Exterior Wash &
Decontamination

Procedure

1. 1

   Set up wash bay; check drains, lay out buckets and chemicals; CONFIRM calcium gluconate 2.5% gel is on shelf and in date.

   Hazards

   • •Slip on wet floor
   • •Trip on hoses
   • •Manual handling of buckets
   • ⚠Missing HF antidote

   Controls

   • •Squeegee standing water
   • •Route hoses around walkway
   • •Fill buckets in place — do not carry full buckets
   • ✓Do not begin HF wheel cleaning if antidote is missing or expired
2. 2

   Pre-rinse vehicle with pressure washer.

   Hazards

   • •High-pressure water injection injury
   • •Slips from overspray
   • •Eye injury from debris

   Controls

   • •Never point lance at any person; keep ≥30 cm from skin
   • •Wear safety eyewear
   • •Trigger lock disengaged when not in hand
3. 3

   Apply Pacer Grape Wash (or Xpert-60 Snow-Foam MAX as alternative pH-neutral foam shampoo) via foam lance or wash mitt; allow dwell time.

   Hazards

   • •Skin / eye irritation (Grape Wash H315/H319 — Eco-licensed but still classified WARNING; Snow-Foam MAX hazards pending SDS — expect similar pH-neutral surfactant profile)
   • •Slip on suds runoff (SDS notes spillages are extremely slippery)

   Controls

   • •Nitrile gloves and eyewear (workshop policy)
   • •Dilute per product label — Grape Wash 125 mL per 20 L bucket; Snow-Foam MAX per Xpert-60 instructions (foam-lance dilution)
   • •Rinse runoff away from walkway; mop slips immediately
   • •On hot days, rinse small sections at a time to prevent suds drying
4. 4

   Wheel cleaning — confirm wheel type before product selection.

   Hazards

   • ⚠Pacer Mag Wheel Cleaner is a strong acid mixture (pH<1, UN 3264 DG 8 PG III) containing <1% hydrofluoric acid (HF)
   • •H314 severe skin burns · H318 serious eye damage · H370 organ damage on single exposure
   • ⚠HF burns: pain may not appear for hours; skin contact at sufficient exposure can cause deep tissue damage and bone decalcification — calcium gluconate antidote required
   • •Wrong product on painted/clear-coat/anodised/chrome/plastic surfaces — permanent etching damage
   • •Hydrogen gas if product contacts zinc or aluminium for prolonged time
   • •Acid mist inhalation in still air; corrosive vapour

   Controls

   • ✓Decision rule: Pacer Mag Wheel Cleaner only on bare alloy / aluminium / magnesium with heavy oxidation. For painted, clear-coat, anodised, chrome, plastic or coated wheels use Pacer Supa Rip diluted 1:4 (alkaline, much less hazardous to coatings — workshop default). Tyre and wheel arch cleaning: Supa Rip 1:4.
   • •Pre-dilute MWC 1:10 / Supa Rip 1:4 with water in a clearly labelled secondary spray bottle — never use neat. Per SDS: keep only in original or properly labelled corrosive-resistant container.
   • •Full PPE for MWC: sealed goggles (or full face mask for bulk decant), PVC or Viton gloves, chemical apron, P2+OV respirator if working indoors or mist forms.
   • •Full PPE for Supa Rip: face shield + sealed goggles, chemical-resistant gloves, apron, gumboots; mandatory P2+OV respirator when using pump or keg sprayer (mist).
   • •Apply, allow a few minutes to react (do not let dry on wheel), agitate with dedicated brush, rinse thoroughly with copious water; repeat if necessary.
   • •Work outside or with bay door open; ensure adequate ventilation; not over zinc-galvanised drains where possible (both products react with zinc/aluminium → hydrogen gas).
   • ✓Confirm calcium gluconate 2.5% gel is on the wash-bay shelf and in date BEFORE starting any work with MWC.
   • •Never decant into food/drink containers; keep stored locked, away from metals and (for MWC) strong alkalis; Supa Rip max storage temperature 40 °C.
5. 5

   Apply Pacer Lizard’s Breath UNDILUTED (per SDS) to wheels and decontaminated paintwork; leave 4–5 minutes; do NOT let dry on surface; rinse thoroughly.

   Hazards

   • •H317 — may cause allergic skin reaction (skin sensitiser, sodium thioglycolate <50%)
   • •H302 — harmful if swallowed (LD50 504 mg/kg)
   • •Strong sulphurous odour — respiratory irritation, especially in still air
   • •Eye irritation if splashed
   • •Slip from runoff
   • ⚠Forms hydrogen sulphide-type fumes if mixed with strong acids — segregate from acidic wheel cleaner (MWC) in storage

   Controls

   • •Use outdoors or with bay door open
   • •Nitrile gloves and safety goggles (per SDS); workshop default adds P2+OV respirator if used indoors or mist forms
   • •Long sleeves — sensitiser; track any skin reaction across staff
   • •Wash skin / clothing thoroughly after handling; do not allow product on skin to remain
   • •Rinse runoff away from walkway; mop incidental spills
   • •Lizard’s Breath is pH-neutral, so safe on most wheels including coated — but always test an inconspicuous area first
   • ✓Storage: segregated from acids (Pacer Mag Wheel Cleaner) and strong oxidisers
6. 6

   Spot-treat tar, adhesive, silicone, wax or overspray with Pacer Prepare It (UN 1993, DG Class 3 PG II, flash point 4 °C — extremely volatile).

