The final instalment of our Car Wash Safety series.
In the final instalment of our Car Wash Safety series, we turn our focus to the most important people who visit your facility – your customers.
Maintaining a safe, welcoming environment for every customer is not just good business practice, it’s also a legal requirement.
All businesses have a duty of care to ensure their premises are safe for everyone, including non-workers such as customers, visitors, and contractors. For car wash operators, this means identifying potential hazards and taking all reasonable steps to eliminate or minimise them.
Easy access. Clear traffic flow.
Your customers should be able to enter and exit your facility safely and intuitively.
Proper signage directing vehicle entry, exit, and movement through the wash process is essential to avoid collisions and confusion.
Entry and exit points should be clearly marked and kept free of obstacles at all times.
Legible and up-to-date signage.
Over time, signage can fade and become illegible, especially with constant exposure to water and sun.
Regularly inspect and update signage to ensure it remains highly visible and easy to understand.
Poor signage can lead to customer confusion and increase the risk of accidents both for vehicles and pedestrians.
Managing pedestrian safety.
Pedestrian pathways should be clearly marked and separated from active vehicle areas wherever possible.
Customers should not walk through wash bays or near moving vehicles.
Install barriers or physical separation where needed and reinforce rules through signage.
Adequate lighting.
A well-lit car wash is critical to customer safety, especially as the days get shorter during winter.
Replace broken or dim lights immediately to ensure every part of your facility is brightly lit.
Good lighting improves visibility, deters vandalism, and reduces the risk of slips, trips, and falls.
Eliminate trip hazards.
Vacuum hoses, self-serve hoses, and cleaning equipment should never be left lying around where they can become trip hazards.
After use, hoses should be properly hung and stored. Staff must be trained to perform regular housekeeping patrols to clear any obstacles and maintain a tidy environment.
Good housekeeping practices.
A clean and dry facility isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about safety.
Wash bays and pedestrian areas should be kept free of slime, moss, puddles, and debris that could make surfaces slippery.
During winter, this becomes even more important as wet, cold conditions can quickly turn a neglected area hazardous.
Emergency response planning.
An Emergency Response Plan must be in place and include clear procedures for accidents, chemical spills, fires, and medical emergencies with all staff trained on these procedures and undergo regular refresher training.
If an incident does occur, prompt and correct action can reduce injury severity, limit liability, and protect your business reputation.
Vehicle and driving safety.
Given the volume of vehicle movements at a car wash facility, robust driving safety protocols are critical.
A senior member of your management team should be assigned responsibility for enforcing these protocols to ensure consistent standards are maintained.
A proactive approach to safety.
Proactively managing car wash safety ensures that your business not only meets legal obligations but also builds customer trust.
A clean, safe, and well-organised facility makes a positive impression, encourages repeat business, and protects both your staff and your bottom line.
More in our Car Wash Safety series
More information
At Good Sight Australia, we work with car wash operators across Australia to help them achieve operational excellence. If you’d like personalised advice on improving safety at your site, contact our experienced team.
- Telephone: +61 2 9757 4700
- Email: sales@goodsight.com.au
Please note that this information has been curated as a guide only. They are by no means complete as every car wash facility differs. For guidelines specific to your facility, please contact us directly. You may also want to reach out to Safe Work Australia via https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au.