AASP-MN News September 2016

September 2016

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AASP-MN News

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CONTENTS AASP-MN News is the official publication of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota, Inc. 1970 Oakcrest Ave., Suite 102 • Roseville, MN 55113 Phone: 612-623-1110 • Fax: 612-623-1122 email: aasp@aaspmn.org • website: aaspmn.org. To keep its readers better informed, AASP-MN News allows its columnists to fully express their opinions. All views expressed are not necessarily those of the publication. AASP-MN News is published by Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. © 2016 All rights reserved. Cover image © www.istockphoto.com.

AASP of Minnesota is an association of independently-owned automotive service businesses and industry suppliers dedicated to improving the state’s automotive service industry and the success of its members.

AASP-MN BOARD MEMBERS

Vol. 24 No. 9

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE .........................................................................6 Are You Ready to Get Involved?

by Greg Kasel, AAM, AASP-MN President LEGISLATIVE UPDATE .............................................................................7 Primary Results Oust Veteran Legislators

by Kevin Walli, AASP-MN Lobbyist

2016 - 2017 PRESIDENT Greg Kasel, AAM

LOCAL NEWS .......................................................................................8 MECH XCHANGE AND BODY SHOP SESSION REGISTRATION FORM ......................10

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Tom Gleason

NATIONAL NEWS ..................................................................................12

SECRETARY-TREASURER Wayne Watson

DEG ESTIMATING TIPS ..........................................................................15

COLLISION DIVISION DIRECTOR Will Latuff MECHANICAL DIVISION DIRECTOR Mars Overlee ASSOCIATE DIVISION DIRECTOR Dave Bock

COMPLETE HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL & SAFETY SERVICES (C.H.E.S.S.) ............18 Give Us a Hand

by Janet L. Keyes, MS, CIH and Carol A. Keyes, MA, CSP CASH IN ON YOUR MEMBERSHIP!..............................................................22 Lower Your Insurance Premiums!

COLLISION SEATS Jim Siegfried, AAM Bruce Tschida, AAM MECHANICAL SEAT Carl Thomas

STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Judell Anderson, CAE, AAM

UPCOMING EVENTS September 27, 2016 Mech XChange IDENTIFIX Roseville

October 12, 2016 Body Shop Session Grumpy’s Bar & Grill Roseville

April 13, 2017 AASP-MN Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference Doubletree by Hilton Bloomington Bloomington

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Jodi Pillsbury MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Tom Kluver PUBLISHED BY: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 244 Chestnut St., Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110 PHONE: 973-667-6922 • FAX: 973-235-1963 PUBLISHER Thomas Greco (thomas@grecopublishing.com) SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli (alicia@grecopublishing.com) EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Joel Gausten (joel@grecopublishing.com) EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Chloe Durante (chloe@grecopublishing.com) CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lea Velocci (lea@grecopublishing.com) OFFICE MANAGER Donna Greco (donna@grecopublishing.com) www.grecopublishing.com

For more information, contact the AASP-MN office at 612-623-1110 or visit the Association’s website, www.aaspmn.org.

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX AmeriPride ................................................7 Axalta Coating Systems ............................OBC Blue Net, Inc. ............................................6 Buerkle Hyundai ........................................16 Choice Auto Rentals ..................................20 Dentsmart ..................................................15 FinishMaster ....................................................21 Inver Grove Honda / Inver Grove Toyota..........13 Jack McClard ............................................4 Keystone....................................................4 Libson Twin City........................................20

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Maplewood Toyota ....................................21 Mills Parts Center......................................16 Morrie’s ....................................................9 Motorwerks BMW......................................IBC MPA ............................................................................11 Rosedale Chevrolet....................................17 Roseville Chrysler ....................................16 Straight & Square ......................................13 Toyota Group ............................................3 West Bend Insurance ................................14

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Are You Ready to Get Involved?

by Greg Kasel, AAM AASP-MN President

I hope that as you are reading this article, you are ending the busy summer season on a high note.

In just a few short months, the 2016 elections will be completed and we will all get on with our lives and get down to business. I am grateful that there aren’t any debates, tax returns to disclose, campaigning or name calling for people who want to run for President of AASP-MN. The main requirement is simply to get involved by serving on one of its Advisory Committees and then on the Board of Directors. If you would like to get more involved, contact the AASP-MN office to learn more.

