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Review Commission Vacates OSHA Citation in Boise Mall Shooting

The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission vacated an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) General Duty Clause citation of a security firm following a mass shooting at a Boise, Idaho, shopping mall. In the February 5 decision, a review commission administrative law judge (ALJ) concluded that the Department of Labor (DOL) didn’t establish the […]

Implement Duress Systems to Mitigate Workplace Violence

Did you know that workplace violence resulted in the death of 524 workers in 2022? This was a 9% increase compared to 2021. Unless urgent measures are taken, workplace violence will persist, and innocent lives will be lost. One effective solution to ensure that workplace violence is reduced is the use of duress systems. This […]

President Orders Deregulatory Review

President Donald J. Trump ordered all federal agencies to compile lists of regulations for possible removal in an Executive Order (E.O. 14219) signed February 19 and published February 25 (90 Fed. Reg. 10583). The president directed agency heads to conduct a process of regulatory review, coordinating with the director of the Office of Management and […]

Chemical Safety Board’s YouTube Channel Hits 365K Subscribers

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board’s (CSB) YouTube channel, @USCSB, which features the agency’s safety videos, now has 365,000 subscribers. The CSB recently received a Silver Play Button award from YouTube for having more than 100,000 subscribers, the board announced February 14. The CSB is an independent federal government board that investigates industrial […]

Back to Basics: Controlling Safety, Health Hazards of Wildfires

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 control the health hazards of wildfires. Active wildfires and recovery and cleanup work following a fire pose unique hazards for workers. The health effects of wildfire smoke can range from […]

EHSDA Song of the Week: Brick by Brick

This week, the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) announced a new industry consensus standard for construction and demolition worker environment, health, and safety training. With that in mind, the Song of the Week is “Brick by Brick” by the English indie rock act Arctic Monkeys. Typically known for its wordy songs, the band intentionally […]

EPA Releases Final Risk Determination for Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP)

On January 14, 2025, the EPA released the final risk evaluation for diisononyl phthalate (DINP), which was conducted under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The EPA concluded that DINP presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health because workers could be exposed to high concentrations of DINP in mist when spraying adhesive, sealant, […]

Outgoing U.S. Ag Chief Critical of EPA Biofuel Report

In one of his final actions before leaving office, outgoing U.S. Agriculture Chief Tom Vilsack harshly criticized the EPA’s 2025 Biofuels and the Environment Report. “The Third Report concludes that the effect of the Renewable Fuel Standard Program varies with time and the RFS Program had a modest positive effect on biofuel production and consumption […]

The Importance of Workplace Safety in the Warehouse

Employers must implement workplace safety measures to protect the lives of their employees. Warehouse professionals must follow these measures as it is a matter of life and death. According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, there were more than 5,283 fatal work injuries in 2023. Warehouse professionals should wear proper protective clothing as a […]

RCRA Regs for Hazardous Waste Management and Cleanup After LA Wildfires

On February 3, 2025, the EPA announced it launched the largest wildfire hazardous waste cleanup in the history of the Agency as it assists local governments and residents in the wake of catastrophic fires in Los Angeles County. As of that date, the EPA had completed reconnaissance at 6,022 properties, which included 3,636 properties impacted […]