Archives

Ask the Expert: Implementing a Respiratory Protection Program

In our latest installment of Ask the Expert, brought to you by the team of industry experts at EHS Hero®, we look at a recent question from a subscriber asking how to implement a respiratory protection program. See what the experts had to say. Q: What are the steps to implement a respiratory protection program? […]

SEC Closely Scrutinizing Green Investments and Climate-Related Disclosures

Melissa Hodgman, acting director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Enforcement Division, indicated that the SEC expects to look more closely at “green” investments in the future. Her comments were made at a Managed Funds Association webcast, according to Law 360. Her remarks come on the heels of the SEC’s March 4, 2021, announcement […]

Washington State Unveils New Heat Exposure Rules

As extreme heat continues to punish much of the U.S., states are enacting additional rules to require employers to increase protections for outdoor workers. One such state is Washington, which on July 13 released emergency heat exposure rules for employees exposed to extreme heat, including those working in agriculture, construction, and other outdoor industries. The […]

Back to Basics: Conducting a Vulnerability Analysis

Back to Basics is a new weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine emergency planning, and specifically, how to conduct a vulnerability analysis of your business. If there’s one thing we’re seeing as the summer of 2021 wears on, it’s that disasters and […]

GAO Recommends Significant Changes for EPA to Reach NPDES Compliance Goal

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that almost 11,000 facilities exceeded their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitted wastewater discharge limits and illegally discharged wastewater pollutants in 2018. “EPA has a goal to reduce by half significant noncompliance with individual NPDES permits by the end of FY 2022,” according to the GAO. “But the […]

NY Sets August 5 Infectious Disease Plan Deadline

Employers in New York state must have an infectious disease exposure prevention plan in place by August 5, according to a state Department of Labor spokesperson. However, the precautions under the plans only go into effect when state public health authorities make a “highly contagious communicable disease” declaration. At the moment, there is no such […]

OSHA Cites NJ Contractor for Settlement Agreement Violations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited a Bergen County, New Jersey, roofing contractor with violating a settlement agreement and 10 new safety violations. The agency is now seeking $600,741 in penalties for the new violations. Janiec Roofing Inc. of Lodi, New Jersey, entered into a settlement agreement with OSHA after two 2019 inspections […]

Ask the Expert: Return to Driving After Seizure on the Job

In our latest installment of Ask the Expert, brought to you by the team of industry experts at EHS Hero®, we look at a recent question from a subscriber regarding when an HVAC technician can return to driving after having a seizure. See what the experts had to say. Q: An HVAC technician recently had […]

EPA Considers Placing Limits on PFAS in Drinking Water

On July 12, 2021, the EPA announced per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are among a new group of contaminants being considered for monitoring under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The PFAS were part of the EPA’s “Draft Contaminant Candidate List 5 (CCL 5), which provides the latest list of drinking water contaminants that are known […]

Faces of EHS: Safety is a Mindset for Brittanie Buckley

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, safety has been a priority for everyone more than ever before. For Brittanie Buckley, her safety intuition has guided her in the field which she has leveraged to help prevent injuries on worksites for 25 years. In this “Faces of EHS,” Buckley, EHS Manager for Pratt & Whitney Military Engines Aerospace, […]