The biggest endeavor this year for AASP-MN began with the launch of the MNCARS campaign. I am sure that everyone that reads this has, at one time or another, struggled with finding employees. This campaign is designed to attract students into careers in the automotive industry. It is aimed at students and parents to help clear up any misconceptions about the industry and also provides teachers and counselors with information about the many

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opportunities in the automotive industry. Visit www.carcareers.org for more information about this exciting campaign.

AASP-MN is hosting a Mech XChange on Tuesday, September 27, from 4:00 – 6:00pm at IDENTIFIX in Roseville and a Body Shop Session on Wednesday, October 12, from 11:00am – 1:30pm at Grumpy’s Bar & Grill in Roseville. I hope to see you there!

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: AUGUST 2016 Duffy’s Auto Service St. Paul Park

AASP-MN News

Quality Car Care Cambridge

Shafer Automotive & Truck Repair Shafer

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Primary Results Oust Veteran Legislators

by Kevin Walli, AASP-MN Lobbyist

August Primary Election voters rejected the re-election bids of four veteran State Legislators – two Republicans and two Democrats.

On the Republican side, a challenger from the right captured the party endorsement from Incumbent Republican Representative Tom Hackbarth in District 31B, which includes Elk River and Northwestern Anoka County. Cal Bahr will now be the Republican Candidate in November.

Bahr is a businessman from Bethel who defeated Hackbarth, who represented the District for the past 20 years.

In a Republican Senate Primary, Senator Sean Nienow was defeated by Mark Koran, a financial advisor from North Branch, for the Republican slot on the November General Election Ballot. Koran, like Bahr, defeated the incumbent for party endorsement which translated into success in the Primary. Nienow had served the District for two terms, but had some much-publicized financial problems in recent years which contributed to his defeat.

The Republican races bear watching in the coming years. The two incumbents who were defeated in Primaries lost to more conservative Republicans. Even Republican Speaker Kurt Daudt faced a primary challenge this year from a candidate who was rather far right on the political spectrum. In the end, the Speaker prevailed by a comfortable margin, but it was still unusual for a party leader to face such a challenge.

On the Democratic side, the Primary winners found their strength in the communities in which they live.

In Senate District 60B, Ilhan Omar defeated Representative Phyllis Kahn, who had served the District for 44 years.

Representative Kahn had recently been recognized for tying the record for longest-serving legislator. Ms. Omar was born in Somalia and moved to the United States at age 12. Rather than partisan politics, Ms. Omar will be motivated by the needs of the community that she has been

elected to represent.

House District 59A, also in Minneapolis, produced a similar result. Representative Joe Mullery, who had represented his District for 20 years, was defeated by Fue Lee. The 24-year old was born in a refugee camp in Thailand. Mr. Lee has been working as a clerk in the Office of the Secretary of State. He, like Ms. Omar, is likely to be motivated by an interest in ensuring that his community concerns are heard and better understood at the Legislature.

In all four cases, the likelihood is that these legislative seats will not switch from one party to the other. The two Republican seats have been long-term Republican Districts, just as the two DFL seats have

AASP-MN News

been long-term DFL Districts.

The interesting issue is the motivation for the challengers. On the Republican side, there seems to be a push to be more ideologically pure on conservative issues, where the new Democrats are seeking a foothold for minority community interests.

SPECIAL SESSION BREAKDOWN As this edition of AASP-MN News goes to press, negotiations between Governor Dayton, House Speaker Kurt Daudt and Senator Tom Bakk have broken down, with the Governor declaring that he will not call a Special Session. The agenda was to be limited to two bills. A Tax Bill with business tax relief was to be re-passed continued on page 19

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LOCAL NEWS

AASP-MN’S NIGHT OUT WITH THE ST. PAUL SAINTS 102 people attended AASP-MN’s outing at the St. Paul Saints game, Wednesday, August 24, at CHS Field in St. Paul. Unfortunately, the Saints pitching staff couldn’t hold a six run lead as they lost 10-8 to the Wichita Wingnuts.

