BEACHWOOD, OH ‒ Take 5 Car Wash, a Beachwood-based company under the umbrella of a major automotive service corporation, is under scrutiny after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation revealed a disturbing disregard for employee safety. Despite repeated reports of electrical shocks among its staff over a 14-month period, the company allegedly failed to address serious electrical hazards, according to findings by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Prompted by a complaint highlighting unsafe working conditions, OSHA launched an inspection of the Take 5 Car Wash facility in March 2023. Inspectors discovered that employees were routinely tasked with cleaning facility walls using high-pressure water in close proximity to electrical equipment. This equipment included a 480-volt electrical panel, critically, not designed for wet environments and showing visible signs of deterioration.
Howard Eberts, OSHA Area Director in Cleveland, expressed serious concerns about the findings. “Our investigation uncovered that Take 5 Car Wash management was aware of live electrical hazards throughout the location. Employees repeatedly suffered electrical shocks, yet they were allowed to continue working under these dangerous conditions. It took weeks for the company to initiate repairs after one worker experienced an electrical shock,” Eberts stated. He further emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting, “It is alarming that a company of this size and with substantial resources would subject its employees to potentially fatal risks of electrical shock.”
The OSHA investigation also brought to light additional hazardous conditions within the Take 5 Car Wash. Inspectors identified rusted electrical boxes with exposed live wires, improper use of flexible cords, and restroom facilities with ungrounded outlets. These issues collectively created a significant risk of electrical shock for employees. Furthermore, several energized electrical cabinets and boxes were found without proper guarding to prevent accidental contact with live components.
Beyond electrical hazards, OSHA’s investigation revealed critical failures in Take 5 Car Wash’s safety protocols, including:
- Lack of lockout procedures to manage hazardous energy sources in the car wash tunnel, where employees worked amidst automated equipment, high-pressure water systems, and heated blowers.
- Failure to provide readily accessible lockout/tagout kits.
- Inadequate training for employees on energy control procedures and the application of lockout/tagout on track and tunnel equipment.
- Absence of regular periodic inspections of machine safety procedures.
- Insufficient working space around electrical equipment, hindering safe operation and maintenance.
- Lack of proper training and appropriate personal protective equipment for unqualified personnel performing safety-related electrical tasks.
As a consequence of the March 2023 inspection, OSHA has issued citations to Driven Brands Shared Services LLC, the operator of Take 5 Car Wash. The citations include one willful and 12 serious safety and health violations, accompanied by proposed penalties totaling $256,707.
Driven Brands Inc., the parent company of Driven Brands Shared Services LLC, acquired the Beachwood Take 5 Car Wash location in October 2020. This publicly traded corporation is a major player in the automotive service industry, operating over 4,800 locations across 15 countries and servicing 70 million vehicles annually through brands like Take 5 Oil Change, Meineke Car Care Centers, and Maaco.
Companies cited by OSHA have 15 business days to respond to the citations and penalties. Options include compliance, requesting an informal conference with OSHA’s Area Director, or contesting the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
For more information on preventing electrical hazards in the workplace, OSHA provides comprehensive resources and recommendations here. Further details about OSHA and its mission can be found on the agency’s website: OSHA.
