Lessons Learned By Ginny Whelan ginny@araeducation.com

ARAUniversity.org Minimizes the Inevitable

afety issues are a lot more complicat- ed for auto recyclers than they were even five years ago, so it makes sense to have an online solution that can take in huge amounts of information and trans- late it into a simple dashboard for each auto recycling facility. At ARA University, behind the dash- board is the new ARAU KPA online soft- ware that gathers information from sources like OSHA, EPA, DOT, FAA, and state-based agencies. It matches the regu- lations with processes and automotive tools at your facility. The ARAU program rates risk levels and ranks importance for addressing each issue with online training. Your employees are a company invest- ment, one that should be protected. Studies found that 83 percent of 900 North American employees polled plan to seek new positions in 2015. While it can be difficult to foster employee engage- ment, there are solutions that create a positive work environment that drives per- formance as well as job satisfaction. It is important to engage both the employee base as well as the owner/man- ager leadership. HR employees are encouraged to listen and interact with employees to understand their level of contentment. One-on-one conversations can gain much greater information than a survey.

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Engagement participation from key leaders demonstrates that engagement is important throughout the entire compa- ny. The implementation of a task force often creates a strong level of engage- ment, and also allows the opportunity for every level of the auto recycling facility to be represented.

A common desire of many employees is learning and opportunities. Educating your employees is an investment in them, keeping employee skills up to speed and engaged. This creates a positive environ- ment as it promotes employee growth and encourages the employees to advance in

22 Automotive Recycling | November-December 2015

“We’ve been doing it this way for years – it hasn’t been a problem yet.”

ARA University Specialized Compliance Programs • Fall Protection Plans • Hazard Communication • Hazardous Waste Management and Waste Minimization • Safety Training and Injury Prevention • Online Issue Tracking Software • Emergency Response Plan • GHS

• OSHA 300 Log • PPE (suit, gloves, fresh air…) • Hot Works (welding & cutting) • DOT Hazardous Materials Employer Program

• Respiratory Protection Program • Environment & Safety Communication System for Multi-location Operators

• Spill Control Plans • Welding and Cutting Safety • Workplace Safety

the company or have skills to use in other circumstances.

Employee engagement varies from recycler to recycler, but a good thing to keep in mind is that your employees should understand how their perform- ance and behavior makes a contribution. Communicating value and considering employee needs can increase engage- ment at your dealership, which protects your investment.

When running a business or managing a department, it is common practice to require data before believing informa- tion. For instance, if your sales depart- ment claimed that they had a 65 percent closing ratio, you would require analytics to back up their claims. In fact, as a man- ager, you measure a large amount of information on a day-to-day basis. So, that

being said, you must adequately measure the level of compliance and ethical behav- ior at your business.

When asked about practices and com- pliance, common answers are: • “We’ve been doing it this way for years- it hasn’t been a problem yet.” • “We have insurance. If we get sued, that’s what it’s there for.

• “Compliance takes a hefty chunk out of our pay plan. I’ll do whatever it takes to make a decent paycheck.”

Answers like that are a recipe for disas-

ter. Sure, you can bury your head in the sand and hope to avoid a financial catas- trophe, but is it really worth the impact when you get caught or discover that your customers are being treated differently than you expected?

Three simple steps can keep your busi- ness out of hot water:

1. Conduct an operations audit to determine and understand where your business stands. 2. Train your staff on all aspects of legal compliance.

3. After training, have all staff sign a code of ethics that will not only help pro- tect your organization, but will also let everyone know your business is serious about compliance and ethical behavior. These simple steps are far more afford- able than the costs associated with law- suits, regulatory actions, and, most importantly, damage to your company’s valuable reputation. Don’t find out the hard way that your processes aren’t what you thought they were.

Ginny Whelan, an ARA Past President, is Man- aging Director of the ARA Educational Founda- tion and founder of the ARA University, the leading Web-based training resource in auto re- cycling education. Visit www.arauniversity.org.