   Hazards

   • ⚠H226 flammable liquid — flash point 4 °C, vapour heavier than air, distant ignition possible
   • ⚠H304 ASPIRATION HAZARD Cat 1 — may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways
   • •H319 serious eye irritation
   • •Contains TOLUENE (<10%) — narcotic at high vapour concentrations; headache / nausea / dizziness
   • •Skin defatting and irritation
   • ⚠Static-discharge ignition risk during decant / pour

   Controls

   • •Apply small amounts to a microfibre cloth — NEVER directly to panel; cap bottle immediately
   • ✓NO ignition sources within 3 m (no smoking, soldering, hot tools, hot polishing pads); explosion-proof equipment for any bulk transfer
   • •For bulk decant: ground / bond container; use only non-sparking tools; do NOT use compressed air for transfer
   • •P2+OV respirator (half-mask with organic-vapour cartridge per SDS) mandatory indoors
   • •Nitrile or silver-shield gloves + safety goggles + long sleeves; PVC apron + chemical-resistant boots for bulk
   • •Bay door open for ventilation; bulk amounts require local exhaust
   • •Cap container immediately after use; store back on Class 3.1B flammable shelf, away from heat / sunlight / ignition sources >3 m
   • ✓EMERGENCY: if swallowed, do NOT induce vomiting (aspiration risk); urgent medical attention
7. 7

   Two-bucket wash with grit guards.

   Hazards

   • •Manual handling — bending and reaching
   • •Slip from soapy floor

   Controls

   • •Work top-down to limit re-bending
   • •Stand square to vehicle
   • •Mop incidental spills immediately
8. 8

   Clay bar decontamination using Meguiar’s D15501 Last Touch diluted 1:10 with water as the clay lubricant.

   Hazards

   • •Repetitive wrist motion / strain
   • •Slip on lubricant overspray
   • •Sprayed mist may cause eye irritation (only flagged hazard per Meguiar’s SDS rev 14/01/26)
   • •Respiratory tract irritation during sustained spraying (cough, sneezing, headache)

   Controls

   • •Switch hands periodically; take micro-breaks
   • •Wipe surrounding floor; mop slips immediately
   • •Safety glasses with side shields when spraying; workshop default also adds nitrile gloves
   • •Pre-mix dilution in clearly labelled spray bottle
   • •Use in well-ventilated area; aim spray away from face
9. 9

   Final rinse and dry with blower / microfibre towels.

   Hazards

   • •Manual handling — reaching across roof
   • •Electrical risk if blower used near water

   Controls

   • •Use a step or extension wand for high panels
   • •RCD-protected outlet for blower; keep cord off wet floor
10. 10

    Apply tyre dressing — CarPRO DarkSide Tire & Rubber Sealant (CarPro Global Ltd SDS Rev 1,1).

    Hazards

    • ⚠H304 ASPIRATION HAZARD Cat 1 — may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways. Contains 35–40% petroleum distillate (kerosine, hydro-treated light).
    • •Skin contact — citral allergen (0.1–0.2%), may cause cumulative skin sensitisation
    • •Eye splash from over-application or sling-off
    • •Slip from any product on the workshop floor
    • •Not transport-classified (no UN/DG) — but H304 puts it in the same first-aid bracket as Pacer Prepare It

    Controls

    • •Apply to a dedicated tyre applicator (sponge), not direct on tyre
    • •Nitrile / PVC / butyl / FKM gloves (≥0.35 mm); safety eyewear, sealed goggles if splashing; long sleeves (citral)
    • •Do not over-apply — sling-off onto paint when driven also creates a hazard
    • •Cap container immediately after use
    • •Wipe up any product on the floor immediately
    • •Workers reporting skin reaction → switch off product, refer to GP, document
    • ✓EMERGENCY: if swallowed, do NOT induce vomiting (aspiration risk per H304); rinse mouth, sip water, urgent medical attention
11. 11

    Apply spray wax — Meguiar’s D156 Synthetic X-Press Spray Wax (D15601).

    Hazards

    • •Sprayed material may cause eye irritation (redness, swelling, tearing) — only flagged hazard per Meguiar’s SDS rev 03/05/24
    • •Repetitive arm motion when working a large vehicle
    • •Otherwise non-classified hazardous (NFPA 0/0/0; flash point >93 °C; will not burn; VOC 0.0%)

    Controls

    • •Apply per manufacturer (wet or dry paint OK; in or out of sun)
    • •Safety glasses with side shields when spraying — direct mist away from the face
    • •Workshop default: nitrile gloves and eyewear (SDS does not require either, but workshop standardises PPE across detailing tasks)
    • •Use in well-ventilated area for bulk application
    • •Vary posture; take micro-breaks for large vehicles