AASP-MN member Carl Thomas of Lancer Service Auto Care (St. Paul) hosted a tailgate party prior to the game and provided free parking for those that attended. “The event was a great way to get fellow AASPMN members and their families together for a night of fun and relaxation,” said Executive Director, Judell Anderson. “It was a hit!”

AASP-MN TO HOST PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING & NETWORKING EVENTS In response to member demand for more opportunities to connect and share knowledge and experiences with other members, AASP-MN has two peer-to-peer learning and networking events scheduled this fall.

The first, a Mech XChange targeted for mechanical-division members, will take place on September 27, from 4:00 - 6:00pm at IDENTIFIX in Roseville, MN. In this session, attendees will have the opportunity to take part in two roundtable discussions: Managing the Customer Experience and Shop Scheduling and Workflow.

Collision division members will gather on Wednesday, October 12 for a Body Shop Session. This event will take place from 11:00am - 1:30pm at Grumpy’s Bar & Grill

High School & College Collision Career Fair Wednesday, September 28th 3M Corporate Office

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in Roseville. The cost to attend is $25 per person, which includes lunch.

In this session, attendees will learn about OEM certification programs that are becoming more and more prominent in the collision industry. There can be extensive costs and requirements associated with joining these programs, and doing so could be beneficial for some shops and a waste of time for others.

Participants at both of these events will also receive a report on AASP-MN’s current initiatives and upcoming events. Anyone in the automotive service industry is welcome to attend—membership is not required.

For additional information or to register, see page 10.

ON-THE-AIR AND ONLINE, PROMOTING OUR PARTICIPATING MEMBER SHOPS AND INDUSTRY! AASP-MN’s “Get to Know Your Neighborhood Auto Repair Pro” is an industry marketing campaign that promotes the benefits of doing business with independent repair shops. The primary message is that independents can perform virtually any repair or service while also maintaining closer, more lasting relationships with customers and community. The program, now in its 8th year, has reached millions of people.

This year’s campaign kicked off in April with commercials running on-air and streaming online on KQRS-FM, 92.5 FM. The ads were heard Friday-Monday through August.

Beginning in July through mid-October, the commercials run on-air and streaming on KTCZ 97.1 FM. Those ads can be heard on weekday evenings and weekends.

From late August to mid-October, the commercials will also run on-air and streaming on WCCO-AM 830, and can be heard on weekday evenings and weekends.

Over 2,900 commercial messages air in total in 2016. Each participating shop will be mentioned approximately 130 times during the course of the campaign.

Participating shops are listed on the Neighborhood Auto Repair Pro website, www.autorepairpro.net.

For more information about the Get to Know Your Neighborhood Auto Repair Pro advertising campaign, contact the AASPMN office at 612-623-1110 or visit www.aaspmn.org.

REMINDER: MINNESOTA'S MINIMUM WAGE INCREASED AUGUST 1ST Effective August 1, 2016, Minnesota employers are subject to a new minimum wage: • $9.50 per hour for large employers (i.e., any enterprise with an annual gross revenue of at least $500,000); and • $7.75 per hour for small employers (i.e., any enterprise with an annual gross revenue of less than $500,000), 90-day training wage for workers under the age of 20, and youth wage for workers under the age of 18.

SAVE THE DATE: AASP-MN Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference Thursday, April 13, 2017 Doubletree by Hilton Bloomington 7800 Normandale Blvd. Bloomington, MN 55439

THANK YOU 2016 AASP-MN SPONSORS Gold Sponsors Auto Value Parts Stores/APH Autoshop Solutions Axalta Coating Systems CBIZ AiA Meadowbrook Insurance PPG Automotive Finishes United Fire Group Silver Sponsors aaa Auto Parts Dent Impressions Enterprise Rent-A-Car LKQ/Keystone Automotive Lowell's Performance Coatings & Equipment Midwest Parts Advantage Mitchell International O'Reilly Auto Parts PAM's Auto, Inc. R.O. Writer Suburban Chevrolet Other Sponsors 3M AASP National Bill Smith Fund Choice Auto Rental Dentsmart Paintless Dent Removal FinishMaster Global Finishing Solutions Hertz Corporation Insurance Brokers of MN / Jensen Agency Kukui Corporation Net Driven Sherwin Williams Single Source, Inc. Valspar

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September 2016 9

PLEASE JOIN

FOR..

