Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) laid down rules to resolve split circuit court opinions, determining which EPA Clean Air Act (CAA) cases should be heard by regional district courts and which must be heard by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Before making its determination, SCOTUS heard two cases: The […]
The president’s proposed fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget for the EPA totals $4.16 billion, a 54% decrease from the FY 2025 enacted budget level, according to the FY 2026 EPA Budget in Brief. If enacted, it will represent the smallest budget the Agency has seen in 50 years. The FY 2026 budget supports 12,856 full-time […]
On July 1, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) took significant steps at deregulation by proposing changes to medical evaluation requirements in the respiratory protection standard. It also proposed changes to several toxic and hazardous substances standards to allow different types of respirators, remove provisions that duplicate requirements of the respiratory protection standard, or […]
On July 1, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) took its first steps at deregulation, publishing one final rule and many proposals. The final rule revokes 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §1911.10, the requirement for the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health to consult with the Advisory Committee on Construction […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will withdraw a proposed rule that would have required the use of speed-limiting devices on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced June 27. The announcement was part of a “pro-trucker package” unveiled by Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, which also includes plans to “eliminate […]
On June 25, the Department of Labor (DOL) outlined its policies for referring regulatory enforcement cases to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for criminal prosecution (90 Fed. Reg. 27057). The DOL’s Office of the Solicitor published its policies in response to the May 9 Executive Order “Fighting Overcriminalization in Federal Regulations” (E.O. 14294; 90 Fed. […]
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine the importance of workplace psychological safety. While workers face many physical hazards on the job, it’s important to consider the non-physical hazards as well. Psychological safety is a crucial part of any […]
On June 26, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the renewal of a national emphasis program (NEP) of outreach, inspection, and enforcement to address amputations in manufacturing. The new NEP replaces one set to expire June 27. The updated program will remain in effect for five years, according to the agency. Changes to […]
Things have cooled down at the time of this writing, but earlier this week, much of the country was seized in the grips of a serious heat wave. There’s no shortage of great songs about heat, and the latest Song of the Week is no exception: the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion’s 1994 ripper “Sweat.” The […]
On June 20, the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) announced the launch of a workplace heat illness prevention outreach effort. The department’s “Beat the Heat” campaign is a renewed push to prevent heat illnesses and offers tools and best practices to help both employers and employees end heat stress and heat-related injuries. Resources offered […]