An engine running in a closed bay, a lift never inspected, degreaser jugs with no data sheet: three findings a CNESST inspector makes within ten minutes in a garage. General mechanics, body work or tires — your shop with fewer than 20 employees must have its OHS action plan.
Exhaust CO is odourless and builds up fast in a closed bay in winter. Source extraction (hoses connected to tailpipes) is the standard; half-open doors are not enough, and CO detectors are recommended.
A 1,500-2,500 kg vehicle overhead: documented annual lift inspection, manufacturer lift points respected, and working locking devices are non-negotiable.
Solvents, degreasers, used oil, brake fluid: up-to-date WHMIS 2015 safety data sheets and training are mandatory. Welding near fuel tanks requires a written procedure and class B extinguishers within reach.
An impact wrench exceeds 90 dB; above 85 dBA over a shift, hearing protection becomes mandatory. As for compressed air, never point it at anyone — subcutaneous air injection is a surgical emergency.
More and more electric vehicles are rolling into Quebec shops: 400-800 volt circuits. Without training, insulated gloves and a written de-energizing procedure, hands off. A risk still missing from most garage OHS plans.
A questionnaire tailored to auto mechanics — CO, lifts, WHMIS, lockout, EVs. Auto-generated plan, PDF export ready for a CNESST inspection.
Start — free trialYes. Whenever a worker goes under a lift or services equipment whose accidental start-up is dangerous, the RSST requires energy control. Shop size changes nothing — and it's something inspectors check systematically.
For a first offence, tickets typically run around $1,500 to $3,000 per violation, but the OHS Act allows much higher depending on severity (s. 236 and 237), doubled on repeat offence. Several violations means several tickets in the same visit.
Not without preparation. Working on a high-voltage circuit requires specific training, tested insulated gloves and a written vehicle de-energizing procedure. Add this section to your plan now: Quebec's EV fleet grows every year.
Yes. A single worker is enough for the Act to apply, and an apprentice counts. A self-employed mechanic with no employees at all, however, is not subject to the plan requirement.