Mech XChange

Body Shop Session

Connect, Share, Learn

OEM Certification: Is it for you?

Tuesday, September 27, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

IDENTIFIX 2714 Patton Rd. Roseville, MN

Wednesday, October 12, 11:00 am – 1:30 p.m.

Grumpy’s Bar & Grill 2801 Snelling Ave. Hamline Room (lower level) Roseville, MN

In this session, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in two roundtable discussions: Managing the Customer Experience: Every interaction that your customer has during the course of doing business with your shop – from scheduling the initial appointment to delivery of the repaired vehicle and everything in between – will impact their satisfaction and loyalty to your business. Successful shops control and manage the little things, as well as the big things, throughout the entire customer experience. Come prepared to share your ideas and best practices for managing your customers’ experience.

Shop Scheduling & Workflow: Unsold production time is one of the biggest unrecoverable losses in our industry. To succeed, all shops must manage their workflow efficiently. This starts with scheduling and includes systems, processes and operational philosophies for maximizing productivity and moving cars through the shop.

Learn other shops’ tried-and true methods for tightening up the scheduling and workflow process and increasing profits.

You’ll also have some time to meet and visit informally with your fellow colleagues who own/work in independently-owned mechanical repair shops. This is your chance to “pick the brains” of some of the best operators in the area about an opportunity, problem or challenge you’re dealing with in your shop. This will, undoubtedly, be the most valuable part of the Mech XChange event!

OEM certification programs are increasingly prominent in the collision industry. The trend started with high-end vehicle manufacturers, but has quickly caught fire with mainline OEMs. But there can be extensive costs and requirements associated with joining the programs. Doing so could be beneficial for some shops, and a waste of time for others.

AASP-MN has assembled a panel of local collision shop owners who have gone down this road and are willing to share their “lessons learned” in the process. Certifications represented will be: Ford, Nissan, FCA (Fiat Chrysler), Honda, Infiniti, GM, Hyundai, Audi, Mercedes Benz, VW and Porsche. George Maris, American Honda Motor Co. Collision Parts Market Manager, North Central zone, will also be in attendance to share a manufacturer’s perspective.

Attend this session to find out about their experiences, get your questions answered and determine if OEM certification is a good fit for your shop.

Participants will also receive a report on AASP-MN’s current initiatives and upcoming events.

Please RSVP by September 23: Call 612-623-1110 or email aasp@aaspmn.org.

$25 registration fee includes lunch.

Please RSVP to aasp@aaspmn.org

by Friday, October 7.

We look forward to seeing you at the Body Shop Session!

We look forward to seeing you at the Mech XChange!

Body Shop Session and Mech XChange are open to all owners/managers of mechanical and collision repair shops in the area.

You don’t have to be an AASP-MN member to attend. So, feel free to pass this information along to a shop colleague and invite them to attend.

Attend these events if you want to stay up-to-speed and offer input on local and national industry issues, events and activities.

Attend these events if you want to get to know, visit and share ideas with your colleagues in the auto repair industry.

Attend these events if you want to be on the cutting edge of what’s happening in the collision and mechanical repair industry!

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NATIONAL NEWS

FOUR OEMS NOW RECOMMEND PRE- AND POST-REPAIR SCANS In a July bulletin, Toyota stated, “Considering the fact that a capable scan tool is the only way to identify some DTCs, Toyota requires that repairers perform a ‘Health Check’ diagnostic scan if a vehicle has sustained damage as a result of a collision that may affect electrical systems. Additionally, Toyota strongly recommends that repairers perform a ‘Health Check’ diagnostic scan before and after every repair to identify and document DTCs.” Honda also issued a position statement in July that said, “All vehicles involved in a collision* must have the following minimum diagnostic scans, inspections, and/or calibrations done to avoid improper repair: • A preliminary diagnostic scan during the repair estimation phase to determine what Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) may be present, so proper repairs may be included.

• A post repair diagnostic scan to confirm that no DTCs remain.

