Thorold, Ontario — Frank Serravalle, owner of Thorold Automotive Solutions in Thorold, Ontario, recently arranged an electric vehicle (EV) safety training event for his staff.
The training event was specifically delivered by Greg Aguilera, International Automotive Consulting (IAC) president and a specialist in EV training and management consulting.
The event took place over two days, with attendees gaining both in-class and hands-on experience. At the end of the event, 20 automotive recyclers were awarded certificates for their efforts in the safe receiving, dismantling and checking of EV components.
As noted by a recent press release, the Recycler Training Course for Technical Staff aims to highlight industry-leading research and collaboration in order to build an easily applicable, competency-based approach to the safe handling of electric vehicles.
“There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to handling an unknown and potentially hazardous high voltage system,” said Aguilera, who developed the course alongside Serravalle. “We lead with education and empowerment through a systematic approach that leans on teamwork. Our philosophy is, ‘slow down to speed up.'”
“We were starting to receive these [end-of-life] EVs through salvage contracts and, with no real certification programs available, Greg designed a tailor-fit course for auto recyclers to deal with high-voltage vehicles,” Serravalle told EV Repair mag.
“What we’ve put together is a complete step-by-step guide; a complete A through Z course,” explained Aguilera. “If you’re a recycler who wants to get into doing EV or EV work, we provide everything from the PPE you need, all the way through the steps of dismantling. Plus information on all the special tools that you would need to keep yourself safe, and more. The recycler side of [EV handling] is completely different than the dealership, repair or collision world.”
“I’m committed to staying ahead of the curve,” added Serravalle. “I am proud to be taking the next step in automotive recycling by heavily investing in our team’s EV safety training. As EVs become more common on our roads, it’s our responsibility, along with the manufacturers, insurance companies and end-of-life vehicle recyclers–to ensure the safety of our staff and community. We must stress that protection of the environment is always a top priority.
“The industry has learned valuable lessons from years of working with internal combustion vehicles. Now, it’s time to apply those lessons to EVs so we do not repeat the same mistakes. Together, we can build a safer, more responsible future by putting safety and the environment above profits at every stage of the process. To all of my fellow auto recyclers–let’s lead by example. We all share the responsibility of handling these vehicles with care, both for the people who work with them and for the planet we live on.”
Following the IAC-made EV course, both Aguilera and Serravalle are confident the Thorold team is fully fit to dismantle and handle any EV components.
“ I have that level of confidence that they’re safe in taking these cars apart,” said Serravalle. “We’ve had issues come up [since the training] and I am 100 percent confident in the team’s ability to handle things. It’s been a great confidence boost for the team and I’m thrilled to say we’re now aggressively pursuing EVs for parts.”
“I urge other recyclers to join us in this commitment,” concluded Serravalle. “Let’s work together to create a safer and more sustainable future for everyone.”
The Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC) is currently continuing to work with the IAC to expand the delivery of quality EV training for auto recyclers across Canada.
Check out photos of the event below.
