Recalibration: Mind & Body: SPF, Sparks and Skin Survival

by Jannifer Stimmel-WatkinsACCESS-Public Preview, Current Issue, Issue - Summer 2026, Recalibration: Mind & Body, WellnessPosted on No Comments

Collision repair is brutal on skin, and pretending otherwise is how you end up looking like the shop won custody of your face. In this Recalibration: Mind & Body article, Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins takes on the grime, UV exposure, fiberglass itch, cracked hands, mystery chemicals, welding light, sanding dust, and general shop-floor nonsense that Collision DisruptHERs deal with every day. The point is not vanity. It is protection. This article reframes skincare as maintenance, because that is exactly what it is.
Technicians are trained to protect panels, prep surfaces, apply coatings, prevent corrosion, and avoid contamination, yet too many are expected to treat their own skin like an afterthought. Jannifer breaks down sunscreen, barriers, cleansing, hydration, makeup, gloves, sleeves, and the mindset shift needed to take skin seriously without feeling like it makes you any less gritty. Looking good is allowed. Feeling good matters. Protecting your body is not soft. It is smart, and it is part of staying in the industry long enough to become dangerous.

Recalibration: Mind & Body: Are VOCs More Toxic to Women?

by Jannifer Stimmel-WatkinsACCESS-Archive, ACCESS-Subscriber, Archive, Archived Issue Articles, Issue - Spring 2026, Recalibration: Mind & BodyPosted on No Comments

In the collision industry, we obsess over “OE Specs.” We verify frame alignment to the millimeter and paint codes to the shade. Yet, we consistently ignore the most critical specification in the shop: the biological spec of the technician. 
     
Working in the shop means exposure to various chemicals — we’re all exposed to potentially hazardous materials through the things we touch and the air we breathe. Paints, adhesives, fillers, solvents and even cleaning products emit VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that are absorbed through the skin and inhaled into the lungs. Not exactly breaking news, of course… After all, that’s why safety protocols are broadcast, and wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is an accepted necessity.
      
But here’s the problem: those protocols meant to protect us are often developed based on standardized test models that do not represent the entire population. Historically, these studies were conducted in male-dominated industries and performed using “average adult body weights, which typically translates to around 175 pounds. This pattern is consistent across most industries, including PPE development, tools and even medical research. Why is this problematic? Well, for starters, women’s lower average body mass means that a similar airborne concentration equates to a higher dose per pound, so being exposed to identical concentrations could be more detrimental. But that’s not the only way that physiology factors into the discussion.