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The I-CAR Automotive Collision Repair Facility and Equipment Best Practice document focuses on the infrastructure and major equipment required to repair today's increasingly complex vehicles, while providing a consistent benchmark for repair facilities. But what about personal protective equipment (PPE)?
The I-CAR Automotive Collision Repair Facility And Equipment Best Practice establishes a practical baseline of facility, equipment, and operational requirements designed to help the collision repair industry understand the essential tools and equipment needed to perform complete, safe, and high-quality repairs.
When reviewing the Best Practice, you'll notice that some PPE, such as a supplied air respirator, is included as an example. This is because certain repair procedures cannot be performed safely or correctly without specialized PPE that is directly tied to the equipment or process. However, the intent of the Best Practice was never to serve as a comprehensive guide to all required personal protective equipment.
Items such as safety glasses, welding gloves, cut-resistant gloves, hearing protection, respirators, and disposable nitrile or latex gloves remain essential for protecting technicians and ensuring a safe work environment. These forms of PPE are fundamental to everyday collision repair operations and should always be available and used whenever the task requires them. Their importance cannot be overstated, as they help reduce the risk of injury and exposure to workplace hazards while supporting safe repair practices.
The industry intentionally chose to keep the Best Practice focused on the major facility and equipment requirements rather than creating an exhaustive list of PPE for every repair process. Because PPE requirements are already extensively governed by OSHA regulations and can vary depending on the specific task being performed, including every applicable item could have made the document unnecessarily complex and potentially confusing. Instead, the Best Practice is intended to complement — not replace — existing safety regulations, with the expectation that repair facilities will continue to comply with all applicable OSHA requirements while maintaining appropriate PPE for every operation.