- Any repair that requires disconnection of electrical components in order to perform the repair will require a post-repair diagnostic scan to confirm if the component is reconnected properly and functioning.

- Damage that requires body parts replacement will always require a post-repair diagnostic scan.

*A collision is defined as damage that exceeds minor outer panel cosmetic distortion.”

Fiat-Chrysler and Nissan have issued similar statements this summer and representatives from General Motors and Audi confirmed at NACE that forthcoming position statements from their companies would be similar to scanning positions published by Nissan, Honda, Toyota and FCA. OEM COLLISION POSITION STATEMENTS ADDED TO OEM1STOP.COM Major refresh of the popular website gives repairers easier access to key automaker position statements and other important repair information The popular OEM repair information website OEM1Stop.com has been improved and re-launched, now including for the first time automaker position statements on important collision repair issues.

The site, which is operated by a coalition of automakers known as the OEM Collision Repair Roundtable, Inc., was introduced in 2008 in response to collision industry calls for easier access to important OEM collision repair information. Since then, the site has provided repairers a “one-stop” source for that information by offering direct links to the collision and mechanical

repair websites of close to 40 automaker brands; and it’s been a hit with the industry, with just under 80,000 visits in 2015, an increase of 70 percent since 2010.

Over the last few years, however, as vehicles—and the materials and technologies used to make them—have become more complex, automakers have released a great deal of additional collision repair information, such as position statements on key repair questions. Repair technicians set on following OEM repair recommendations and procedures, along with the industry associations representing them, have continued to seek out and utilize the new information to help make proper repairs the first time, but it had once again become difficult to find at times.

OEM Roundtable members are hoping the new OEM1Stop.com will help resolve that problem. The site now features a page dedicated specifically to OEM position statements, with common parts- and repair procedure-related topics called out—such as structural parts, salvage airbags, clip repairs, wheel reconditioning and vehicle repair scanning - and each OEM statement in that category listed for easy access.

In addition, most of the OEMs now have their own dedicated page on the site, allowing each a place to list their collision repair positions and offer other important repair-related materials. Ford, for instance, in addition to its position statements, has included its F-150 repair instruction sheets, and current and back issues of its On Target collision repair newsletter.

“OEM1Stop has proven to be a tremendous resource for repairers seeking the latest OEM collision and mechanical repair information, but the addition of automaker position statements is something the industry has asked for, and we think it’s an important enhancement that will make the site that much more valuable for shops intent on fixing collision-damaged vehicles right the first time,” said Gary Ledoux, assistant national manager of wholesale parts marketing at American Honda and current chairman of the OEM Roundtable.

New OEM positions and other information will be added to the site as they are made available, so repairers are urged to check back often.

Meanwhile, the OEM Roundtable’s other website— CrashRepairInfo.com—continues to be an easy-to-use resource shops can make available to their customers, offering collision repair basics and other information intended to help guide them through the often challenging and frustrating collision repair process.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Answer: Gloves with paint on the inside, indicating contamination inside the glove.

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ESTIMATING TIPS Blind Spot Detection Some vehicles come equipped with a blind spot detection system. This system may require a sensor to be located in the bumper of the vehicle. Aiming the radar may be necessary after replacement and this operation is not included with the bumper overhaul. You must select the “Aim blind spot radar” from the additional operations.

CCC Footnotes and Headnotes It’s important to review the footnotes and headnotes in CCC One as they provide valuable information for the repair and estimate process. In DEG inquiry 9123, there was a footnote added to CCC that states the quarter glass is a non-reusable part. Also, the footnotes take precedence over the estimating guide. The headnote, as well, could show valuable information like additional R&I labor times and refinish times.

Update to MOTOR Estimating Guide MOTOR has updated the Guide to Estimating and the MOTOR RACE guide. These can be found on the DEG website along with the previous two versions. Just a reminder that any additions to the update will be shown in blue. A couple of highlights from the update: 1. Many OEMs recommend a pre- and post-repair diagnostic scan on all vehicles involved in a collision that could reveal

pre-accident or accident-related damage. Please refer to OEM position statement and repair procedures for more information.

