PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management and its project partners will hold a free workshop for auto body shop owners Wednesday, November 17. The informational workshop is a first step in introducing the state's upcoming auto body self-certification program to auto body owners, spray painters, and technicians. Speakers will address environmental, health and safety requirements for auto body shops and offer information about pollution prevention practices.

The self-certification program sets standards on training levels with respect to hazardous waste, air quality, occupational exposure, and pollution prevention techniques that will allow Rhode Island's 350+ licensed auto body shops to determine their compliance status.

Several partners this fall signed an agreement to help Rhode Island's auto body industry identify pollution prevention opportunities and address health and safety issues in their day-to-day operations. Through this partnership program, on-site training and off-site outreach activities will help Rhode Island's auto body industry prevent pollution and run safer, more cost-effective shops. In addition to planning and preparing for the self-certification program, partners will provide training on the most advanced, cost-saving technology available to the auto body industry. Other services will include compliance assistance, blood lead testing, sampling of environmental surfaces for lead, and worker education. Partners include DEM, the Rhode Island Department of Health, the University of Rhode Island Center for Pollution Prevention, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School. Development of the program will also include assistance from the Department of Business Regulation and from auto body shop owners.

Pre-registration is required for the workshop, which will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School, at 50 Jenckes Hill Road, in Lincoln. More than 120 people from 65 auto body shops have pre-registered to date. To reserve a place, call DEM's Office of Technical and Customer Assistance at 222-4700 extension 4410 or 4431.