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Lithium Battery Fires and CERCLA

On July 7, 2025, the EPA announced it entered into a settlement agreement with Gateway Energy Storage, LLC, to direct cleanup in the wake of a lithium-ion battery fire that occurred at the company’s energy storage facility in San Diego. “Calling a technology ‘green energy’ does not mean there are no environmental impacts. This is […]

OSHA Cites Georgia Countertop Manufacturer for Silica Exposures

Brazilian Stone Design LLC, a Powder Springs, Georgia, stone countertop manufacturer, faces $33,000 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines for exposing workers to respirable crystalline silica, the agency announced July 10. OSHA cited the employer, which fabricates and sells kitchen and bathroom countertops, with seven serious violations. According to the agency, the employer allegedly […]

OSHA Updates Penalty Reduction Policies

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated its guidance on penalty and debt collection procedures in the Field Operations Manual (FOM), the agency announced July 14. The agency said the updates would minimize the burden on small businesses and increase prompt hazard abatement. “All employers should be offered the opportunity to comply with regulations […]

OSHA Enforcement Roundup Q2 2025

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) continues to carry out inspections and issue citations to employers that expose workers to hazardous conditions. We’ve summarized some of the key enforcement cases from the past few months for a look at where OSHA is focusing its efforts. Metal components manufacturer faces $65K in fines A Pennsylvania […]

Back to Basics: Managing Fatigue in the Workplace

Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine how to manage worker fatigue. Workers face many hazards on the job, but one of the most overlooked may be fatigue. Worker fatigue increases the risk for illnesses and injuries and […]

NSC Releases Report on Heat Hazards in the Crane Industry

The National Safety Council (NSC), in partnership with the NCCCO Foundation, has published “Addressing Heat Stress in the Crane Industry,” a new report that aims to help employers combat heat-related injuries and illnesses, the group announced July 3. The report, published through the NSC’s Work to Zero initiative, offers targeted recommendations to protect crane workers […]

EPA Extends Deadline for TSCA Reporting

On June 5, 2025, the EPA announced a rule to extend the reporting deadline to May 22, 2026, for all 16 chemicals covered under Section 8(d) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which requires manufacturers (including importers) of 16 chemicals to report safety data from unpublished health and safety studies to the EPA. According […]

EPA’s Indefensible Position on Fossil Fuel Plant Emissions

On June 11, 2025, the EPA announced two proposals for deregulatory actions for power plants. The proposals are to repeal all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for the power sector under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and amendments to the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) that directly result in the […]

Cal/OSHA Protections Extended to Domestic Workers

Domestic workers, such as caregivers, gardeners, and house cleaners, who are employed by companies in California are now covered by the state’s workplace safety and health laws, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) announced July 1. Changes in state law allow Cal/OSHA to enforce regulations for covered employers in the domestic services […]

SCOTUS Rules on Standing in California’s Vehicle Emissions Waivers Challenges

On June 20, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a 7–2 ruling in Diamond Alternative Energy v. EPA, granting fuel producers “standing” to challenge the EPA’s 2022 approval of California’s vehicle emissions standards waiver. At the simplest level, standing means the legal right to bring a lawsuit. Legally, the concept of Article III standing comes […]