2. Due to the different types of welding equipment used in the collision repair industry, labor times for welded replaced parts do not include equipment manufacturer procedural steps for welder set-up and/or welding tests and preparation. Each welding machine manufacturer may have its own unique configurations and set-up processes. Additionally, there may be vehicle-specific variables that may increase or decrease the amount of welding machine set-up time and pre-weld preparation.

MOTOR suggests using an on-the-spot evaluation to determine an appropriate set-up and preparation time.

Part Transfer in Mitchell Transferring a welded, riveted or bonded bracket, brace or reinforcement is a not-included operation in Mitchell per DEG inquiry 9403. This can also be found in the Mitchell estimating guide on page P4.

Tinted Clear Coat or 4-stage Refinish in CCC A 4-stage refinish may require additional operations that are not included in CCC One. In DEG inquiry 7945 CCC states: “In general a 4-Stage formula will require the application of a ground coat in addition to the base coat and mid coat application while others may use a tinted clear coat in addition to the final clear coat (non-tinted). The use of a ground coat or tinted clear coat has not been considered in MOTOR’s THREESTAGE FINISHES (Base/Mica/Clear Coat) and is not included.”

Note: The estimating databases are all intended to be used as a GUIDE ONLY - it is important to remember that the auto body professional performing the repair is in a position to thoroughly inspect, diagnose and identify the methodology and their unique cost of the vehicle damage repair.You can view these tips and others on the DEG website,WWW.DEGWEB.ORG.

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COMPLETE HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL & SAFETY SERVICES (C.H.E.S.S.)

By Janet L. Keyes, MS, CIH and Carol A. Keyes, MA, CSP

Give Us A Hand

I know what you’re doing right now.

You’re reading this - and turning the pages, a task that is easy because you have working hands. But what if you didn’t?

How would you turn on light switches if your hand was bandaged up? How would you swipe your phone’s screen? Tie your

shoes? Button your shirt?

In 2014, 13 percent of all workplace injuries reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics involved hands. Eight percent of the cases resulting in a month or more off of work were hand-related. Seventy-four percent of the injuries where a body part

was caught in something resulted in hand damage, and 21 percent of all hand injuries were from a hand being caught in something. The most common injuries: cuts from machinery.

The problems we’ve seen: • An employee tried to stop a fan belt with his hand. He lost the tip of his finger.

• An employee used a single edge razor blade to cut plastic straps. He cut towards himself, resulting in a laceration that required over 10 stitches.

• An employee was compressing a coil spring, when it snapped and broke his finger.

• An employee was handling a piece of sheet metal. It slipped, deeply cutting his hand and forearm, slicing tendons and nerves. He still has all of his fingers, but he can no longer make a fist.

Were any of these avoidable? Yes. Are they expensive? Yes. OSHA estimates that one laceration can have costs of nearly $20,000. With a 3 percent profit margin, you’d need to make an additional $760,000 in sales, to make up for the income you’ve lost from that injury.

How can you and your workers protect their hands?

• Guard equipment. Anything with exposed moving parts or pulleys should be guarded.

• Turn off and lock out equipment.

Control hazardous energy. If the worker who lost his finger tip to a fan belt had waited for the belt to come to a complete stop, instead of grabbing it while it was still moving, he’d still have all 10 finger tips.

• Require the use of the right tools for the job, and that tools be kept in good condition. A razor blade might be a convenient way to cut a strap,

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but it isn’t designed for that. Use a safety knife instead. Instead of reaching into an engine compartment to retrieve a fallen bolt, use a magnetic pole.

• Provide appropriate gloves.

Mechanics’ gloves are great for preventing abrasions and might provide some protection against a hot exhaust pipe, but won’t protect against chemical exposure. Nitrile gloves protect against isocyanates, but won’t work if employees are rinsing paint guns in lacquer thinner. Foil laminate gloves protect against thinner, but make it hard to pick up small parts. Electricians’ gloves are good for protection against shock, but a pinhole leak renders them ineffective. And if you’re working with rotating parts, no gloves at all are usually best.

As the employer, you have the responsibility to provide appropriate personal protective equipment for

your employees. That includes providing appropriate gloves.

