneath.

The facility manager should assess all work areas and operations to determine the appropriate types of required eye protection. At minimum, safety glasses should be worn in work areas at all times, even if there is no immediate hazard. This will prevent forgetting to put them on when a hazard does arise. Other types of eye protection may be recommended for specific tasks.




Left - Watch for the safety eyewear code imprinted on the lens, showing that the eyewear is impact resistant. Right - Face shields should be located where they will be used.

Certification
When choosing safety glasses or other types of eye protection, ensure that they are certified for impact protection. Standards include ANSI Z87.1 for the United States, CSA Z94.3 for Canada, and AS/NZS 1337 for both Australia and New Zealand. The alphanumerical number should be marked somewhere on the equipment. This certifies that the lenses have been impact tested and provide adequate protection from flying debris.

The American National Standards Institute has recently updated the US standard, ANSI Z87.1-2003. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not require the new standard, many safety eyewear manufacturers have started phasing in the new requirements. One of the new requirements is indicating the level of impact protection. A plus sign (+) placed after the manufacturer logo or after “Z87” indicates high-impact protection. Another new requirement increases the side coverage area ten millimeters rearward. And another new requirement eliminates the minimum lens thickness of two millimeters for high-impact polycarbonate lenses.

Making the Correct Choice
Safety glasses equipped with side shields should be worn when cutting, grinding, striking metal, or where there’s the potential of flying debris. Face shields should be located where they will be used, such as near grinders. Protection against ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), or intense light is required when welding or using UV curing lamps. Ensure that eye protection is rated for UV protection when working in an area where a UV-curing lamp is being used. Tinted glasses do not necessarily provide protection against UV rays.

Look for a statement by the manufacturer that the lenses are rated for UV protection. Auto-dimming welding helmets should be rated for UV and IR protection, but they typically require the shade level to be manually adjusted. The shade level protects the eyes from the intensity of the light. The OSHA “Eye and Face Protection” Regulations Standard 1926.102 provides a list of appropriate shade numbers for various operations.

Conclusion
Getting in the habit of wearing safety glasses whenever in a shop area is the easiest and best protection for preventing serious eye injuries. Safety eyewear should be certified for impact resistance, a code that is stamped directly on the lens. More information on the type of safety eyewear for different tasks in a collision facility can be found in the I-CAR program “Hazardous Materials, Worker Safety, and Refinish Safety.” Watch for it in your area.