• Encourage your workers to leave rings and watches at home or in their lockers. More than one technician has a ring-shaped burn, because his gold ring came in contact with a battery terminal – or a wrench touched both a battery terminal and his ring.

If you have questions about hand safety, personal protective equipment, hazard prevention, handling worker injuries, OSHA grants, or general safety issues, call CHESS at (651) 481-9787 or email us at CHESS@chess-safety.com.

This article is intended to provide general information (no advice) about current safety topics. To discuss your specific concerns and how CHESS may help, please contact CHESS at 651-481-9787 or chess@chess-safety.com.

AASP-MN News

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE continued from page 7

with some corrections, and a State Bonding Bill for public infrastructure such as roads and bridges, airports, wastewater facilities and university buildings.

Ultimately, leaders were unable to reach agreement on funding for the Southwest Light Rail project and this caused negotiations to collapse.

Now, the bonding and tax measures will have to be brought up in the 2017 Session. This will complicate the legislative agenda, which would have normally been focused primarily on setting the state budget for the next two-year cycle.

AASP-MN will be supporting passage of the business property tax reduction for small businesses which was to have been one of the key provisions of the Tax Bill.

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LIKE AASP-MN ON FACEBOOK! facebook.com/aaspmn

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CASH IN ON YOUR MEMBERSHIP!

Lower Your Insurance Premiums!!!

Mechanical and collision repair shops owners have to carry property and liability insurance coverage on their business. Without proper or adequate insurance, the business is at risk of not being sufficiently covered and being held accountable for any (potentially) negative occurrences.

Though it is necessary for the auto shop owner to carry proper insurance on several parts of its business, sometimes the premiums can be significantly steep. It’s not unusual for shops to have annual or even monthly premium expenses that run well into the thousands of dollars. Here are some things a shop owner can do to lower business insurance premiums:

Deductibles Though it sounds obvious, consider raising your deductibles not only on property insurance, but on your automobile comp and collision coverages, your automobile Personal Injury Protection (medical portion or "no fault" portion of your auto insurance) and even on your Workers’ Comp. If your premiums aren't large enough, these may not be worth it, but consider doing them all at the same time and see what savings you can accumulate. (This is also a great strategy on your personal insurance.) People often check on deductible savings, but dismiss it because it’s small. If

you stack up the savings on your personal and your business, it may be worth it.

The Employees Ensure that all of the employees who work on vehicles or drive company vehicles have good driving records. Avoiding accidents will affect your ability to get cheaper auto and work comp rates. Proper education and training on specialty vehicles such as tow trucks will also help.

Keep it Lit Always maintain and ensure proper lighting throughout the shop’s premises. Make sure lighting is visible, especially at the entranceways and doors. This deters would-be burglars and may help avoid slip-and-fall accidents for both customers and for employees.

Please don't hesitate to call Dennis Spindler, at CBIZ AiA, (763-549-2238) for more information on how to save in any of these areas.

AASP-MN MEMBER BENEFIT PROGRAMS WORKERS’ COMP INSURANCE Meadowbrook Insurance Group Contact: Dennis Spindler 763-549-2238 / dspindler@cbizaia.com Up-front scheduled credit makes Meadowbrook one of the most competitive programs around for Worker‘s Compensation insurance. In addition, members are eligible to receive an annual dividend based on the group’s loss ratio. For more information, log on to www.wcpolicy.com/aaspmn.

PROPERTY/LIABILITY INSURANCE CBIZ AIA Contact: Dennis Spindler 763-549-2238 / dspindler@cbizaia.com CBIZ AIA will present AASP-MN members with quotes from multiple carriers for property/liability insurance and members can choose the program that best fits their situation. As an added bonus, CBIZ AIA will offer members an exclusive 10% discount on their property/liability insurance premiums. Ask about our program with United Fire Group!

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CBIZ AIA Contact: Dennis Begley 763-549-2260 / dbegley@cbizaia.com CBIZ AIA will provide AASP-MN member with quotes from multiple carriers for life insurance, health insurance, long-term care and disability insurance.

UNIFORM & LINEN SUPPLIES AmeriPride Services Contact: Jim Dillon 651-955-1398 / jim.dillon@ameripride.com Discounted pricing to members on rental of uniforms, entrance mats, shop rags, etc. Purchases are also discounted. Members receive annual rebate equal to 10% of their business with AmeriPride each year.

CREDIT CARD PROCESSING Association BankCard Services Contact: Mac Hardin 952-933-2026 / mach@retailfinancialservices.biz

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Competitive rates for AASP-MN members. Terminals and printers sold at cost. Monthly rental of equipment is also available.

INDUSTRIAL & PAPER PRODUCTS Wipers & Wipes, Inc. Contact: Dennis Julson 651-486-4866 Discounts on industrial supplies and paper products.

Free, next-day delivery is available in the metro area.

Shipping free to outstate members with $100 purchase.

WEBSITE AND INTERNET MARKETING SOLUTIONS Autoshop Solutions Contact: Margaret Klemmer 888-991-3449 / margaret@autoshopsolutions.com AASP-MN members receive a $500 discount off the Website Marketing Success Package set-up fee and special pricing on template websites starting at just $59/month and $149/set-up (regularly $79/month and $250 set-up).

TECHNICAL INFORMATION HOTLINE IDENTIFIX 800-288-6220 Members enjoy discounted prices on the industry’s #1 technical information hotline, Direct-Hit. BUSINESS FORMS/CALENDARS AASP-MN Contact: Jodi Pillsbury 612-623-1110 / jodi@aaspmn.org Discount rate on printed business forms and calendars.

SALES, MARKETING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE SOLUTIONS eMarketing Sherpas Contact: Frank Terlep 888-377-2661 / www.emarketingsherpas.com eMarketing Sherpas provides AASP members up to a 10-percent discount on its Demand Engine CRM Suite, Review Engine online review and reputation marketing system and its Digital Lobby point of sale digital signage, menu board and interactive kiosks solutions.

Net Driven Contact: Jon Napoli 877-860-2005, ext. 400 / jnapoli@getnetdriven.com Net Driven is a market leader in website and internet marketing solutions designed exclusively for the automotive industry. AASP-MN members who choose Net Driven are eligible for a $500 discount off their 1st year setup fees. For more information, contact Jon Napoli.

INFORMATION PROVIDERS Mitchell1 Contact: Mitchell1 Representative 888-724-6742 x 6986 AASP members are eligible for special Mitchell 1 information and management programs at significant discounts. For more information, log onto www.mitchell1.com or contact the Mitchell 1 representative at 888-724-6742, X6986.

AUTO EMPLOYEE ASSESSMENT Assessment Associates International Contact: Ron Page (952) 854-6551 / ronald.page@aai-assessment.com www.auto.aai-live.com Designed to help facilitate and enhance hiring decisions. AASP-MN members receive 50 percent off retail price and starts as low as $15 per assessment.

Mitchell International Contact: Mitchell International Representative 800-238-9111 AASP members receive a 15% discount on any Mitchell RepairCenter TechAdvisor package. Visit http://repaircenter.mitchell.com/Catalog/OEM Repair.aspx for more information.

AASP-MN News

PAYROLL PROCESSING CBIZ Payroll Contact: Carrie Hobrough 612-436-4620 / chobrough@cbiz.com Members receive 20% discount off standard payroll products and services (excluding 401k). Members who switch prior to June 30 will receive first month of payroll processing free.

CHECK GUARANTEE SERVICES Certegy Check Services Contact: Amy McKay 727-385-7812 / amy.mckay@fisglobal.com Discount rate of .75% to AASP-MN members. Use existing credit card terminal. Fast claim payments.

BUSINESS COACHING 180biz 540-833-2014 / info@180biz.com Website: www.180biz.com Members receive a 20-percent discount on one-onone sales and management coaching programs (covering financial planning & analysis, strategic marketing, leadership and personnel development) without long-term commitments. Members also receive a 25-percent discount on monthly sales & management webinars as well as a 20-percent discount on all 180BIZ advisor training programs.

LEGAL CONSULTATION Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick 800-496-6789 Members receive free, over-the-phone legal assessment and consultation (some restrictions apply) with an attorney who specializes in the area of law that is the subject of the call.

AASP-MN News

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